What color should hematoxyline normally be? - (Jul/16/2008 )

we have a very old hematoxyline solution in our lab and it has a dark reddish color? I think hematoxyline should be purple or blue !!! Shouldn't it ?

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Most haemotoxylin is a very dark reddish purple as far as I know. Old solutions need to be filtered before use.

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it stains blue (after differentiation) but the soln is a murky purple/red

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yes it is very dark reddish purple... and stains tissue in purple and blue.

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I think you should check the expiry date. But for me I would stop using it once it doesnt give good blue purple color. It means I still use it even it has exceed expiry date.

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Use it as long as it gives the right staining. We used hematoxylin which was around fro ages. But we would get the right counterstain with that so we never bothered to change it. We might some times change the incubation time with the hematoxylin but use the same solution.

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