Vector Laboratories fluorochrome-conjugated streptavidin and avidin reagents are highly purified and possess very low non-specific binding properties. They have an extremely high affinity for biotin and can be used to detect biotinylated secondary antibodies and other macromolecules in applications such as immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, or flow cytometry. Fluorescent signals can be easily amplified using biotinylated secondary antibodies followed by fluorochrome-labeled streptavidin or avidin. Fluorescein-labeled streptavidin has an excitation maximum at 495 nm and an emission maximum at 515 nm. Compared to techniques that use only primary and secondary fluorescent antibodies for detection, the use of Fluorescein Streptavidin as an amplifying reagent can provide significantly greater sensitivity and lower background staining.