Reagent Protocols
At Creative Biolabs, we understand that the success of any life science experiment begins with dependable reagents and the clarity of how to use them. The reagent protocols section serves as a foundational resource for researchers seeking not just high-quality materials but also practical, lab-tested guidance to ensure consistent, reproducible results. This page introduces the reagent-focused subcategories below—each providing structured handling, usage, and troubleshooting recommendations tailored for specific reagent types commonly used in molecular biology, cell signaling, immunology, and biochemistry workflows.
Whether you're working with primary or secondary antibodies, recombinant proteins, pathway modulators, or niche research compounds, Creative Biolabs' reagent protocols provide more than just procedural steps. We aim to share the practical insights that help you avoid common pitfalls—such as degradation, solubility issues, non-specific binding, and batch-to-batch variability. Each protocol is developed and refined in collaboration with experienced scientists who understand the nuances of experimental design.
Primary Antibody
Primary antibodies serve as the cornerstone of many immunoassays, and their proper handling is essential for achieving high target specificity and low background. At Creative Biolabs, we tailor our primary antibody protocols to common experimental platforms such as western blotting, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry.
Our protocols provide best practices for:
- Antibody reconstitution and aliquoting to reduce freeze-thaw cycles
- Optimal storage conditions to preserve epitope recognition
- Determining the right dilution factors depending on species, target abundance, and detection system
- Blocking and washing steps to reduce non-specific binding
- Troubleshooting low signal or excessive background
Creative Biolabs also provides specific recommendations for using monoclonal vs. polyclonal antibodies, including considerations for epitope accessibility and multiplexing strategies.
Secondary Antibody
Secondary antibodies amplify the signal and directly affect the clarity, contrast, and quantifiability of your assay results. Improper use of secondary antibodies is one of the most common causes of experimental variability. Creative Biolabs' secondary antibody protocols focus on achieving optimal binding efficiency while avoiding cross-reactivity and background.
Key highlights include:
- Guidelines for selecting the right host species and conjugation (e.g., HRP, FITC)
- Step-by-step instructions for dilution, incubation time, and temperature conditions
- Minimizing cross-reactivity in multi-label experiments
- Using light-sensitive fluorophore-conjugated secondaries properly in imaging workflows
- Storage conditions for maintaining conjugate stability
Creative Biolabs also offers insight on how to match secondary antibodies to specific primary antibodies and how to validate specificity through proper controls.
Recombinant Protein
These protocols address challenges often faced when working with recombinant proteins—such as solubility, stability in aqueous buffers, and maintaining bioactivity. Creative Biolabs provides detailed instructions for reconstitution, short-term and long-term storage, and tips for using proteins in cell-based or in vitro assays. Buffer compatibility tables and guidance on avoiding endotoxin interference are also included where relevant.
Signal Inhibitor & Activator
When working with small-molecule modulators of signaling pathways, precise timing, concentration, and solvent selection are critical. Our protocols in this section focus on preparing working solutions with DMSO or ethanol, recommendations for minimizing cellular toxicity, and notes on common synergistic or antagonistic effects when using inhibitors in combination.
Research Compound
This flexible category covers diverse classes of bioactive molecules used in fundamental research—from polyphenols and alkaloids to enzyme modulators and redox agents. For these specialized compounds, Creative Biolabs protocols emphasize storage under inert atmosphere when necessary, stability tracking, and proper aliquoting techniques to maintain activity across experimental replicates.
All protocols are organized to be immediately applicable in your research environment—whether you're troubleshooting assay variability, scaling up for screening applications, or validating new targets. Creative Biolabs' commitment to transparency and experimental reliability is evident in the level of detail provided. Our team continuously updates these reagent protocols in response to customer feedback, scientific advances, and evolving best practices in academic and industrial research labs.
We invite you to explore the individual pages under this section to find the precise protocols that match your reagent type and application needs. With Creative Biolabs' support, you can focus more on innovation and discovery—and less on avoidable technical variability. Didn't find your answer? We're just a message away!
