Pat,

Sterile water only has any critters that were in it killed off, the dead
critters will still still be there (unless filtered out).

You could use deionized water instead of distilled.  The reason that sterile
water is not a good idea is that any disolved salts in the original water
source are still there and could affect the pH of the staining solutions
which in turn would change the staining reaction.   Sorry, don't have time
to go into more detail but if you are in a bind you can find DI water at
your local supermarket.


-- Begin original message --
> 
> Hello All, This may be a dumb question, but I work in a small lab in a
> clinic. I just ordered some special stains in kits. My question I do not
> have distilled water at hand..Can I use sterile water to rinse in it's
> place? Please forgive me if this is a dumb question. Thanks.
> 
> Pat Betchley LVN, HT(A.S.C.P.)
> WHMC Lackland, AFB
>  
> view my HomePage at:
> http://www.dogware.net
> 
> 
> 

-- End original message --

best regards,
Bob
Robert Schoonhoven
Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis
Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
University of North Carolina
CB#7400
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Phone 
office 919-966-6343
   Lab 919-966-6140
   Fax 919-966-6123 

Don't go around saying the world owes you a living; the world owes you
nothing; it was here first. 
Mark Twain [Samuel Langhornne Clemens] (1835-1910)