Carbonic acid compound red staining solution is different from modified phenol magenta staining solution. Carbonate fuchsin staining solution is mainly composed of carbolic acid, basic magenta, etc. It is mainly used for sputum smear or swab Mycobacterium tuberculosis staining and Gram staining, and is seldom used alone. Modified phenol magenta staining solution, also known as Carbol magenta (Carbol fuchsin) staining solution, mainly composed of phenol, alkaline magenta, sorbitol, oxidizing agent, etc. It is commonly used for cell nuclear staining, chromosome fixation and staining.

Carbol fuchsin staining solution is mainly used in antacid bacillus staining and Gram staining, and can also be used alone.