Silver staining technique and kit

摘要

An improved silver staining technique is disclosed for the detection of a biocomponent contained in a support medium. The technique includes fixing the support medium with a fixing agent, pretreating the thus-fixed support medium with a sensitizer, treating the resultant support medium with a silver staining solution and then developing the thus-treated support medium with a reducing agent. In one aspect of the invention, thiourea is incorporated in either one or both of the fixing agent and sensitizer. In another aspect of the invention, thiosulfate is contained in the reducing agent. According to the invention, improved stainability and contrast are obtained. Also disclosed is a silver staining kit.