Methylene blue is a chemical dye which is popularly used in microbiology for staining. Methylene blue is also called methylthioninium chloride. Medically, it is used to treat diseases such as methemoglobinemia, cyanide poisoning, urinary tract infections, etc. The dye is used in laboratories as a part of several staining protocols such as Wright’s stain and Jenner’s stain. It is incorporated int slides and gels for the examination of DNA or RNA, and even during the hybridization step of northern blotting. Methylene blue can also be used in cell biology to differentiate between live and dead cells. Viable cells have the ability to reduce the methylene blue, which leaves the cells colourless. Further, dead cells cannot reduce the dye and hence, they stain a blue colour. Decolourization may be done using Acid Fast Decolourizer.

Specifications:

Product name: Methylene Blue

Brand: Micromaster

Formula: C16H18ClN3S

Molecular mass: 319.85 g/mol

Ingredients:

– Methylene blue = 10g/L

– Distilled water = 1000L

Storage: Store at room temperature