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Bluing Reagents for H&E Staining
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Bluing Reagents for H&E Staining

Scotts Tap Water Substitute

  • Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) ---------- 30.0 g
  • Sodium bicarbonate ------------------- 2.0 g
  • Tap water ------------------------------ 3L
  • Mix well

Scotts Tap Water Substitute is a bluing reagent for histology and cytology staining. It blues hematoxylin gently. It is used as bluing agent for Gill’s hematoxylin H&E staining.

0.1% Sodium Bicarbonate:

  •       Sodium bicarbonate --------------------------- 1 g
  •       Distilled water --------------------------------- 1000 ml

      Mix to dissolve. The pH will be around 8.0 Store this solution at room temperature.

      Note: this solution worked better than ammonia water solution according to testing result.

      Bluing for 30 seconds to 1 minute after hematoxylin staining and clearing/differentiation.

0.2% Ammonia Water Solution (Bluing):

  •       Ammonium hydroxide (concentrated) ------ 2 ml
  •       Distilled water -------------------------------- 1000 ml

      Mix well. The pH will be around 10.0 Store this solution at room temperature.

      Note: this solution is not as good as sodium bicarbonate according to testing result.

      Bluing for 30 seconds to 1 minute after hematoxylin staining and clearing/differentiation.

Lithium Carbonate Solution (Saturated):

  •       Lithium carbonate ---------------------------- 1.54 g
  •       Distilled water -------------------------------- 100 ml

      Mix to dissolve and store at room temperature.

      Bluing for 30 seconds to 1 minute after hematoxylin staining and clearing/differentiation.

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