Lillie’s Formulation
Solution
| Material | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Pararosanilin | 1 | g |
| Distilled water | 100 | mL |
| Potassium metabisulfite | 2 | g |
| Hydrochloric acid, 1N | 20 | mL |
| Activated charcoal (powder) | 0.3 | g |
Preparation
- Bring the water to boiling.
- Remove from the heat and add the dye (be careful of foaming).
- Cool to 60° C and filter.
- Add the metabisulfite and the hydrochloric acid and mix well.
- Cover the opening and leave overnight or longer.
- Add the activated charcoal, shake well for about 1 minute and filter.
- Store at 0-5°C in a tightly stoppered bottle.
Notes
- Lillie specified sodium or potassium bisulfite or metabisulfite. According to the Merck Index, commercial sodium bisulfite is made predominantly of sodium metabisulfite, and for most purposes they are interchangeable.
- Lillie specified the dye as pararosanilin, rosanilin or new fuchsin. Pararosanilin is now known to produce the most consistent Schiff’s reagent, the other dyes being less satisfactory.
- The solution should be colorless or very pale amber. Brown solutions will often stain poorly. Usually these have been made from a batch of basic fuchsin containing too little pararosanilin.
Safety Note
Prior to handling any chemical, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for proper handling and safety precautions.
References
- Lillie, R.D., (1954)
Histopathologic technique and practical histochemistry Ed.2
Blakiston, New York, USA.
