Protocols
ACID FUCHSINE C.I. 42685
Properties
UV-VIS range: 542-546
Min. Dye Content: 60%
Molecular Formula: C20H17N3Na2O9S3 or C20H17CaN3O9S3
Formula Weight: 585.55 or 579.65
Appearance: Green Crystaline Powder
Dye Class: Aminotriarylmethane
Biological Applications: Widely used plasma stain, which also has many other uses including staining connective tissue, mitochondria, and unaborted pollen grains.
Commercial Applications: Textile Dye, dyeing of crepe paper, soap, and photographic film.
ALCIAN BLUE 8G C.I.: 74240
Properties
UV-VIS range: 611-620nm in water
Min. Dye Content: 50%
Molecular Formula: C56H68Cl4CuN16S4
Formula Weight:1298.88
Appearance: Dark blue-violet powder
Dye Class: Phthalocyanin
Biological Applications: differential stain for acidic polysaccharides, distinguishing sulfomucins, sialomucins and uronic acid mucins.
Commercial Applications: Dye print cellulosic substrates and as a gelling agent for lubricating oils.
Note: In the early 2000s there appeared to be a shortage of alcian blue due to the lack of production. Currently at least one manufacturer produces alcian blue 8G that is certified by the BSC. Substitute dyes are being testing in procedures calling for alcian blue 8GX. One substitute dye that works well in at least some of these procedures is the alcian blue pyridine variant.
ANILINE BLUE C.I. 42780
Properties
UV-VIS range: 594-610
Appearance: Purple-Brown Powder
Dye Class: Aminotriarylmethane
Biological Applications: Widely used as a counter stain, collagen stain, connective tissue stain, and in bacteriological media.
Commercial Applications: Limited use as an indicator, formerly used as a basic dye in textiles.
Note: Aniline Blue is a mixture of water soluble Acid Blue 22 (CI 42755) and Acid Blue 93 (CI 42780). For details, see Conn’s Biological Stains, 4th edition (2002), Chapter 14.