MasterTech Special Stain Kits

Stains for mycobacteria (acid fast bacteria) in less than 15 minutes.

This kit is suitable in lieu of and comparable to the Kinyoun’s AFB and Ziehl-Neelsen procedures for staining all mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The MasterTech AFB Stain Kit differs from these procedures in that is used for bacterial staining instead of a standard Carbol Fuchsin, and Light Green is used as a counterstain instead of Methylene Blue. In comparison to standard Carbol Fuchsins, MasterTech ACF™ requires no heat and much shorter staining times by combining all three fuchsin dyes. Light Green is a much better counterstain than Methylene Blue, as it provides higher contrast against the red stained bacteria.

Stains for mycobacteria (acid fast bacteria) in as little as 10 minutes.

This procedure is popular in labs which have a fluorescence capable microscope, as the contrast is much greater than standard light microscope procedures. Auramine O-Rhodamine B serves as the primary stain, producing fluorescent yellow to orange bacteria against a black background produced by Eriochrome Black T.

Stains acid mucins, neutral mucins, and glycogen in 60 minutes.

This kit contains a specially optimized Schiff’s solution which eliminates the Sulfurous rinse step, commonly found in similar stain kits on the market. This reduces staining time and exposure to sulfite fumes. Alcian Blue and Schiff’s serve as the primary stains, producing blue to purple stained acid mucins and pink to red neutral mucins or glycogen with blue nuceli counterstained by Hematoxylin.

Stains strongly sulfated mucins (mucosubstances) blue in 40 minutes.

This kit contains a specially formulated Nuclear Fast Red that reduces flocculation, not found in similar stain kits on the market. This greatly reduces staining artifacts and debris. Alcian Blue serves as the primary stain, producing vibrant blue stained mucins with the pink to red nuclei counterstained by Nuclear Fast Red. There is no filtration required when using MasterTech Nuclear Fast Red.

Stains acid mucins (mucosubstances) blue in 40 minutes.

This kit contains a specially formulated Nuclear Fast Red that reduces flocculation, not found in similar stain kits on the market. This greatly reduces staining artifacts and debris. Alcian Blue serves as the primary stain, producing vibrant blue stained mucins with the pink to red nuclei counterstained by Nuclear Fast Red. There is no filtration required when using MasterTech Nuclear Fast Red.

Stains for amyloid deposits in less than 15 minutes.

This kit is commonly used to stain for primary, secondary, myeloma-associated, or tumor-associated amyloidosis. Alkaline Congo Red Solution serves as the primary stain, producing pink to red amyloid deposits with blue nuclei counterstained by Hematoxylin.

Stains collagen, muscle, cytoplasm, chromatin, osteocytes, and neuroglia in 40 minutes.

Aniline Blue serves as the primary stain, producing blue collagen, reticulum fibers, and a pink to red cytoplasm, with orange to red Chromatin, neuroglia, osteocytes, and muscle, counterstained by the Azocarmine B.

Stains for the two types of muscle fibers and their subtypes in 50 minutes.

Traditional ATPase procedures employ the use of a barbiturate buffer, which is a controlled substance. American MasterTech’s Myofibrillar ATPase Stain Kit contains no barbiturates! In the MasterTech’s Myofibrillar ATPase Stain Kit a predominance of Type 1 fiber types typically indicates a myopathic condition, such as dystrophy, while a predominance of Type 2 fibers typically indicates a neuropathic condition. Type 1 Buffer stains small type 1 fibers black and type 2C fibers grey. Type 1&2BC Buffer stains small type 1 fibers black, 2B and 2C fibers grey to black. Type 2AB Buffer stains type 2A and 2B fibers black.

Stains axons, intracellular neurofibrils, and senile plaques in just 35 minutes.

This kit is suitable in lieu of and comparable to the Gros-Bielschowski’s, Sevier-Munger, Rio-Hortega, and Holmes’ procedures for staining axons. The MasterTech Modified Bielschowsky’s Stain Kit differs from these procedures through time required, ease of use, and consistency. The specially formulated stock developer solutions in the MasterTech kit removes the need to produce several intermediary developer solutions that add more than an hour to the procedure, involve using multiple hazardous chemicals such as concentrated nitric acid, and are extremely sensitive, translating to poor consistency. Silver Nitrate serves as both the primary stain and counterstain, producing black axons, neurofibrils, and senile plaques against a tan to gold background.

Developer solutions used with the Bielschowsky's Modified Stain Kit.