Learning to stain slides is an art as much as it is a science. Slide staining is a technique used to enhance the contrast in microscope samples to make them easier to observe and analyze. It involves adding stains or dyes to microscope slides while mounting a sample. There are a number of common stains used to stain slides, including methylene blue, iodine, rhodamine, and dozens more, all of which are designed to be used to stain specific types of samples. Methylene blue, for example, is most commonly used by biologists examining animal cells, while iodine is often used to stain plant cells.

Preparing a slide for staining involves adding additional steps to slide preparation. Some samples may need to be treated before adding a stain, which is most often dropped onto the slide with a pipette and then covered with a cover slip. Excess air bubbles are gently squeezed out from the slip and the excess stain is then gently wiped away with a paper towel. Whether you’re looking for slides, stains, cover slips, pipettes, or even storage boxes for your own stained slides, we’ve got everything you need right here!