The staining has to be performed on fresh samples, as alcohol fixation removes most lipids.

Oil Red O can be used to mark lipid-containing vacuoles, particularly in cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia or Burkitt's lymphoma.

When staining, Oil Red O can make fat more visible in various cuts in pathology.

[3] It is also used in a technique (the method is called as the dye: Oil Red O), discovered in 2004 by Alexandre Beaudoin, for staining latent fingerprints.

[4] This technique allows the development of latent fingerprints on porous exhibits (such as paper, cardboard, etc.)