Making the difference.

What It Is and How It Functions  

The objectives of the Biological Stain Commission are: 1) to insure uninterrupted supply of dyes used in biological and medical applications, 2) to promote cooperation and dialogue among manufacturers, vendors and users of dyes for histochemical applications, 3) to insure the quality of dyes through independent testing according to appropriately rigorous chemical and performance criteria, 4) to educate users of biological stains about sources of reliable dyes and how they might best be used, and 5) to publish information concerning new or improved uses for biological dyes and related histochemical techniques.

These objectives are met by: 1) analysis in the Commission’s laboratory of dye content and composition of samples supplied voluntarily by dye manufacturers or vendors, 2) testing performance of dye samples in rigorous standardized procedures known to be discerning tests of the staining quality of the dye, 3) issuing certification labels to be attached to the containers used by companies marketing accepted dyes to assure consumers that these dyes have met the performance criteria of the Biological Stain Commission, 4) conducting and supporting research on biological dyes and histochemical technics requiring them, 5) publishing books concerning biological dyes and histochemical technics, and Biotechnic & Histochemistry, a bimonthly journal of microtechnic and histochemistry, 6) maintaining, through correspondence and annual meetings, active dialogue among scientists, manufac­turers and vendors concerned with biological stains.