Patent ID: 7144738

Claim:
A method for detecting a protein/peptide or nucleic acid molecule in a polyacrylamide gel, comprising: (a) fixing the protein/peptide or nucleic acid molecule to the polyacrylamide gel; (b) contacting the polyacrylamide gel with a sensitizing reagent comprising primuline, thioflavin S or 2-(4-aminophenyl)-6-methyl-7-sulfobenzothiazole; (c) contacting the polyacrylamide gel with an aqueous solution of a silver salt to stain the protein/peptide or nucleic acid molecule; (d) developing the stained protein/peptide or nucleic acid molecule with a developing solution that comprises aqueous formaldehyde; (e) stopping the development using a solution that prevents further reduction of the silver salt; and (f) detecting the stained protein/peptide or nucleic acid molecule.