Carbol Fuchsin Variants
Solution
| Variant | Dye | Phenol | Ethanol | Water | Other | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | CI Number | Amount | |||||
| Ziehl | Basic fuchsin | 40510 | 1 g | 5 g | 90%, 10 mL | 100 mL | |
| Albrecht | 4 g | 8 g | 95%, 20 mL | 100 mL | |||
| Davalos | 10 g | 5 g | Abs, 1 mL | 100 mL | |||
| Goodpasture | 0.5 g | 1 g | 95%, 20 mL | 80 mL | Aniline, 1 mL | ||
| Huntoon | 0.6 g | 3.75 g | 75 mL | Glycerol, 25 mL | |||
| Kinyoun | 4 g | 8 mL | 95%, 20 mL | 100 mL | Molten phenol | ||
| Muller | 4 g | 8 g | 95%, 20 mL | 100 mL | Tergotol 7, 0.1 mL | ||
| Pottenger | 1.6 g | 5 g | 95%, 15 mL | 80 mL | |||
| Verhoeff | 2 g | 25 mL | Abs, 50 mL | Molten phenol | |||
| Fite | New fuchsin | 42520 | 0.5 g | 5 g | 90 mL | Methanol, 10 mL | |
| Putt | 1 g | 5 g | 90 mL | Methanol, 10 mL | |||
| Tilden | 0.5 g | 5 g | 90 mL | Methanol, 10 mL | |||
| Lillie | Night blue | 44085 | 1 g | 5 g | Abs, 10 mL | 90 mL | |
| Lillie | Victoria blue R | 44040 | 1 g | 5 g | Abs, 10 mL | 90 mL | |
| Kuper May | Auramine O | 41000 | 1.5 g | 10 mL | 95%, 20 mL | 50 mL | Glycerol, 75 mL |
| Kuper May | Rhodamine B | 45170 | 0.75 g | 10 mL | 95%, 20 mL | 50 mL | Molten phenol |
Preparation
Different instructions have been given for compounding. Ziehl’s solution is prepared according to instruction A. Others specify instructions similar to B. Verhoeff’s follows C.
Option A
- Grind the dye with the phenol using a pestle and mortar.
- Add the ethanol in small amounts while grinding to dissolve the dye, collecting the dissolved dye each time.
- When all the dye is dissolved, add the water in several small amounts.
- Wash out the mortar each time and collect the washings.
- Filter before using.
Option B
- Dissolve the dye in the ethanol and the phenol in the water.
- When both are dissolved, combine and mix well.
- Filter before use.
Option C
- Combine all the ingredients.
- Place in a 60°C oven overnight.
- Cool and filter.
Notes
- Phenol has a density of 1.07 grams per mL. Melting phenol and measuring volumetrically compared to simply weighing gives a difference of 7%. This is not likely to cause staining failures. As an example, Ziehl’s formula requires 5 grams phenol, but if 5 mL is measured volumetrically the amount used would be 5.35 grams. In most cases this difference is likely insignificant. An exception would be Verhoeff’s as 25 mL molten phenol equates to 26.75 grams.
- Because of the high ethanol content an open flame should not be used with Verhoeff’s solution.
Safety Note
Prior to handling any chemical, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for proper handling and safety precautions.
References
- Gray, Peter. (1954)
The Microtomist’s Formulary and Guide. p.
Originally published by: The Blakiston Co.
Republished by: Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co. - Culling, C.F.A., Alison, R.T. and Barr, W.T. (1985)
Cellular Pathology Technique, 4th ed.
Butterworths, London, UK. - Putt, F.A., (1972)
Manual of histopathological staining methods
John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, USA - Humason, G.L., (1967)
Animal Tissue Techniques
W.H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco, CA, USA - Lillie, R.D.,
Histopathologic Technic and Practical Histochemistry
McGraw-Hill, New York, USA
