Thin layer chromatography of commercial samples of amido black 10B

The tannic acid-phosphomolybdic acid-amido black (TPA) stain has been used primarily for staining hemoglobin. That different dye lots of amido black cause variable staining is documented in the literature. Nine commercial samples of amido black were investigated using thin layer chromatography; all of these dyes contained colored contaminants. Separation of contaminants was achieved using silica gel thin layer chromatography and a solvent system of 95% ethanol:90% phenol:concentrated NH4OH, 12:9:3. TPA staining of red blood cells was improved by using purified amido black.