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Hematoxylin Powder, Biological Stain for Histology & Cytology — CAS 517-28-2
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Hematoxylin Powder
Biological Stain for Histology & Cytology — CAS 517-28-2
Cat. No. ASD-610
Biological Stain Grade
C₁₆H₁₄O₆ · xH₂O
MW 302.28 g/mol
🇦🇺 Made in Melbourne
⚡ Same-Week Dispatch
Overview & Biochemistry
Hematoxylin is the principal nuclear stain in histology and cytology, underpinning the H&E (Haematoxylin and Eosin) technique used in virtually every diagnostic pathology and research laboratory worldwide. In its native form hematoxylin is colourless — it must first be oxidised to hematein and then complexed with a divalent metal mordant (typically aluminium or iron) to form an active dye–mordant–tissue complex that selectively binds to acidic nucleic acids and chromatin, producing the characteristic blue-purple nuclear coloration.
Mode of Action
Oxidation → Complexation → Selective Nuclear Binding
Hematoxylin is oxidised (naturally / ripening, or chemically with sodium iodate) to hematein. Complexation with a mordant — aluminium alum (Harris / Mayer's) or ferric ammonium sulfate (Weigert's) — forms a positively charged dye–mordant chelate. This cationic complex binds electrostatically to the negatively charged phosphate groups of DNA and RNA in the nucleus. At acid pH (differentiation step), only tightly bound chromatin complexes are retained, achieving precise nuclear specificity.
Hematoxylin is oxidised (naturally / ripening, or chemically with sodium iodate) to hematein. Complexation with a mordant — aluminium alum (Harris / Mayer's) or ferric ammonium sulfate (Weigert's) — forms a positively charged dye–mordant chelate. This cationic complex binds electrostatically to the negatively charged phosphate groups of DNA and RNA in the nucleus. At acid pH (differentiation step), only tightly bound chromatin complexes are retained, achieving precise nuclear specificity.
Applications
🔬
H&E Staining
Standard histology protocol
🧬
Cytology
Papanicolaou preparations
🧠
Neuropathology
Neural tissue architecture
🪪
Tumour Pathology
Mitotic index, cell morphology
🧮
Research
Custom stain formulations
🏫
Education
Teaching labs & demonstrations
Compatible Formulations
| Formulation | Mordant | Oxidant | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris Hematoxylin | Potassium alum | HgO or NaIO₃ | Routine H&E; general histology |
| Mayer's Hematoxylin | Potassium alum + citric acid | Sodium iodate | IHC counterstain |
| Gill's Hematoxylin | Aluminium sulfate | Sodium iodate | Cytology, Pap smear |
| Ehrlich's Hematoxylin | Potassium alum + acetic acid | Natural ripening | Nuclear staining; parasite sections |
| Weigert's Hematoxylin | Ferric chloride | Ferric ammonium sulfate | Elastic fibres; connective tissue |
| Delafield's Hematoxylin | Aluminium hydroxide | Natural ripening | Botanical; invertebrate histology |
Typical Preparation Protocol — Harris Hematoxylin
| 1 | Dissolve 1 g Hematoxylin Powder (ASD-610) in 10 mL absolute ethanol with gentle warming if needed. Set aside. |
| 2 | Dissolve 20 g potassium alum in 200 mL hot distilled water. Combine with the hematoxylin–ethanol solution while stirring. |
| 3 | Bring the mixture rapidly to a boil. Slowly add 0.5 g mercuric oxide (or 0.2 g sodium iodate as a safer alternative). The solution will turn dark purple immediately. |
| 4 | Cool rapidly by placing the flask in an ice bath. Once cooled, add 8 mL glacial acetic acid to sharpen nuclear staining selectivity. |
| 5 | Filter through Whatman No. 1 before use. Chemical ripening method: ready immediately. Natural ripening: solution improves over 2–4 weeks stored in the dark. |
| 6 | Stain sections 3–8 minutes, differentiate in 1% acid-alcohol (1 mL HCl in 99 mL 70% ethanol), then blue in running tap water for 5 minutes before proceeding to eosin counterstain. |
⚠️ Note: Optimise staining time, mordant concentration, and differentiation steps for your specific tissue type, fixation method, and protocol. This guide is for reference only.
Cross-Reference / Equivalent Products
| Manufacturer | Product Name | Cat. No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma-Aldrich (Merck) | Hematoxylin | H3136 | Equivalent powder grade |
| Merck Millipore | Hematoxylin for microscopy (Certistain®) | 1.04302 | Equivalent powder grade |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific | Hematoxylin Solution, Modified Mayer's | H3125 | Ready-to-use solution; ASD-610 is powder |
| Atom Scientific | Hematoxylin Powder | BISH10 | Equivalent powder grade |
Cross-references are for convenience only. Catalogue numbers are trademarks of their respective owners.
Related Products
Chemical & Physical Properties
| Product Name | Hematoxylin Powder |
| Catalogue Number | ASD-610 |
| IUPAC Name | (6aS,11bR)-3,4,6a,9,10,11b-hexahydro-1H-benzo[c]chromen-1,6,9,10-tetraol |
| CAS Number | 517-28-2 |
| Molecular Formula | C₁₆H₁₄O₆ · xH₂O |
| Molecular Weight | 302.28 g/mol (anhydrous) |
| Grade | Biological Stain Grade |
| Appearance | Yellowish to light brown crystalline powder |
| Purity | ≥90% dye content (biological stain titration, CI 75290) |
| Solubility | Soluble in ethanol and alkaline solutions; slightly soluble in water; insoluble in chloroform and ether |
| Melting Point | ~200°C (with decomposition) |
| pH (1% aq. solution) | ~5.0–6.0 |
| Natural Source | Extracted from Haematoxylon campechianum (logwood heartwood) |
Quality Control Specifications
| Test Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Yellowish to light brown crystalline powder; free-flowing, free of clumps |
| Dye Content | ≥90% hematoxylin (titration) |
| Staining Performance | Distinct blue-purple nuclear staining in Harris formulation; clear nucleus–cytoplasm contrast |
| Solubility | Complete dissolution in 95% ethanol at 10 mg/mL |
| Moisture | ≤10% (variable — xH₂O hydration) |
| Heavy Metals | ≤20 ppm (ICP-OES) |
Storage & Stability
| Storage Temperature | 15–25°C (ambient, away from heat sources) |
| Container | Tightly sealed, light-resistant container |
| Protect From | Direct light, moisture, and oxidising agents |
| Shelf Life (powder) | 3 years from manufacture date when stored correctly |
| Prepared Solutions | Ripened hematoxylin solutions stable 6–12 months at RT in dark; discard if precipitate forms or staining weakens |
Literature & References
| # | Reference |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bancroft JD, Gamble M (eds). Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques. 6th ed. Churchill Livingstone; 2008. |
| 2 | Kiernan JA. Histological and Histochemical Methods: Theory and Practice. 4th ed. Scion Publishing; 2008. |
| 3 | Lyon H (ed). Theory and Strategy in Histochemistry. Springer; 1991. |
| 4 | Titford M. The long history of hematoxylin. Biotechnic & Histochemistry. 2005;80(2):73–78. |
| 5 | Boon ME, Kok LP. Microwave Cookbook of Pathology. 2nd ed. Coulomb Press; 1987. |
📄 Full SDS available: Download the complete 16-section GHS Safety Data Sheet (Australian WHS Regulations 2023 / GHS 7th Edition) — contact support@ausamics.com.au
Section 1 — Identification
| Product Name | Hematoxylin Powder |
| Catalogue No. | ASD-610 |
| Supplier | AuSaMicS Pty Ltd | ABN 56 676 640 467 |
| Address | 31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia |
| Emergency | Poisons Information Centre: 13 11 26 (24 hr, Australia) |
| Phone | +61 412 520 598 |
| support@ausamics.com.au |
Section 2 — Hazard Identification (GHS 7th Ed / WHS 2023)
| GHS Classification | Acute Tox. 4 (oral) — H302: Harmful if swallowed Eye Irrit. 2 — H319: Causes serious eye irritation Skin Sens. 1 — H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction Aquatic Chronic 2 — H411: Toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects |
| Signal Word | WARNING |
| GHS Pictograms | ⚠️ Exclamation mark | 🌿 Environmental hazard |
Sections 4–8 — First Aid, Fire & PPE
| Inhalation | Remove to fresh air. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist. |
| Skin Contact | Remove contaminated clothing. Wash with soap and water ≥15 min. Seek advice if irritation develops. |
| Eye Contact | Irrigate with large amounts of water ≥15 min, hold eyelids apart. Seek immediate medical attention. |
| Ingestion | Do NOT induce vomiting. Rinse mouth. Call Poisons Centre 13 11 26. Seek medical attention. |
| Extinguishing Media | Water spray, foam, dry powder, CO₂ |
| Respiratory Protection | P2 particulate filter respirator when handling bulk powder or generating dust |
| Eye Protection | Safety glasses or chemical splash goggles |
| Skin Protection | Nitrile gloves (≥0.11 mm), lab coat, closed footwear |
Sections 13–15 — Disposal, Transport & Regulatory
| Disposal | Dispose per local EPA regulations. Do not discharge to waterways (aquatic toxicity H411). |
| Transport | Not classified as dangerous goods — ADG Code, IMDG, IATA |
| Regulatory Framework | Australian WHS Regulations 2023 | GHS 7th Edition | Safe Work Australia COP 2021 |
| AICIS Status | Listed on Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AIIC) |
| Poisons Schedule | Not scheduled under SUSMP |
Quality Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Yellowish to light brown crystalline powder; free-flowing | Visual |
| Dye Content | ≥90% | Dye content titration (CI 75290) |
| Staining Performance | Clear blue-purple nuclear staining; nuclei distinctly differentiated from cytoplasm | Functional staining test (Harris formulation) |
| Solubility | Complete dissolution in 95% ethanol at 10 mg/mL | Visual inspection |
| Water Content | ≤10% | Loss on drying |
| Heavy Metals | ≤20 ppm | ICP-OES |
Manufacturing & Documentation
Manufactured by AuSaMicS Pty Ltd
31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia | ABN 56 676 640 467
✓ Batch-level quality control on every lot
✓ Full GHS-compliant documentation (COA, TDS, SDS)
✓ Australian stock — no import delays, no customs holdups
✓ Technical support direct from our formulation team
31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia | ABN 56 676 640 467
✓ Batch-level quality control on every lot
✓ Full GHS-compliant documentation (COA, TDS, SDS)
✓ Australian stock — no import delays, no customs holdups
✓ Technical support direct from our formulation team
Available Documentation
| 📄 Certificate of Analysis (COA) | Batch-specific | Available on request |
| 📋 Technical Data Sheet (TDS) | Full specifications and preparation notes |
| ⚠️ Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | GHS 7th Ed | WHS 2023 compliant | 16 sections |
⚠️ Intended Use: For laboratory and research use only. Not for diagnostic, clinical, therapeutic, human, or veterinary use.