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The protocol for Nile blue staining of frozen sections in 
Kiernan's "Histological and Histochemical Methods" bible 
calls for differentiating the stain in 1% acetic acid 
(aq.) - maybe that would remove dye from at least some lab 
stuff as well as tissues?

Good luck!

Tamara
  
On Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:28:27 -0500
  Kelvin Poon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
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> 
> Hi all,
> 
> If anyone here is familiar with Nile Red, they would 
>know that it is a
> notoriously non-specific lipophilic dye. It especially 
>has a penchant for
> plastics and polymers, leaving a characteristic pink hue 
>on anything it
> touches. Although our lab takes care to avoid 
>contamination by keeping 'Nile
> Red free' instruments, sometimes contamination is 
>unavoidable. Instruments
> such as slice chambers, nylon hold-downs and 
>tweezer/forceps are vulnerable
> and are too expensive to throw away. I was wondering if 
>anyone has a
> protocol or even tips for cleaning and removing Nile red 
>from instruments.
> Harsh solvents are not desirable but will be considered. 
> 
> Here is some information about its chemistry:
> http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.58681.html
> 
> 
> Thank you in advance.
> Kelvin

***************************
Tamara Howard
Cell Biology & Physiology
UNM-HSC
Albuquerque, NM
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