Gentian violet 1 %, aqueous, is a solution mainly used in microbiology and histology. It is often used in Gram staining of bacteria to distinguish Gram-positive from Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, it is used to identify fungi and parasites.

Chemically, gentian violet is a basic triphenylmethane dye that exists as a cation in aqueous solution. The dye particles bind selectively to specific cell structures such as peptidoglycan in gram-positive bacteria or chitin in fungal cell walls, allowing differential staining.

The special suitability of this solution lies in its ability to clearly visualize microbiological and histological structures. The aqueous base contributes to uniform distribution and efficient penetration of the dye into the specimens under examination. The use of a 0.2 µm attachment filter ensures consistent quality and purity of the solution, allowing precise and reproducible results.