Bluing Reagent is intended to be used as an aid in hematoxylin staining for the diagnosis of general pathology specimens. Bluing Reagent is a buffered alkaline rinse that shifts the final hue of hematoxylin from reddish-blue to traditional blue-purple. Unlike ammonia water and lithium carbonate, Bluing Reagent inhibits pH changes that can adversely affect nuclear detail and “crispness”.

Bluing Reagent is intended to be used as an aid in hematoxylin staining for the diagnosis of general pathology specimens. Bluing Reagent is a buffered alkaline rinse that shifts the final hue of hematoxylin from reddish-blue to traditional blue-purple. Unlike ammonia water and lithium carbonate, Bluing Reagent inhibits pH changes that can adversely affect nuclear detail and “crispness”.

Clarifier™ 1 is a reagent designed to eliminate background staining sometimes caused by excessive adhesives in the water bath such as gelatin. Clarifier™ 1 selectively removes hematoxylin staining from excess adhesive without affecting nuclear staining. This product is only effective with progressive staining and should not be used with regressive stains. Clarifier™ 1 is designed for use after staining with progressive hematoxylins. After tissues have been sufficiently stained with a progressive hematoxylin, slides are removed from the stain and excess hematoxylin is removed by rinsing the sections in water. The sections are then placed into Clarifier™ 1 for 30 seconds to 1 minute. A 1-minute water rinse should follow as this stops the reaction and rinses excess acid from the tissue section. If Clarifier™ 1 is not successful in removing the background staining, use Clarifier™ 2 in its place with a possible time reduction.

Clarifier™ 2 is an aqueous glacial acetic acid rinse designed to eliminate background staining sometimes caused by excessive adhesives in the water bath such as gelatin. Clarifier™ 2 selectively removes hematoxylin staining from excess adhesive without affecting nuclear staining. This product is only effective with progressive staining an should not be used with regressive stains. Clarifier 2 was designed to be used in histology only. Clarifier™ 2 is designed for use after staining with progressive hematoxylins. After tissues have been sufficiently stained with a progressive hematoxylin, slides are removed from the stain and excess hematoxylin is removed by rinsing the sections in water. The sections are then placed into Clarifier™ 2 for 20 seconds to 40 seconds. A 1-minute water rinse should follow as this stops the reaction and rinses excess acid from the tissue section.

Differentiating Solution is intended to be used as an aid in hematoxylin staining for the diagnosis of general pathology specimens. Differentiating Solution is an acid alcohol solution to be used with the Modified Harris Hematoxylin. It is formulated as a standard 1% hydrochloric acid in 70% alcohol solution and will provide consistent differentiation results. Differentiating Solution’s mode of action is that it aggressively reacts with the tissue dye-lake complex in nuclear chromatin, resulting in the removal of the stain. Due to weak bonding in the cytoplasm, hematoxylin in this area is also easily and completely removed. Generally, two to four quick dips will be adequate for differentiation when using Differentiating Solution, followed by a 1-minute water rinse to stop the reaction and fully remove the acid from the tissue.

Differentiating Solution is intended to be used as an aid in hematoxylin staining for the diagnosis of general pathology specimens. Differentiating Solution is an acid alcohol solution to be used with the Modified Harris Hematoxylin. It is formulated as a standard 1% hydrochloric acid in 70% alcohol solution and will provide consistent differentiation results. Differentiating Solution’s mode of action is that it aggressively reacts with the tissue dye-lake complex in nuclear chromatin, resulting in the removal of the stain. Due to weak bonding in the cytoplasm, hematoxylin in this area is also easily and completely removed. Generally, two to four quick dips will be adequate for differentiation when using Differentiating Solution, followed by a 1-minute water rinse to stop the reaction and fully remove the acid from the tissue.

Clarifier™ 1 is a reagent designed to eliminate background staining sometimes caused by excessive adhesives in the water bath such as gelatin. Clarifier™ 1 selectively removes hematoxylin staining from excess adhesive without affecting nuclear staining. This product is only effective with progressive staining and should not be used with regressive stains. Clarifier™ 1 is designed for use after staining with progressive hematoxylins. After tissues have been sufficiently stained with a progressive hematoxylin, slides are removed from the stain and excess hematoxylin is removed by rinsing the sections in water. The sections are then placed into Clarifier™ 1 for 30 seconds to 1 minute. A 1-minute water rinse should follow as this stops the reaction and rinses excess acid from the tissue section. If Clarifier™ 1 is not successful in removing the background staining, use Clarifier™ 2 in its place with a possible time reduction.

Clarifier™ 2 is an aqueous glacial acetic acid rinse designed to eliminate background staining sometimes caused by excessive adhesives in the water bath such as gelatin. Clarifier™ 2 selectively removes hematoxylin staining from excess adhesive without affecting nuclear staining. This product is only effective with progressive staining an should not be used with regressive stains. Clarifier 2 was designed to be used in histology only. Clarifier™ 2 is designed for use after staining with progressive hematoxylins. After tissues have been sufficiently stained with a progressive hematoxylin, slides are removed from the stain and excess hematoxylin is removed by rinsing the sections in water. The sections are then placed into Clarifier™ 2 for 20 seconds to 40 seconds. A 1-minute water rinse should follow as this stops the reaction and rinses excess acid from the tissue section.

The Amyloid Stain kit is a special stain technique to identify amyloid in tissue sections. Amyloid, a fiber-like protein, can be stained with Congo Red solution. Sodium Hydroxide is added to the solution to break down hydrogen bonds between adjacent amyloid fibers allowing more bonding sites for the Congo Red. A light counterstain with Mayer’s hematoxylin allows contrast. Amyloid can be best detected by the use of green birefringence under a polarized lens of a light microscope. Care should be taken to section tissue sections at a thickness of 7-10 microns for optimal staining.

Modified Grocott’s Methenamine Silver Stain Kit (Chromic Acid) is intended for use as an aid to identify fungal organisms and basement membranes in tissue sections for the diagnosis of general pathology specimens. Fungal cell walls are rich in polysaccharides known as glucans. Treatment with either periodic acid or chromic acid oxidizes these polysaccharides to form aldehyde groups; however, chromic acid is the stronger oxidizer. Chromic acid will achieve a greater degree of oxidation, rendering some chemical groups non-reactive with silver so that they are not demonstrated within the final stain. This greater level of oxidation also results in reduced background staining of basement membranes and collagen fibers, as well as more effective demonstration of Pneumocystis jiroveci (formerly classified as Pneumocystis carinii) and Histoplasma capsulatum (the causative organism of Histoplasmosis). After oxidation, Sodium Metabisulfite Solution removes residual Chromic Acid Solution from the tissue. The aldehyde groups react with the silver ions present in the Working Methenamine Silver Solution and reduce them to form visible metallic silver. Gold Chloride Solution tones the sections and intensifies the reduced silver by forming a silver-gold complex. Sodium Thiosulfate Solution removes any unreduced silver from the tissue sections, followed by Fast Green Stain Solution which produces a light green background to further enhance contrast.