McLachlan's Alum Hematoxylin
This formulation has been named in honor of Dr. H.K.I. McLachlan FRCPA at the request of the originator, Mike Rentsch.
Materials
| Material | Variant | Function | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Var I | Var II | ||
| Hematoxylin | 2 g | 2 g | Dye |
| Aluminum sulphate | 17.5 g | – | Mordant |
| Ammonium alum | – | 25 g | Mordant |
| Distilled water | 700 mL | 700 mL | Solvent |
| Glycerol | 300 mL | 300 mL | Stabiliser |
| Sodium iodate | 0.2 g | 0.2 g | Oxidant |
| Glacial acetic acid | 20 mL | 20 mL | Acidifier |
Compounding Procedure
- Dissolve the aluminum sulphate or the Alum in about 500 mL water.
- Add the hematoxylin and dissolve.
- Add the acetic acid and mix well.
- Warm the glycerol to reduce viscosity, and add to the mixture.
- Mix well, then make up to 1 litre with water.
- Add the iodate and mix for 5-10 minutes.
- Store in a tightly capped bottle in the dark.
- The solution remains usable for 2-5 years.
Protocol
- Bring sections to water with xylene and ethanol.
- Place paraffin sections in the staining solution for 2-4 minutes and frozen sections for 40-60 seconds.
- Rinse with water and blue.
- Rinse well with water.
- Counterstain if desired.
- Dehydrate with ethanol, clear with xylene and mount with a resinous medium.
Expected Results
- Nuclei – blue
- Background – as counterstain or unstained
Notes
- This is a progressive solution.
- Blueing is done with alkaline solutions such as hard tap water, Scott’s tap water substitute, 0.1% ammonia water, 1% aqueous sodium acetate, 0.5% aqueous lithium carbonate etc.
Safety Note
Prior to handling any chemical, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for proper handling and safety precautions.
References
- Rentsch, M.
Australian Biostain P/L.
Personal communication via the internet.
