Microscope Staining Kits

Buyer's Guide


Staining

In microscopy, staining refers to the use of stains and dyes for the purposes of enhancing the visibility of a specimen (object under observation). Microscope Staining kits are particularly used for transparent samples, which tend to have very little contrast between the point of interest and other areas of the specimen.

For instance, if it is not possible to clearly distinguish between the nucleus of a cell and other cell components (organelles), a suitable stain can be used to make the nucleus more visible by imparting color on it. This therefore makes staining one of the most important techniques in microscopy.




Common examples of stains/dyes used in microscopy include:

 

·      Hematoxylin

·      Methylene blue

·      Malachite green

·      Iodine

·      Carbol fuchsin

·      Eosin Y




Microscope Staining Kits

A staining kit is a kit composed of a specified number of biological stains. Different kits contain different numbers of different types of stains depending on intended use.

Apart from the stains, staining kits also often come with an instruction manual and safety data sheet to guide the user. This helps ensure that the stains are used appropriately and safely for the best outcome possible.


Depending on the kit, some of the other items that may be included in a microscope staining kit include:

 

  • Gloves
  • Absorbent pads
  • Droppers
  • Pre-stained slides (sample)

 

While staining may appear to be an easy task, that is not necessarily the case. If not done correctly, the overall outcome may be disappointing with unclear images under the microscope and wasted stains. For this reason, particularly for those who are just beginning, it is better to buy a stain kit given that it presents several advantages.

One of the biggest advantage of purchasing a microscope staining kit is that it eliminates the need to prepare the stain. A number of stains used for microscopy purposes have to be prepared using several components, which not only takes a long time, but also requires one to have a specific laboratory equipment. Buying a staining kit is much cheaper and eliminates all the trouble.

The other benefit of buying a staining kit is that it comes with instructions, which informs the user on such things and the amount to use for a given specimen, how to store the stain, and what to avoid etc. This greatly contributes to positive outcomes.

Here, the benefit is that through the instructions and even samples, the user gets to understand how to use different types of stains on different specimens and what to expect with different specimens. With a staining kit therefore, it is much easier and safer to stain specimens by following the instruction manual.

In a staining kit, all the stains are kept in the right conditions. For example, with stains like Carbol fuchsin, it is necessary that they be kept from light, which can disintegrate them. For this reason, they are stored in dark flasks and away from direct sunlight. By following the instruction manual, ensures that the stains continue providing the best results for a long time.



Staining kits provide a number of benefits, which include ease of use, staining instructions and the fact that they are relatively cheap as compared to preparing the stains. The fact that a single kit contains several stains in addition to several other items makes the kit worth purchasing.

While supervision for younger kids is important, staining kits can be used by anyone, which means a lot of convenience for users. In conclusion therefore, a staining kit is worth buying for those interested in microscopy.

Here, learn more about Cell Division, Cell Differentiation, Cell Proliferation and Pentose Phosphate Pathway

See articles on Cell Culture, Cell Staining and Gram Stain.

What are the Differences between a Plant Cell and an Animal Cell?

Check out information on Cell Theory.

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