ELISA buffers

ELISA buffers and stop solutions are critical components designed to optimize the environments for reactions within ELISA assays, whether you're building custom reagent sets or using standard format kits. These solutions ensure the stability and functionality of the assay's components, contributing to accurate and reproducible results. They are formulated to maintain appropriate pH, minimize nonspecific binding, and halt reactions at the desired endpoint.

We offer a range of ELISA solutions to suit your experimental needs at each stage of your workflow: coating buffers, blocking buffers, wash buffers, diluents and stop solutions. These reagents are part of our 4k+ ELISA kits and immunoassays, validated by 15k+ citations, and are essential for stabilizing signals and ensuring the accurate termination of enzymatic reactions.

Key ELISA buffers and solutions

Coating buffers

Usually, phosphate buffer (PB) or carbonate-bicarbonate buffer. They provide optimal pH and ionic strength for adsorbing antigens or antibodies onto ELISA plates.

• ELISA coating buffer 1X (ab210899): Recommended for use with the matched antibody pair kits for plate coating during ELISA development.

Blocking buffers

They prevent non-specific binding and reduce background noise by covering unoccupied sites on the plate. Common blockers include BSA (bovine serum albumin), casein, or non-fat dry milk.

• 10X blocking buffer (ab126587): Used for serum-free blocking of non-specific antibody binding in Flow cytometry, ELISA, western blot and ICC/IF applications.
• Blocking Buffer 10X (ab210904): A BSA-based buffer, designed to reduce background interference due to non-specific binding.
• Immunoassay blocking buffer (ab171534): Effectively preserves the conformation and activity of dried proteins in immunoassays.

Wash buffers

Washer buffers are typically formulated with PBS or TBS with 0.05–0.1% Tween-20 (PBST/TBST). They clear away unbound materials and unreacted reagents between assay steps without disrupting the captured target molecules.

• 10X Wash Buffer PT (ab206977): A concentrated ELISA wash buffer. We recommend using it with our SimpleStep ELISA® or matched antibody pair kits.

Sample diluent/antibody diluent

Diluents maintain the appropriate pH and protein stability, reduce matrix effects, and preserve the structural integrity of your samples, standards and substrates throughout the incubation periods. They often contain PBS or TBS supplemented with proteins like BSA.

Explore our range of samples and antibody diluents for ELISA.

Stop solutions:

Stop solutions halt the enzymatic reaction to fix the signal. They commonly contain sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) or hydrochloric acid (HCl).

• 450 nm stop solution for TMB substrate (ab171529): A ready-to-use stop solution for colorimetric HRP-based ELISA detection. Designed to work with our range of TMB substrates.
• Stop solution 1X (ab210900): A ready-to-use stop solution, required for stopping the action of horseradish peroxidase on the TMB substrate in an ELISA.

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