What is labeled streptavidin-biotin (LSAB) method?

The labeled streptavidin-biotin (LSAB) method is a technique used in immunohistochemistry (IHC) for detecting antigens in tissue samples. This staining method utilizes a streptavidin-enzyme conjugate to identify the biotinylated primary antibody bound to the tissue section. This smaller complex enables improved tissue penetration and has been shown to enhance detection sensitivity by approximately eight times. Additionally, it can be used with more effective alternatives to avidin, resulting in reduced background noise and further enhanced sensitivity. Thus, it is considered to be an improvement over the ABC method.