Chapter 12 -- Acid-Fast Stain

Question 1

Differential Staining

Answer 1

Technique that differentiates between acid-fast and non-acid-fast bacteria – EX: mycobacterium and Nocardia are acid-fast

Question 2

To KNow:

Answer 2

-Acid-fast cells have a waxy cell wall

Question 3

Mycolic acid

Answer 3

Component in cell walls of acid-fast bacteria that makes these organisms resistant to desiccation and disinfectants

Question 4

Kinyoun method

Answer 4

“cold method” because it doesnt require steam – same procedure as Ziehl-Neelsen it just doesnt require steam because the primary stain contains more phenol and basic fuchsin and uses brilliant green as counterstain

Question 5

Ziehl-Neelsen

Answer 5

method using steaming water bath to facilitate staining of the cell – steam a heat fixed slide over boiling water with primary stain (carbol fuchsin) – the heating “melts” the waxy cell wall and permits penetrations of primary stain – after cooling the primary stain becomes trapped beack inside cell – decolorize with acid alcohol – then secondary stain is applied (methylene blue) – so acid-fast cells will be red and non-acid-fast will be blue

Question 6

carbol fuchsin

Answer 6

Primary stain

Question 7

acid alcohol

Answer 7

decolorizer

Question 8

methylene blue

Answer 8

counter stain in Ziehl-Neelsen

Question 9

brilliant green

Answer 9

counter stain in Kinyoun