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Iodine and food colourants as stains

  • 08-12-2008 11:26PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,142 ✭✭✭


    I bought Iodine for staining cells and I'm just wondering if I got the correct solution. Its iodine tincture (contains ethanol). I have also been using food colourants as stains with mixed results.

    Can I buy true stains from a chemist or do I need to buy from special suppliers?

    Thanks for the help:)


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,845 ✭✭✭2Scoops


    I think that might be the wrong kind of iodine - but if it still works (?) and turns CHO black then use it.

    I doubt true histology stains would be available in a chemist, but you can try there first. Suppliers like Sigma, VWR, Invitrogen etc. would be a safer bet. Or if you only need a little, maybe you could ask some scientist friends who work in a lab or hospital to lend you a few mL.

    This page lists some common stains used in histology:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staining


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