Increasing the sensitivity of detection of the electrophoretic marker group specific component in agarose gels by double-staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250 and silver

A method is described that increases the sensitivity of detection of group-specific component (Gc) in bloodstains following agarose gel electrophoresis. Gels are stained first with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250 (CB) and subsequently stained with silver. Double-staining with CB first enhances the sensitivity of the silver stain from 10- to 80-fold over staining with CB alone. The method is reproducible and can easily be incorporated into the laboratory as a routine procedure.