MICROBIOLOGY

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Stain Kits       Stain Concentrates       Ready-to-use Stains       Dyes for microbiology

Oils-Mountants-Fixatives-Buffers       Laboratory Solvents      

Click Product Number for pack size / pricing / and other information.

Superior quality ready to use stain packs.

Prepared using the highest quality materials to our own stringent quality standards. These reagents are stable,

pre-filtered through a 3-stage filtration process to eliminate the occurrence of potentially confusing dye particulates

on the slide. All reagents are supplied in polybottles fitted with dispenser nozzles to allow accurate application to

slides and economic use of reagent.

            SP400 - GRAM STAIN PACK              1 kit

            A high quality reagent set to carry out Gram Stain techniques.

            Contents : Crystal Violet-oxalate            250ml

                            Grams Iodine                        250ml

                            Grams Differentiator              250ml

                            Counterstain                         250ml

                            (3 alternatives offered)

                                                                                       Technical Instruction Leaflet provided.

          SP500 ZN-TB STAIN PACK                  1 kit

          For staining acid fast bacilli by the Zeihl-Neelsen technique,

          requirning the stain to be heated. This heating releases phenol

          vapours which are TOXIC and it is for this reason the KY-TB 

          technique is increasingly popular with technicians ( no heating

          required). See below.

          Contents:  ZN-Carbol Fuchsin                250ml

                          TB Differentiator                    250ml

                          Counterstain                        250ml

                                                                                        (2 alternatives offered)

                                                                                        Technical Instruction leaflet provided. 

          SP550 KY-TB STAIN PACK                    1 kit

          For staining acid fast bacilli at Room Temperature.

          (Removes the  need to heat the Primary stain reducing

          Phenol vapor contamination risk).

          Contents:    KY-Carbol Fuchsin               250ml

                            TB Differentiator                   250ml

                            Counterstain                        250ml

                            (2 alternatives offered)

                                                                                       Technical Instruction Leaflet provided

           SP600 TB-FLUORESCENT 1                   1 kit

           High quality stable reagent set to demonstrate acid fast

           bacilli by Fluorescence microscopy. Our special formulation

           provides a highly stable primary stain reagent offering

           long shelf life.

           Contents:    Auramine-phenol reagent       250ml

                             Auramine Differentiator          250ml

                             Potassium permanganate      250ml

                                                                      Technical Instruction Leaflet provided

                                                                      The Fluorescent method has been claimed to be more

                                                                      likely to reduce the chance of overlooking positive

                                                                      cases.

            SP610 TB-FLUORESCENT 2                    1 kit

           As SP600 above except offering an alternative fluorescent

           stain reagent.

           Again our formulation provides a highly stable reagent

           with a long shelf-life.

           Contents:    Auramine-Rhodamine Phenol    250ml

                             Auramine Differentiator             250ml

                             Potassium permanganate         250ml

                             Technical Instruction Leaflet provided

           SP700 ALBERTS STAIN PACK                  1 kit

           Modified reagent set to demonstrate volutin granules

           and  cytoplasm  in diphtheria organisms.

           [Modified Albert   technique].

           Contents:    Albert stain No: 1                    250ml

                             Fixative                                  250ml

                             Modified Albert stain No: 2       250ml

                             Technical Instruction Leaflet provided

For Cryptosporidia staining use  KY-TB set SP550

         SP300 DIFF-3 Kit                                         1 kit

         This is a very popular product. Used daily for routine

         blood cell differentiation. It has found many uses in

         Microbiology not least in CSF work, but also where

         micro-organisms can take up Azure(polychrome blue)

         dyes,  regularly used these days to rapidly identify

         Helicobacter .  We can provide technical help in this

         area if required.    Sample available on request  .

                                                                        There is a 6 page technical leaflet with the kit guiding

                                                                        the user through  the various uses of DIFF-3,

    some of which are:

                    -- Rapid Blood Cell differentiation

                    -- Parasite demonstration

                    -- H.Pylori demonstration in sections

                    -- Demonstrate azurophilic organisms

                    -- Spermatazoa demonstration.

   H.Pylori  [Diff-3]             Blood smear [Diff-3]

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Click Product Number for pack size / pricing / and other information.

A range of high quality, pre-filtered stain concentrates are offered to conveniently prepare all popular

microbiology stains. They are formulated to provide stable diluted reagents. [There are inherent

instabilities in some concentrates offered by some suppliers]. In most cases the concentrate is diluted

to 1 litre with deionised or distilled water and may be used immediately, some concentrates require

the addition of a small amount of common laboratory solvents to ensure reagent stability. See detail

following.

[Note: Ready-to-use reagents are stablised for long shelf life, ultafiltered to remove interfering particulates

and produce less lab bureaucracy and paperwork - they are the better choice -see after this section]

S1050    Auramine Phenol Concentrate                                             single pack  /    pack of 5   

              Concentrate contains stabilisers to produce 1 litre of long shelf life life Auramine Phenol

              for fluorescence microscopy (TB ). Produces crystal clear highly stable reagent, no need

              filter.[ Passes the brown-blob test]. Prepare with DI water.

S0160    Carbol Fuchsin - ZN Concentrate                                       single pack   /   pack of 5       

              Concentrate contains stabilisers to produce 1litre of  long shelf life Carbol-Fuchsin for

              use in the Ziehl Neelsen technique for TB and Acid Fast Bacilli. The stabilisers included

              prevent 'sludging' [precipitation of principle components] , helping to prevent the usual

              deterioration and provide long shelf life. Produces 1 litre. Prepare with DI water and alcohol.

S1040    Carbol Fuchsin - GRAM Concentrate                               single pack   /   pack of 5

              Produces  1 litre stablised Fuchsin [ Negative ] Stain in Gram techniques.

              Very high reagent stability offering long shelf life. Prepare with DI water.

S0230    Crystal violet Concentrate                                                  single pack   /   pack of 5

              Produces 1 litre stabilised Crystal violet primary gram stain containing oxalate .

              Very stable offering long shelf life. Prepare with DI water.

S0660    Grams Iodine Concentrate                                                 single pack   /   pack of 5

              The quickest and easiest way of preparing Iodine solution for use in Gram techniques.

              Produces 1 litre. Prepare with DI water.

S0680    Malachite Green Concentrate                                           single pack   /   pack of 5

              Produces 1 litre of highly stable Malachite green counterstain for use in TB [Acid Fast] staining.

              Prepare with DI water.

S0810    Methylene Blue Concentrate                                            single pack   /    pack of 5

              Produces 1 litre of aqueous Methylene Blue counterstain for use in TB [Acid Fast] staining.

              Prepare using DI water.

S0770    Methyl Violet Concentrate                                                single pack   /   pack of 5

              Produces 1 litre of stabilised aqueous Methyl Violet for use as primary Gram stain.

              Highly stable- long shelf life. Prepare using DI water.

S0950    Neutral Red Concentrate                                                       single pack   /   pack of 5

             Produces 1 litres of aqueous Neutral Red for use as  Negative stain in the Gram

             stain technique. Stable, long shelf life. Prepare using DI water. 

S1250    Safranine Concentrate                                                          single pack   /   pack of 5                        

             Produces 1 litre of aqueous Safranine for use as Negative stain in the Gram stain

             technique.  Stable, long shelf life. Prepare using DI water.

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Click Product Number for pack size / pricing / and other information.

There are growing Health & Safety and efficiency concerns about preparing reagents from basic ingredients or concentrates.

In preparing reagents - Concerns relate to handling hazardous, toxic or carcinogenic materials where adequate provision for the safe use of such materials may not have been provided in the laboratory.

Efficiency concerns relate to the growing requirement for some laboratories to keep batch/prep records, alot batch numbers, control and certify quality, alot shelf life and generally create a paper trail and increase bureaucratic burdens on laboratory staff.

The answer to both of these issues is to use ready-to-use products.

GCC has one of the largest ranges of ready-to-use stain and microscopy reagents in the world. We pay particular attention to the cleanliness of microbiology reagents to avoid particulate contaminants being confused for organisms of interest on the slide.

Each product is    -    Produced from the highest quality materials available.

                           -    Pre-filtered to remove interfering particulates.

                           -    Contains stabilised reagents for long shelf life.

                           -    Tested on appropriate clinical controls before release.

                                                                                                                                  Auramine Phenol

To help relieve the Health & Safety and bureaucracy concerns we are aiming to offer the ready-to-use product at a price so competitive that there will no real advantage to prepare them from basic materials or to use concentrates which in many cases result in unstable reagents from some sources.

Please contact us to negotiate a price you will be happy with.

Trial samples are available on request for any product - please just ask.

Comprehensive Microbiology stains and related reagents list follows, however , this list is not exhaustive and special formulations are available at your request.

Packaging : All Ready-To-Use reagents below are supplied in the following size bottles except where stated differently.

125ml and 250ml Dispenser nozzle plastic bottles.

500ml and 1 litre screw top plastic bottles.

S0006    Acridine Orange 0.1% Aq 

S0009    Alberts Stain Fixative Reagent                                          

S0010    Alberts Stain No. 1                                                            

S0020    Alberts Stain No. 2                                                              

S0030    Alcian Blue Reagent for Rickettsiae                                 

              For fluorochroming rickettsiae in sections and smears by Anderson & Greiffs method.

S0040    Aniline blue 1% aq                                                             

S0090    Auramine Phenol reagent                                                    

              Fluorescent stain for acid fast micro-organisms [Fluorescent TB stain]

              For Differentiator solution see S0100.

S0080    Auramine-Rhodamine Phenol reagent                                

              Fluorescent stain for acid fast micro-organisms [Fluorescent TB stain containing

              Rhodamine]. For Differentiator solution see S0100.

S0100    Auramine Differentiator                                                      

              Acid/alcohol differentiator (decolouriser) after staining with Auramine based stains

              in Fluorescent TB [Acid fast] methods.

              Bulk Supplies are available for all items in 5 and 25 lt sizes.

              Click Product Number for pack size / pricing / and other information.

S0105    Benzpyrene-Caffeine solution                                              

S1030    Carbol Fuchsin stain  reagent - GRAMS                                                    

              Fuchsin counterstain for use in Grams technique. Stabilised, long shelf life.

S0150    Carbol Fuchsin stain reagent - ZIEHL-NEELSEN  [ZN]

              Primary stain for acid fast bacilli in ZN technique [Acid Fast Stain].

              Requires heating [ risk of Phenol vapours in work area, item S0170 is more suitable

              as it does not require heat and therefore reduces the Phenol vapour risk.]

S0170    Carbol Fuchsin stain reagent - KINYOUN   [ KY]

              Primary stain for staining  acid fast bacilli at room temperature . ( No heating needed).

              Very effective stain for AFB at room temperature. Because there is no requirement to heat

              the slide in this technique there is a very much reduced risk of high Phenol concentrations

              in the work area.

S0210    Cotton-blue lactophenol 

              For staining pollen grains, fungal mycelium & spores, bacteria .

              (Also known as Blue lactophenol/ Aniline blue lactophenol)

S0250    Crystal violet -oxalate solution

              Primary Gram Stain. The is a high quality, stabilised product containing oxalate to

              improve performance. The product is 3-stage filtered to remove interfering particulates.

              Smaller sizes supplied in dispenser nozzle bottles to allow accurate application to slides.

              Use in all application s that call for aqueous crystal violet solution.

S0240    Crystal violet 0.5% ALC

              Alcoholic Crystal violet solution.

S0340    Fields Stain A

              Use with Fields stain B to demonstrate Malarial parasites in blood.

              Filtered, stable product, long shelf life.

S0350    Fields Stain B

              Use with Fields Stain A to demonstrate Malarial parasites in blood.

               Filtered, stable product, long shelf life.

S0355    Fields Stain TWINPACK                            2 x 1lt set

              Contains 2 x 1lt each of Fields stain A & B.  For convenience and saves money on

              ordering the individual reagents.

S0360    Fuchsin Basic Saturated solution

              Saturated alcoholoc Fuchsin solution

S0380    Gentian Violet Saturated solution

              Saturated alcoholic Gentian violet solution.

S1040    Grams Iodine solution

              Iodine solution for use in Gram technique.

S0420    Gram Differentiator [ Decolouriser]

              Decolouriser for use in Gram technique.

S0570    India Ink         30ml pack          

              Our own formulation India Ink for microscopy.

S0572    Iodine solution [ Dobell & O'Connors]

              Supplied in 30ml Dropper bottle.

S0590    Lactophenol

              Use as a clearing agent and mounting medium after staining with Lactophenol based stains.

              Lactophenol Cotton Blue see S0210

S0650    Lugols Iodine solution

              General use. Supplied in glass screwtop bottles.

S0670    Malachite Green Counterstain

              0.5% w/v Aq solution for use as counterstain in ZN-TB or KY-TB technique.

              Stablised, filtered, long shelf life. Smaller pack sizes supplied in dispenser nozzle bottles.

S0760    Methyl violet 0.5% Aq solution.

              Primary Gram Stain ( alternative to Crystal violet).

              Stabilsed, filtered long shelf life. Added oxalate to enhance performance.

S0790    Methylene blue 1% Aq.

              Aqueous Methylene blue for use as counterstain in ZN-TB or KY-TB technique

              or general use .

S0800    Methylene Blue 1% Alc.

              Alcoholic 1% Methylene blue for general use.

S0830    Methylene Blue solution [Leofflers]

              Alkaline Methylene Blue for general use and as TB Counterstain.

              (Where longer shelf life TB Counterstain is required select S0790)

S0845    Methylene Blue solution [McFadyean]

              McFadyeans Methylene blue stain reagent.

S0910    Methylene Blue solution polychromed.

              Chemically polychromed stain according to Unna.

              Use where polychromed methylene blue is requested.

S0870    Neisser Stain A

              Methylene blue based stain reagent according to Neisser.

              Use with Neisser Stain B & ( C or D)

S0880    Neisser Stain B

              Crystal violet based stain reagent according to Neisser.

              Use with Neisser Stain A & (C or D)

S0890    Neisser Stain C

              Counterstain to Neisser Stain A & B. Based on Bismark brown.

S0900    Neisser Stain C

              Counterstain to Neisser Stain A & B. Based on Chrysoidin.

S0920    Neutral Red 1% Aq.

              Common counterstain in Gram Technique. Stabilised, filtered, long shelf life reagent.

S0930    Neutral Red 1% Alc.

              1% alcoholic Neutral Red for general use and where specified.

S0960    Neutral Red-Light Green Reagent [ Tworts Stain]

              Modified Tworts stain stock solution. Fast Green is used instead of Light Green 

              as originally used Fast Green has much greater light fastness properties.  

S0990    Nigrosine solution Aq.

              5% Nigrosine, stabilised and filtered for demonstration of Spirochetes.

              Common substitute for India Ink.

S1130    Polyvinyl lactophenol

              Stain base media and mountant where it is specified in methods.

S1240    Safranine solution Aq.

              Common counterstain in Gram techniques. 1% aqueous Safranine, stablised,

              filtered, long shelf life reagent.

S1230    Safranine solution Alc.

              Alcoholic 1% Safranine for general use and where specified in methods. 

S1260    Schorrs Stain

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Click Product Number for pack size / pricing / and other information.

DIFFERENTIATORS (Decolourisers)   

S0100    Auramine Differentiator reagent

              Saline acid alcohol decolouriser/differentiator in Fluorescent TB technique.

S0420    Gram Differentiator reagent

              To decolourise after Crystal violet/iodine staining.

S0175    TB Differentiator reagent

              Acid-alcohol decolouriser for use after carbol fuchsin step in ZN or 

              KY (cold acid fast) technique.

MOUNTANTS     

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M050    Aqueous Mountant

              Polymer based mountant for everyday use. Trial sample available on request.

M010    Apathays Mountant

              Traditional Apathays medium

M170    Farrants Mounting medium

M400    UV Free Aqueous Mountant

              Trial sample available on request

M410    UV Free Mountant [ Xylene based]

              Trial sample available on request. Supplied in glass scew top bottles.

FIXATIVES

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For a comprehensive range of Fixatives see Histology Section 

M180    NBF 10                                  

             10% Neutral Buffered Formalin.

M200    Formal-Saline                          

             10% Formaldehyde-saline fixative

09190    Methanol anhydrous                   

              Fixative quality

09290    Ethanol 99% denatured           

              For other Ethanol grades and other reagents see Laboratory solvents

OILS

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All oils are supplied in dispenser nozzle bottles as shown in 3 sizes, 60ml / 125ml and 250ml.

M245    Immersion oil                                                                                   

             General purpose (low RI). RI: 1.14-1.15

M250    Immersion oil  [standard use]   

             General purpose. RI: 1.50 - 1.51

             Recommended for everyday use with immersion lenses.

M255    Immersion oil  [critical]             

             Particulate free, guaranteed RI: 1.517 - 1.518

M252    Immersion oil HV                     

             High viscosity oil for specialised applications.

             RI: 1.515  . Trial sample available on request.

M260    Cedarwood oil                         

             Suitable for use as an immersion oil. Screw top glass bottle.

BUFFERS

Biological Buffers Section

Please use the link above for a comprehensive range of Biological Buffers for all purposes.

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Click Product Number for pack size / pricing / and other information.

                    We offer 250 biological dyes and stains in pure or compound form.

                    All of our dyes a subject to a series of chemical and clinical

                    controls to ensure their absolute suitability for their most common

                    intended uses. The list below is a selection of the most commonly

used dyes in Microbiology.    For a comprehensive list, this can be found in the Histology Section

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