What is rose bengal?

Rose bengal is a synthetic dye that is commonly used in microbiology and histology as a biological stain. It is typically red in color and is soluble in water.

In microbiology, rose bengal is used as a selective stain to differentiate between different types of bacteria, such as gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. It is also used to detect fungi and parasites in tissue samples.

In histology, rose bengal is used to stain certain structures in cells and tissues, such as collagen fibers and mucus. It can help highlight these structures under a microscope and aid in the identification of different cell types.

Rose bengal is known for its high affinity for collagens, which makes it useful in studying connective tissues and detecting certain types of diseases, such as liver fibrosis.

While rose bengal is generally considered safe for laboratory use, it is important to handle it with care and follow proper safety precautions, as it can be toxic if ingested or inhaled.