Attn Patrick M Haley

Dear Patrick,

The Safranin O method for Cartilage goes like this;

1. Dewax section and take to water
2. Stain nuclei with a suitable iron haematoxylin
3. Blue in running tapwater
4. Rinse in distilled water
5. Stain with 1% Fast green diluted 1 in 5 with distilled water, for 3
minutes
6. Rinse in 1% acetic acid
7. Stain with 0.1% Saffranin O, for 4 - 6 minutes
8. Rinse in 1% acetic acid and check under microscope. Any overstaining
with Safranin can be modified by re-applying the Fast green            
solution briefly, and vice versa.
9. Dehydrate with alcohol,clear and mount

Modified from the method in Lillie, 'Histopathological Technic and
Practical Histochemistry'

Regards

John Difford FIBMS
Histopathology Dept
Royal Free Hospital
London, England.