GelRed is a sensitive, stable and environmentally safer alternative to the highly toxic ethidium bromide (EB) for staining dsDNA, ssDNA or RNA in agarose or polyacrylamide gels (see PAGE GelRed Nucleic Acid Gel Stain). The dye is noncytotoxic, nonmutagenic and nonhazardous at concentrations used in gel staining. It can be conveniently disposed down the drain or in regular trash at working concentrations, reducing disposal costs. It is much more sensitive than EB or SYBR Safe and extremely stable for long-term room temperature storage. Simple to use in precast or post-electrophoresis gel staining and detected with a UV transilluminator in the same optical setting used for EB. Compatible with downstream gel purification, restriction digest, sequencing and cloning. See also GelGreen Nucleic Acid Gel Stain, the safer replacement for SYBR gel stains.