Merck, 1.01647, Alcian blue solution

General description
The Alcian blue solution, pH 2.5 - for microscopy, is a ready-to-use staining solution used for human-medical cell diagnosis and serves the histological investigation of sample material of human origin, for example histological sections of e. g. the intestine or stomach. The present ready-to-use Alcian blue solution, pH 2.5 can be used for the staining of acid mucopolysaccharides in histological tissue. Acidic mucosubstances are selectively stained in the tissue, after which the specimen is counterstained with nuclear fast red. An Acetic acid-Alcian blue solution is used for the staining, whereby carboxylated and sulfatic proteoglycans are selectively stained when a pH of 2.5 is applied. The differentiation between carboxyl and sulfate groups is only possible at pH 1. Counterstaining takes place with a nuclear fast red/aluminium sulfate solution (Cat. no.100121). The alcian blue staining method is frequently combined with the Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction. In combination with the PAS reaction, non-substituted polysaccharides, neutral mucopolysaccharides, muco- and glycoproteins and glycol- and phospholipids can be visualized in addition.
The 500 ml bottle is sufficient for 2000 - 3000 stainings.
As an IVD product and CE registered, it can be used hassle-free in diagnostics and laboratory accreditations. For more details, please see instructions for use (IFU). The IFU can be downloaded from this webpage.
Analysis Note
Suitability for microscopy: passes test
neutral mucopolysaccharides: purple
polysaccharides: purple
PAS negative acidic mucosubstances: light blue
Nuclei: blue