Lendrum used this dye for the demonstration of fibrin in his Masson 44/41 and Obadiah methods. He considered that it demonstrated the oldest fibrin at a stage when it was not distinguishable from collagen by any other staining method.

The dye is not easily available, and not used in any other procedures than Lendrum's Masson 44/41 and Obadiah, both for old fibrin. Naphthol blue black, otherwise known as amido black 10B, CI 20470, is closely related and may be a suitable substitute. Compare the formulae of both dyes.