Staining is a biochemical process usually conducted to increase the contrast of a microscopic image.
Introduction Giemsa stain was a name adopted from a Germany Chemist scientist, for his application of a combination of reagents in demonstrating the presence of parasites in malaria. It belongs to a group of stains known as Romanowsky stains. These … Read more
The Gram stain was developed by Christian Gram in 1884 and modified by Hucker in 1921. The objective of Gram Stain This test differentiates the bacteria into Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria, which helps in the classification and differentiation of microorganisms. … Read more
Lactophenol Cotton Blue (LPCB) Staining is a simple histological staining method used for the microscopic examination and identification of fungi. Principle of Lactophenol Cotton Blue (LPCB) Staining Lactophenol Cotton Blue (LPCB) Staining method works on the principle of aiding the … Read more
Objective of Flagella Stain This technique is used to visualize the presence and arrangement of flagella for the presumptive identification of motile bacterial species. Principle of Flagella Stain Flagella are too thin to be visualized using a bright field microscope … Read more
Members of the anaerobic genera Clostridium and Desulfotomaculum and the aerobic genus Bacillus are examples of organisms that have the capacity to exist either as metabolically active vegetative cells or as highly resistant, metabolically inactive cell types called spores. When … Read more
A capsule is a gelatinous outer layer that is secreted by the cell and that surrounds and adheres to the cell wall. It is not common to all organisms. Cells that have a heavy capsule are generally virulent and capable … Read more
Objectives of Negative Staining To perform a negative staining procedure. To understand the benefit obtained from visualizing unstained microorganisms. Principle of Negative Staining Negative staining requires the use of an acidic stain such as India ink or nigrosin. The acidic … Read more
Objectives of Simple Staining To perform a simple staining procedure. To compare the morphological shapes and arrangements of bacterial cells. Principle of Simple Staining In simple staining, the bacterial smear is stained with a single reagent, which produces a distinctive contrast between … Read more
Objective Differential staining of nucleic acids including DNA and RNA. Principle Acridine orange, a vital stain, will intercalate with nucleic acid, changing the dye’s optical characteristics so that it will fluoresce bright orange under ultraviolet light. All nucleic acid–containing cells … Read more
Objective of Kinyoun-Cold Method Identification of acid-fast Mycobacterium spp. and parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Isopora spp. Principle of Kinyoun-Cold Method Acid-fast mycobacteria contain mycolic acid in their outer membrane, making the cells waxy and resistant to staining with aqueous based stains … Read more
It is also know as Ziehl-Neelsen stain. Objective of Acid Fast Stain The main aim objective of this stain is to differentiate bacteria into acid fast group and non-acid fast groups. Principle of Acid Fast Stain Acid-fast mycobacteria contain mycolic acid … Read more
Hematoxylin and eosin staining technique functions to recognize different types of tissues and their morphological changes, especially in cancer diagnosis. Hematoxylin has a deep blue-purple color and stains nucleic acids by a complex, incompletely understood reaction. Eosin is pink and … Read more
Calcofluor White Staining Calcofluor white is a chemifluorescent blue dye that is nonspecifically used to bind to the beta linked-polysaccharide polymers of amoebic cysts. It functions by being able to bind to 1-3 beta and 1-4 beta polysaccharides on chitin … Read more
Grocott-Gomori’s Methenamine Silver (GMS) stain is a histological stain that is used majorly for the identification of carbohydrates in fungal microorganisms. This staining method was named after György Gömöri, a physician from Hungary, who developed the staining methodology. Its initial … Read more
Special stains have been developed over time for identifying bacteria species, differentiating them morphologically, and even characterizing there very special features. The most common stain being Gram Staining, Acid-fast staining, endospore staining. Each of these stains aims at identifying and … Read more
Introduction A normal bacterial cell is known as a vegetative form of a bacterial cell. It can multiply freely when provided with conducive environmental conditions like the provision of nutrients, temperature, water, and oxygen. But some groups of bacteria, when … Read more
Sudan Black B Staining definition Sudan stain is a special stain used for staining of fats and fat droplets using several Sudan dyes, which include Sudan II, Sudan III, Sudan IV, Oil Red O, and Sudan Black B. These Sudan … Read more
Masson’s Trichrome Staining definition Masson’s Trichrome Staining is a histological staining method used for selectively stain collagen, collagen fibers, fibrin, muscles, and erythrocytes. It uses three stains for staining hence the term Trichrome. These are Weigert’s Hematoxylin, Biebrich scarlet-acid fuschin … Read more
Wheatley Trichrome Staining definition Wheatley Trichrome staining technique is a special permanent satin used in parasitology for the detection and identification of intestine protozoans from stool samples. Trichrome staining is performed on a PVA-fixed or Schaudinn’s- Preserved stool sample. The … Read more
What is positive staining? Positive staining of viruses is similar to negative staining. The difference is that the virus image is darker formed on a light background, unlike the negative staining where a light viral particle image is formed on … Read more
What are the Romanowsky Stains? Romanowsky Stains are the stains that are used in hematology and cytological studies, to differentiate cells in microscopic examinations of blood and bone marrow samples. These stains are also applied to detect the presence of … Read more