Staining Bar with Stand, Aluminium/Stainless Steel

Quick Answer: The Staining Bar with Stand, Aluminium/Stainless Steel is a raised metal rack on a stand that holds microscope slides level while stains are poured over them. A staining bar with stand sits over a sink or tray so that stain and rinse water drain away underneath.

How Slides Are Stained on a Bar

In flood staining, the smear is not dipped into a jar. The slide lies smear-side up across the bars and each reagent is dropped on until the smear is covered; after the timed period the slide is tilted, the stain runs off, and the next reagent follows. A rack of this kind keeps several slides level, apart and clear of the drained liquid, so stain does not run from one slide to the next.

Microbiology practicals rely on this layout. The Gram stain, for instance, runs through crystal violet, iodine, a decolouriser and a counterstain such as safranin, with a water rinse between steps, all with the slide resting on the bar. For acid-fast staining, carbol fuchsin is traditionally warmed under the slide with a gentle flame, and metal bars tolerate that heat where plastic would not.

The choice of aluminium or stainless steel mainly affects chemical resistance. Stainless steel copes better with acid-alcohol decolourisers and repeated disinfection, while aluminium is lighter but can corrode with acids and alkalis if not rinsed after use. For staining batches of slides by dipping, a rectangular staining jar or staining box is the alternative.

Applications

• Gram staining of bacterial smears in microbiology practicals
• Acid-fast staining where the stain is heated under the slide
• Simple stains such as methylene blue on cheek cells or yeast
• Leishman or Giemsa staining of blood films in haematology teaching

Care & Handling

• Rinse the staining bar with water after every session so dried stain and decolouriser do not build up or corrode the metal.
• Keep ethanol and acetone decolourisers well away from any flame used for heating slides.
• Wear gloves and eye protection; stains such as crystal violet mark skin and clothing.
• Dry the stand before storing it and check that it stands level, so slides cannot slide off.

Specifications

Why Choose LabEquip

Microbiology, pathology and nursing laboratories use staining bars for daily smear work, as do school biology rooms teaching simple stains. The bar is part of the Microscope & Optics range; tell LabEquip the material and quantity through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the advantage of a staining bar over staining jars?

A bar lets you stain individual slides with small volumes of reagent and watch each step. Jars suit batches of slides dipped together. For small classes a bar uses less stain per slide and makes it easy to time each slide separately.

Is aluminium or stainless steel better for staining work?

Stainless steel resists acid-alcohol, disinfectants and constant wetting better, so it suits busy microbiology labs. Aluminium is lighter and adequate for simple aqueous stains, provided it is rinsed and dried after each use.

How do I stop stain running onto the next slide?

Space the slides so they do not touch, make sure the bar is level, and apply only enough stain to cover the smear. When pouring off, tilt each slide towards the drain side rather than towards its neighbour.

Can I heat slides on the staining bar?

Yes. For methods such as hot carbol fuchsin staining, a small flame is passed under the slide until steam rises, without boiling. Keep flammable decolourisers capped and away from the flame, and let the metal cool before touching it.

What should go under the staining bar?

A sink or a deep drip tray. Small rinse volumes can go to the drain where local rules allow, but larger volumes of stains and solvents should be collected for proper chemical waste disposal.

How do I remove stain deposits from the bar?

Most stains lift with water and detergent if cleaned the same day. Dried crystal violet on stainless steel usually comes off with a cloth moistened with alcohol. Avoid abrasive pads on aluminium.

Last Updated: September 2026