How To Prepare Your Specimen For Immunofluorescence Microscopy

By Florian Hoff, Leica Microsystems

Immunofluorescence (IF) has become indispensable for many research groups who have at least access to a simple fluorescence microscope. It is a powerful method for visualizing intracellular processes, conditions and structures. The centerpiece of an Immunofluorescence (IF) experiment is a combination of two different components:

• First, specific antibodies, which are used to form an immune complex to mark the desired molecules – in most cases proteins – in the cell.
• Second, fluorochromes, which are coupled to the immune complexes and therefore visualize the target structures during microscopy.

Explore Immunofluorescence preparations and protocols along with it's advantages and limitations.