I work in a lab that is the proverbial black hole from outer space and I
never have the lighting I want for fine detail procedures, even staining.   

Perhaps you can devise a better way to protect your sensitive stains from
light, an enclosure that doesn't require room lights to be turned off or
down, or cover them in a way to still protect from the rays, even a
separate room.  This would not compromise the safety of your workers or
sensitive stains.  We protect immunofluorescent staining by covering the
staining apparatus with a black towel, some use aluminum foil.  

I find I never have enough good light, and the safety issue IS important in
a lab full of hazardous devices and chemicals.  Making others work in dim
light is very hard on the eyes and stressful to constantly strain for
better light.  

    
  


Gayle Callis
Veterinary Molecular Biology
Montana State University
Bozeman MT 59717-3610
406 994-4705
406 994-4303