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Schiff's reagent

An aqueous solution of basic fuchsin or pararosaniline which is decolorised by sulfur dioxide, commonly prepared by addition of hydrochloric acid to a dye solution containing a metabisulphite or bisulphite salt; used for aldehydes and in histochemistry to detect polysaccharides, dNA, and proteins.

See: feulgen stain, periodic acid-Schiff stain, ninhydrin-Schiff stain for proteins.