June 15, 2014 (Vol. 34, No. 12)
Rating:
Strong Points: Easy to view database, convenient format
Weak Points: Relatively new site with somewhat small collection at present
Summary:
Anyone who routinely performs immunohistochemistry (IHC) is well aware of the challenge of sifting through numerous commercially available antibodies to find one that actually works for a specific application. It is time consuming to visit multiple vendor sites, search for a specific antibody, and compare the available products. To circumvent this, Visabl (the VISual AntiBody Listing) was created. The Visabl search engine and antibody database provides site visitors an easy-to-browse visual compilation of antibodies from various vendors, organized alphabetically. Users can also search the database by antibody name, host species (currently limited to only mouse or rabbit), and format (predilute or concentrate). At present the collection is small relative to the vast number of antibodies out there, but at just over 100 antibodies, it is still sizable given how recently the site was launched. In addition to the antibody database, the website also includes a regularly updated blog highlighting IHC news and updates to the database.
