Biological Stain Commission

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The Biological Stain Commission (BSC) is an organization that provides third-party testing and certification of dyes and a few other compounds that are used to enhance contrast in specimens examined in biological and medical laboratories.

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The BSC is a century-old organization well known to many thousands of scientists, worldwide but especially in N America, who buy BSC-certified stains for staining microscopic preparations and for making selective culture media for bacteria. Manufacturers and other vendors submit samples from their batches of dyes to the BSC's independent laboratory in Rochester NY. The BSC's certification label on a bottle of dye indicates that the contents are from a batch that passed the tests for chemical purity and for efficacy as a biological stain. These tests are published (Penney et al. 2002a). Changes to tests and additions to the list of stains eligible for certification are published from time to time in Biotechnic & Histochemistry and are summarized on the commission's web site. [1] A BSC-certified stain rarely costs more than a non-certified one with the same name.

The BSC is a non-profit organization, incorporated in the State of New York, for the purpose of ensuring a supply of high quality stains (mostly dyes) for use in biological and medical laboratories. Its origins date from 1922, when vendors of biological stains in the USA had exhausted their stocks of pre-war dyes imported from Germany. American dye manufacturers at that time were unable to produce products that were consistently reliable in histological microtechnique and bacteriology (Conn 1980–1981; Penney 2000).

The commission's testing laboratory was initially at the Agriculture Experimental Station in Geneva, NY, directed by Harold J. Conn. [2] Since 1947 the laboratory has been located at the University of Rochester Medical College, Rochester, NY. Currently 57 individual dyes and about 5 mixtures of different dyes are eligible for testing and certification by the BSC. The assays and other tests used in the commission's laboratory are all published, making the required standards known to both vendors and users of biological stains (Penney et al. 2002a,b). [3] The commission's web site includes instructions for submitting samples of stains for testing and certification. [4]

Since 1925 the BSC has published a scientific journal, named Stain Technology until 1991, when the name was changed to Biotechnic & Histochemistry . Currently with eight issues per year, the journal carries peer-reviewed papers in a wide range of biological disciplines. [5] These have included studies of many classical and modern staining techniques (see Gray 1954. Kiernan 2015) including results of the BSC's collaborations with accademic institutions. In recent years, together with Colour Science Analytical at the University of Leeds, UK, the BSC is trying to identify several dyes sold with the name "alcian blue", none of which are the textile dye that had that name in the 1950s and 1960s (Ali et al 2022).

Biological Stains, a book about the chemistry, testing and applications of dyes and other colorants in biology and medicine, has been published by the BSC since 1925. The first seven editions (1925-1961) were by H. J. Conn. The eighth and ninth editions (1969, 1977), retitled Conn's Biological Stains, were by Ralph Dougall Lillie, [6] who added many dyes and chromogenic reagents and provided extensive tables of data for classification, nomenclature and solubilities of dyes. The tenth and most recent edition of the book (edited by Horobin & Kiernan 2002) has 28 chapters by multiple authors; 18 are by Horobin alone.

The BSC has also sponsored three editions of History of Staining, [7] originally by Conn and later by Clark and Kasten.

Education about stains is another mission of the BSC. Questions sent in by way of the BSC's website [8] are passed on to appropriate experts and answered privately by email, usually within a few days. This free service provides confidential information to users, vendors and manufacturers, and also informs the BSC about current problems.

In December 2018 the BSC added to its website an online glossary of hundreds of words and short phrases used in the field of biological staining. This was revised and enlarged in 2021 and 2023. [9]

The annual meetings of the BSC are usually held on the first or second weekend in June, in cities easily accessible by air from major centers in North America and Europe. These meetings include scientific sessions with presentations by invited speakers in such disciplines as cancer biology, neuroscience, pathology and plant sciences. There are also informal presentations and exchanges of information among academic biologists, medical scientists, pathologists, and representatives of companies that manufacture and sell biological stains. The invited presentations planned for meetings in 2020 and 2021 were postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2023 Symposium, held in Rocchester NY, marked the Commission's centennial year. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Histology</span> Study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals

Histology, also known as microscopic anatomy or microanatomy, is the branch of biology that studies the microscopic anatomy of biological tissues. Histology is the microscopic counterpart to gross anatomy, which looks at larger structures visible without a microscope. Although one may divide microscopic anatomy into organology, the study of organs, histology, the study of tissues, and cytology, the study of cells, modern usage places all of these topics under the field of histology. In medicine, histopathology is the branch of histology that includes the microscopic identification and study of diseased tissue. In the field of paleontology, the term paleohistology refers to the histology of fossil organisms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haematoxylin</span> Natural stain derived from hearthwood and used in histology

Haematoxylin or hematoxylin, also called natural black 1 or C.I. 75290, is a compound extracted from heartwood of the logwood tree with a chemical formula of C
16H
14O
6. This naturally derived dye has been used as a histologic stain, as an ink and as a dye in the textile and leather industry. As a dye, haematoxylin has been called palo de Campeche, logwood extract, bluewood and blackwood. In histology, haematoxylin staining is commonly followed by counterstaining with eosin. When paired, this staining procedure is known as H&E staining and is one of the most commonly used combinations in histology. In addition to its use in the H&E stain, haematoxylin is also a component of the Papanicolaou stain which is widely used in the study of cytology specimens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romanowsky stain</span> Family of related stains for examination of blood including the detection of parasites

Romanowsky staining, also known as Romanowsky–Giemsa staining, is a prototypical staining technique that was the forerunner of several distinct but similar stains widely used in hematology and cytopathology. Romanowsky-type stains are used to differentiate cells for microscopic examination in pathological specimens, especially blood and bone marrow films, and to detect parasites such as malaria within the blood. Stains that are related to or derived from the Romanowsky-type stains include Giemsa, Jenner, Wright, Field, May–Grünwald and Leishman stains. The staining technique is named after the Russian physician Dmitri Leonidovich Romanowsky (1861–1921), who was one of the first to recognize its potential for use as a blood stain.

Methylthioninium chloride, commonly called methylene blue, is a salt used as a dye and as a medication. As a medication, it is mainly used to treat methemoglobinemia by converting/chemically reducing the ferric iron in hemoglobin to ferrous iron. Specifically, it is used to treat methemoglobin levels that are greater than 30% or in which there are symptoms despite oxygen therapy. It has previously been used for treating cyanide poisoning and urinary tract infections, but this use is no longer recommended.

Carmine – also called cochineal, cochineal extract, crimson lake, or carmine lake – is a pigment of a bright-red color obtained from the aluminium complex derived from carminic acid. Specific code names for the pigment include natural red 4, C.I. 75470, or E120. Carmine is also a general term for a particularly deep-red color.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staining</span> Technique used to enhance visual contrast of specimens observed under a microscope

Staining is a technique used to enhance contrast in samples, generally at the microscopic level. Stains and dyes are frequently used in histology, in cytology, and in the medical fields of histopathology, hematology, and cytopathology that focus on the study and diagnoses of diseases at the microscopic level. Stains may be used to define biological tissues, cell populations, or organelles within individual cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuchsine</span> Chemical compound

Fuchsine (sometimes spelled fuchsin) or rosaniline hydrochloride is a magenta dye with chemical formula C20H19N3·HCl. There are other similar chemical formulations of products sold as fuchsine, and several dozen other synonyms of this molecule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New fuchsine</span> Chemical compound

New fuchsine is an organic compound with the formula [(H2N(CH3)C6H3)3C]Cl. It is a green-colored solid that is used as a dye of the triarylmethane class. It is one of the four components of basic fuchsine, and one of the two that are available as single dyes. The other is pararosaniline. It is prepared by condensation of ortho-toluidine with formaldehyde. This process initially gives the benzhydrol 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)benzhydrol, which is further condensed to give the leuco (colorless) tertiary alcohol [(H2N(CH3)C6H3)3COH, which is oxidized in acid to give the dye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal violet</span> Triarylmethane dye used as a histological stain and in Grams method of classifying bacteria

Crystal violet or gentian violet, also known as methyl violet 10B or hexamethyl pararosaniline chloride, is a triarylmethane dye used as a histological stain and in Gram's method of classifying bacteria. Crystal violet has antibacterial, antifungal, and anthelmintic (vermicide) properties and was formerly important as a topical antiseptic. The medical use of the dye has been largely superseded by more modern drugs, although it is still listed by the World Health Organization.

Trichrome staining is a histological staining method that uses two or more acid dyes in conjunction with a polyacid. Staining differentiates tissues by tinting them in contrasting colours. It increases the contrast of microscopic features in cells and tissues, which makes them easier to see when viewed through a microscope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schiff test</span> Organic chemistry named reaction

The Schiff test is an early organic chemistry named reaction developed by Hugo Schiff, and is a relatively general chemical test for detection of many organic aldehydes that has also found use in the staining of biological tissues. The Schiff reagent is the reaction product of a dye formulation such as fuchsin and sodium bisulfite; pararosaniline and new fuchsin are not dye alternatives with comparable detection chemistry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pararosaniline</span> Chemical compound

Pararosaniline, Basic Red 9, or C.I. 42500 is an organic compound with the formula [(H2NC6H4)3C]Cl. It is a magenta solid with a variety of uses as a dye. It is one of the four components of basic fuchsine. (The others are rosaniline, new fuchsine and magenta II.) It is structurally related to other triarylmethane dyes called methyl violets including crystal violet, which feature methyl groups on nitrogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papanicolaou stain</span> Histological staining method

Papanicolaou stain is a multichromatic (multicolored) cytological staining technique developed by George Papanicolaou in 1942. The Papanicolaou stain is one of the most widely used stains in cytology, where it is used to aid pathologists in making a diagnosis. Although most notable for its use in the detection of cervical cancer in the Pap test or Pap smear, it is also used to stain non-gynecological specimen preparations from a variety of bodily secretions and from small needle biopsies of organs and tissues. Papanicolaou published three formulations of this stain in 1942, 1954, and 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H&E stain</span> Histological stain method

Hematoxylin and eosin stain is one of the principal tissue stains used in histology. It is the most widely used stain in medical diagnosis and is often the gold standard. For example, when a pathologist looks at a biopsy of a suspected cancer, the histological section is likely to be stained with H&E.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthraquinones</span>

For the parent molecule 9,10-anthraquinone, see anthraquinone

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toluidine blue</span> Chemical compound

Toluidine blue, also known as TBO or tolonium chloride (INN) is a blue cationic (basic) dye used in histology and sometimes clinically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcian blue stain</span> Chemical compound

Alcian blue is any member of a family of polyvalent basic dyes, of which the Alcian blue 8G has been historically the most common and the most reliable member. It is used to stain acidic polysaccharides such as glycosaminoglycans in cartilages and other body structures, some types of mucopolysaccharides, sialylated glycocalyx of cells etc. For many of these targets it is one of the most widely used cationic dyes for both light and electron microscopy. Use of alcian blue has historically been a popular staining method in histology especially for light microscopy in paraffin embedded sections and in semithin resin sections. The tissue parts that specifically stain by this dye become blue to bluish-green after staining and are called "Alcianophilic". Alcian blue staining can be combined with H&E staining, PAS staining and van Gieson staining methods. Alcian blue can be used to quantitate acidic glycans both in microspectrophotometric quantitation in solution or for staining glycoproteins in polyacrylamide gels or on western blots. Biochemists had used it to assay acid polysaccharides in urine since the 1960s for diagnosis of diseases like mucopolysaccharidosis but from 1970's, partly due to lack of availability of Alcian and partly due to length and tediousness of the procedure, alternative methods had to be developed e.g. Dimethyl methylene blue method.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naphthol Green B</span> Chemical compound

Naphthol Green B is a coordination complex of iron that is used as a dye.

Ebb Cade was a construction worker at Clinton Engineer Works at Oak Ridge and was the first person subjected to injection with plutonium as an experiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold J. Conn</span> American agricultural bacteriologist

Harold Joel Conn was an American agricultural bacteriologist, known for his work on soil microbiology and bacterial staining techniques. He was one of the founders of the Biological Stain Commission and also founded their journal, Stain Technology. He served as president of the Society of American Bacteriologists in 1948.

References

Ali S, Dapson RW, Horobin RW, Kiernan JA, Kazlauciunas A (2022) At least four distinct blue cationic phthalocyanine dyes sold as "alcian blue" raises the question: what is alcian bluie? Biotechnic & Histochemistry 97: 11-20.

Conn HJ (1980–1981) The history of the Stain Commission. In 5 parts: Stain Technology 55: 269–279, 327–352; 56: 1–17, 59–66, 135–142.

Gray P (1954) The Microtomist's Formulary and Guide. Reprint ISBN 9780882752471.

Horobin RW, Kiernan JA (eds): Conn's Biological Stains, 10th ed. Oxford, UK: BIOS. ISBN   1-85996-099-5.

Kiernan JA (2015) Histologicsal and Histochemical Methods: Theory and Practice. 5th edn. Banbury, UK: Scion (ISBN 9781907904325)

Penney DP (2000) A brief history of the Biological Stain Commission: its founders, its mission and the first 75 years. Biotechnic & Histochemistry 75(4): 154–166.

Penney DP, Powers JM, Frank M, Willis C, Churukian C (2002a) Analysis and testing of biological stains – the Biological Stain Commission procedures. Biotechnic & Histochemistry 77: 237–275.

Penney DP, Powers JM, Willis C, Frank M, Churukian C (2002b) Methods for testing biological stains. Ch. 28 in Horobin RW, Kiernan JA (eds): Conn's Biological Stains, 10th ed. Oxford, UK: BIOS, pp. 417–425. ISBN   1-85996-099-5.

References

  1. ↑ "What's New | the Biological Stain Commission".
  2. ↑ http://www.twu.edu/dsc/connI.htm | Deaf Scientists Corner
  3. ↑ "News About Dyes and Stains | the Biological Stain Commission". biologicalstaincommission.org. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "For Vendors and Users of Stains | the Biological Stain Commission".
  5. ↑ Biotechnic & Histochemistry, Informa Healthcare
  6. ↑ Longley, J. D. (1980). "Ralph Dougall Lillie. 1896--1979". Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry. 28 (4): 291–296. doi: 10.1177/28.4.6989894 . PMID   6989894.
  7. ↑ Pearse, A. G. E. (1984). "History of staining (third edition). Edited by G. Clark and F. H. Kasten. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, 1983. No. Of pages: 304. Price: £22.25". The Journal of Pathology. 143 (2): 139. doi:10.1002/path.1711430209. ISBN   0683-017-055.
  8. ↑ "Contact | the Biological Stain Commission".
  9. ↑ "Glossary of Staining Methods, Reagents, Immunostaining and Eponyms".
  10. ↑
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