[Histonet] bluing in tap water?

[Tony Henwood]

I don't think you can blue too much.
If the pH is too high then it can bleach the haematoxylin.
Any mildly alkaline solution will do (in fact neutral tap water (pH 7)
will slowly get there.

The "special blueing" solutions available are many and varied:
Warm tap water, phosphate buffer (pH7-8), a weak sodium hydroxide
solution (< 0.5%), a lithium carbonate solution (saturated or a diluted
form), a few drops of ammonia in water, Scott's blueing solution, etc.

If you are worried about the alkalinity of your blueing solution check
it with some pH strips.
If the solution appears a slight pink (indicating that carry-over
haematoxylin is in its acidic state) then the pH will be acidic and need
replacing.

How can you tell if the Haematoxylin is blued? Check microscopically.

Regards

Tony Henwood JP, MSc, BAppSc, GradDipSysAnalys, CT(ASC)
Laboratory Manager & Senior Scientist
Tel: 612 9845 3306
Fax: 612 9845 3318
the children's hospital at westmead 
Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, Westmead 
Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145, AUSTRALIA 




-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Smith
Wanda
Sent: Tuesday, 13 January 2009 8:12 AM
To: Anne C Lewin; Eva Permaul
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] bluing in tap water?


What should the pH of tap water be to blue just right and not too
much??? 


WANDA G. SMITH, HTL(ASCP)HT
Pathology Supervisor
TRIDENT MEDICAL CENTER
9330 Medical Plaza Drive
Charleston, SC  29406
843-847-4586
843-847-4296 fax

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Anne C
Lewin
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 12:04 PM
To: Eva Permaul
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] bluing in tap water?

When I have used tap water, I use cold running water for 5 minutes.  
Works fairly well, depending on the pH of your tap water.

Eva Permaul wrote:

> Good morning,
> I was wondering if someone uses tap water to blue their slides after
> Hematoxyline. If yes, do you use warm or cold water and for how long?
> Thanks,
> Eva
> Georgetown University
>
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet


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