Platinum Blue, EM Stain

Created by Kathleen Patrick, Modified on Tue, 12 Nov at 8:02 AM by Kathleen Patrick

EMS22407

Description

IBI Blue Platinum Stain Pt₄N₈H₆O₂₄C₂₀

Preparation

Adjust pH of distilled water with concentrated acetic acid to 3.5
Dilute PtBlue stock solution as supplied 1:100 in pH-adjusted water

Use

Incubate grid/Epon section on a drop of PtBlue 1:100 for 5 min at RT
Wash on a water drop for about 2 min, repeat 5x
Dry grid/section for approx. 10 min in an incubator
Stain with lead citrate for 2 min at RT
Jet-wash grid 5x (water stream from a plastic pastette)
Suck up remaining water with a filter paper and dry thoroughly

Cartilage ECM, constrasted with PtBlue + LC

Cartilage ECM, constrasted with UA + LC

HepG2 cells, constrasted with PtBlue + LC

Depending on the sample, PtBlue can be nearly as good as uranyl acetate in its ability to add contrast. It does not work well with chondrocytes or T. brucei in our hands.

Credits

Schmidt, Katy. "Technical Note." IBI Labs. Web. 15 May 2015.