Fuchsin (C.I. 42510)

This staining dye Fuchsin (C.I. 42510) - for microscopy Certistain^® is used for staining of acid-fast bacteria (AFB) according to Kinyoun and serves the purpose of the bacteriological and histological investigation of sample material of human origin, for example smears of enriched bacterial cultures or histological sections of e. g. the lung.
The cell wall of acid-fast bacteria has a high proportion of wax and lipids and hence absorbs dyes only very slowly. As a measure to enhance the absorption of the fuchsin dye and thus the formation of the mycolate-fuchsin complex in the cell wall, the carbolfuchsin solution applied to the specimen is normally heated to evaporation point. If the Kinyoun carbolfuchsin solution is used, the heating of the solution is dispensable. Consequently, the release of hazardous phenolic vapors will be avoided.
Once the acid-fast bacteria have absorbed the fuchsin dye, it is virtually impossible to decolorize them again, even when they are intensively treated with a decolorizing solution such as e. g. hydrochloric acid in ethanol. Accordingly, acid-fast bacteria are termed as acid- and alcohol-fast for staining, and are stained red in the microscopic visualization. Correspondingly, all non-acid-fast microorganisms are counterstained with an appropriate dye. In the present operating instructions is counterstained accordance with methylene blue.
Pretreatment of the specimens with Sputofluol^™ dissolves the bacteria from the surrounding viscid sputum and cell material. This product is registered as IVD and CE marked. For more details, please see instructions for use (IFU). The IFU can be downloaded from this webpage.

Dye content (spectrophotometrically): ≥ 80 %
Identity (UV/VIS-Spectrum): passes test
Absorption maximum λ max (ethanol 50 %): 549 - 552 nm
Spec. Absorptivity A 1%/1cm (λ_max; 0.003 g/l; ethanol 50 %): 2150 - 2710
TLC-Test: passes test
Loss on drying (110 °C): ≤ 15 %
Suitability for microscopy: passes test

CERTISTAIN is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

SPUTOFLUOL is a trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany