dSTORM based super-resolution localization microscopy typically uses a thiol reductant such as mercapto-ethyl amine (MEA) in conjunction with an enzymatic oxygen scavenging system such as glucose oxidase & catalase in an aqueous buffer. The use of an aqueous buffer, however, is non-optimal when trying to perform tissue imaging with high NA objectives due to the considerable refractive index mismatch. In previous works we have used a modified buffer solution with a glycerol concentration of 80-90%, which gives satisfactory blinking behavior and allows better index matching. Unsurprisingly, enzymatic scavengers do not function in this high glycerol mountant, although media oxygen concentration is nonetheless substantially reduced. This reduction in oxygen concentration occurs through a reaction of the thiol with dissolved oxygen and comes at the cost of a reduced and highly variable end thiol concentration and a substantial change in solution pH.To have the thiol acting as both the blinking agent, and the principal oxygen scavenger is obviously a somewhat undesirable situation. This led us to experiment with sodium sulphite, a chemical which is commonly used as a preservative, as an oxygen scavenger in industrial processes, and in making ‘zero oxygen’ calibration solutions for dissolved oxygen sensors. When added to an MEA and glycerol containing switching buffer, sodium sulphite improves entry to the dark state, resulting in lower background levels and improved single molecule contrast. In contrast to the use of either the glucose oxidase or thiol mediated oxygen scavenging systems, the reaction of sodium sulphite with dissolved oxygen does not significantly change solution pH.