Description

Neutral red is a vital dye commonly used in cell biology and microbiology for staining live or fixed cells and tissues. It is a basic dye with a red-violet color and is typically used in aqueous solution. Neutral red stains acidic components in cells, such as lysosomes and mitochondria, appearing as red-purple granules or structures under a light microscope. It is often employed in cytotoxicity assays, cell viability assays, and cell culture protocols to assess cell health and function. Additionally, neutral red can be used in microbiology for staining bacterial colonies and in histology for tissue staining.