Iodine and food colourants as stains

artieanna · 2008-12-08 22:26:14

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:)

08-12-2008 11:26PM

#1

artieanna

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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:)

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#2 10-12-2008 06:51PM

2Scoops

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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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