Description

Trypan Blue is a classic azo dye widely used as a vital stain for cell viability (trypan blue exclusion) assays. Living cells with intact plasma membranes exclude the dye and remain unstained, whereas dead or membrane-compromised cells take up the dye and display a blue cytoplasm under light microscopy. Trypan Blue is soluble in aqueous buffers and is commonly prepared as a working solution for rapid viability assessments using a hemocytometer or automated cell counter. It is also used in histology (e.g., Van Gieson collagen staining) and as a blue alternative to Congo Red for certain amyloid stains.

Specification

Item	Value
Chemical Name	Trypan Blue
Appearance	Dark Greenish-brown to Black Powder
CAS No.	72-57-1
Molecular Formula	C₃₄H₂₄N₆Na₄O₁₄S₄
Molecular Weight	960.82
Grade	Indicator
Identification (IR)	Conforms to Standard
Absorptivity (1% 1cm at λmax 606.0nm)	>800
Dye content	>80%
Loss on drying	<8%
Solubility	Clear to Opaque Dark Blue Solution (1 mg/ml H₂O)
Storage	Store at Room Temperature.

Features

Rapid and reliable dye exclusion for live/dead discrimination in cell suspensions.
Suitable for a wide range of cell types: adherent and suspension mammalian cells, primary cells, sperm, muscle cells, and many plant tissues.
Compatible with manual hemocytometer counts and most automated/semiautomated cell counters.
Multi-purpose: routinely applied for viability testing, cell counting, and selected histological stains (collagen, amyloid alternatives).
Supplied and tested to meet standard analytical identity and performance criteria (high absorptivity and defined dye content).

Applications

Cell viability / viability assays: quick assessment of live vs. dead cells after culture, treatment, transfection, freeze–thaw, or other manipulations.
Cell counting: determination of viable cell concentration prior to seeding, assays, or cryopreservation.
Toxicity / drug screening: rapid endpoint readout for cytotoxicity and high-throughput screens (as a simple viability indicator).
Histology: collagen staining (Van Gieson procedure) and as an alternative blue stain in some amyloid staining protocols.
Plant tissue staining: visualization of dead cells in plant tissue sections or whole mounts.

Safety Disclaimer

This product is intended for laboratory research use only. Not for drug, human, or veterinary use. Review the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provided by BioFargo for detailed handling, storage, hazard, and disposal information. Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, lab coat, and eye protection when handling. Dispose of waste and residual buffer in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. Ensure proper ventilation if preparing large volumes or heating solutions.

Documents

Download COA Download MSDS

Trypan Blue 80%