Is there ay staining solution to stain colony on agarose gel - (Feb/06/2008 )

Hi,
I grow leukocyte on the agrose gel, but I not really sure what staining solution can use for counting colony. I did try with methylene blue. unfotunatly I got totally dark blue.
Any one could drop any suggestion, I'd really really appreciated.
Thank you in advance

/Tai

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I didn't work with leukocytes before. But may be you can try crystal violet to stain the colonies, or if you are counting living cells but you don't have to pick them and regrow them (that means you don't care whether they are dead or alive after counting), MTT can also be used (Since MTT is toxic).

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Thank you very much Franz,

I just test with crytal violet, but color wasn't stained very well. It looks not different as non-staining.
For my colonies, I need counting for the living cells.
I think I will continue counting by myself

Thank you again

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