1,3'-Diethyl-4,2'-quinolylthiacyanine iodide as a "thiazole orange" analogue for nucleic acid staining.

Flow cytometric evaluation of reticulocytes has become a valuable and more precise alternative for the microscopically determined reticulocyte count. Until now, the most promising results are obtained with the "thiazole orange" (TO) nucleic acid dye. We report on the use of a "thiazole orange" analogue, 1,3'-diethyl-4,2'-quinolylthiacyanine iodide (DEQTC), which gives comparable results and is commercially available at low cost.