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Alternatives to UV transilluminators

The use of UV transilluminators should be replaced wherever practicable by the use of blue-light transilluminators and appropriate dyes (substitutes for more hazardous ethidium bromide).

Alternative (non-UV) systems of visualisation, such as blue light fluorescence must be considered, especially when manipulation of gels (requiring use of personal protective equipment) is necessary.  They have the advantage that although filter glasses are generally worn to remove background light and enhance contrast there is no more hazard than any other bright visible light source. 

Use of non-UV systems also provides the added advantages of:

  • avoiding the need for ethidium bromide, which is mutagenic, an irritant and toxic by inhalation
  • avoiding UV damage to nucleic acid material

There are a number of suppliers of blue light transilluminators – examples, amongst many others, include:

Invitrogen ‘Safe Imager’ Blue Light Transilluminator

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Clare Chemical ‘Dark Reader’ Blue Light Transilluminator 

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