Rapid Silver Stain Method

Fix minigel in 50 ml 40 % methanol cont. 25 µl formaldehyde, 10 min.
Wash 2 x 5 min. water.
Soak 1 min. Na2S2O3, 10 mg/50 ml.
Wash 2 x 20 sec. water.
Soak 10 min. 0.1 % AgNO3, 50 mg/50 ml.
Wash water, then small volume developer.
Develop until bands visible.
Stop by adding 2.5 ml 2.3 M citric acid, 10 min.
Wash water 10 min.
For drying, soak in 10 % ethanol, 4 % glycerol for 10 min.

Developer:
3 % Na2CO3, 1.5 g/50 ml.
1/50 volume Na2S2O3.
25 µl formaldehyde /50 ml, added just before use.

2.3 M citric acid:
44.2 g in 100 ml (10 ml is enough for 4 gels).

AgNO3 Sigma S0139 (Flu lab)
Na2S2O3 Sigma S1648 (Teaching prep room)
Citric acid Sigma C7129 (HIV lab)

Method from Bloom (1987) Electrophoresis 8, 93.