Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is a protein derived from cow blood and is widely used as a standard in biochemical assays. It serves as a blocking agent in immunoassays, preventing non-specific binding of antibodies, and as a stabilizer in enzyme reactions.

BSA is also used to create calibration curves for protein quantification assays like the Bradford assay. Its versatility, stability, and low cost make it a staple in research laboratories.

However, researchers must ensure that BSA does not interfere with their specific experimental conditions.