Description
The VitroView™ Colloidal Iron Stain Kit is intended for the histological demonstration of acidic mucopolysaccharides and mucins in tissue sections. The staining procedure yields clear, contrasting coloration of mucin-containing structures, supporting morphological identification and evaluation via light microscopy.
This kit is optimized for use with well-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. It is applicable to routine histopathological diagnostics and biomedical research applications that require the identification of acidic mucins.
Key Kit Features
- High Versatility: Compatible with any properly fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples.
- Sharp Contrast: Delivers bright blue staining against a clean background for easy evaluation.
- Reliable Results: Streamlined protocol ensures consistent and reproducible staining runs.
Kit Components
| SKU# | Reagent | Size (ml) |
| VB-3027-1 | Acetic Acid Solution (12%) | 500 |
| VB-3027-2 | Hydrochloric Acid Solution (3%) | 125 |
| VB-3027-3 | Potassium Ferrocyanide Solution (3%) | 125 |
| VB-3027-4 | Colloidal Iron Stock Solution | 125 |
| VB-3027-5 | Van Gieson’s Solution | 125 |
Storage
Store at room temperature
Protocol
Thing to do before staining
- Working Colloidal Iron Solution.
- Acetic Acid Solution (12%) —————5 ml
- Distilled Water ——————————-15 ml
- Colloidal Iron Stock Solution———– 20 ml
Mix well.
- Working Iron Stain Solution
- Hydrochloric Acid Solution (3%) ——–20 ml
- Potassium Ferrocyanide Solution——- 20 ml
Mix well
Procedures
- Deparaffinize in xylene I for 6 minutes and II for 6 minutes.
- Rehydrate
- Ethanol 100% (1 minutes)
- Ethanol 100% (1 minutes)
- Ethanol 95% (1 minutes)
- Ethanol 95% (1 minutes)
- Ethanol 70% (1 minutes)
- Rinse in DI water (2 minutes).
- Cover tissue section with Acetic Acid Solution (12%) for 30 seconds.
- Place slide in Working Colloidal Iron Solution for 30 minutes with occasional gentle agitation. Use once and discard.
- Rinse thoroughly in 3 changes of Acetic Acid Solution (12%) for 2 minutes each.
- Stain slide in Working Iron Stain Solution for 10 minutes with occasional gentle agitation. Use once and discard.
- Rinse in 3 changes of distilled water.
- Stain tissue section with Van Gieson’s Solution for 30 seconds.
- Dehydrate in 3 changes of absolute alcohol.
- Clear with 3 changes of xylene (5 minute per change)
- Mount coverslip onto glass slide with Permount or some other suitable organic mounting medium.
Expected Results
- Acid mucopolysaccharides and sialomucins——–deep blue
- Collagen———————————————————red
Control Tissue
Large airway, Small intestine or Colon.
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Note
This product is intended for research purposes only. This product is not intended to be used for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes in humans or animals.
Precautions
Handle with care. Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing. Do not ingest. Wear gloves.




