Direct Detection Methods Flashcards
ENUMERATE THE ROLE OF MICROSCOPY
To determine presence of an infection
To characterize organisms grown in culture
To visualize etiologic agents
To screen for specimen adequacy
is used to check if sputum is adequate for culture, whether it is just pure mucus or actually sputum itself
Bartlett’s classification
materials known or reasonably expected to contain a pathogen
Etiologic agents (infectious substances),
These are examples of?
(i.e., bacteria, yeast, parasites) not readily seen by the naked eye alone
Etiologic agents (infectious substances),
A visible light is passed through the specimen – specimen’s image appears dark against a brighter background
BRIGHT-FIELD (LIGHT) MICROSCOPY
extent to which the focused object is maintained in microscopy
Resolution
the closest distance between two objects that allows to be distinguished from each other when magnified in microscopy
Resolving Power
Allows the object to stand out from the background. Commonly achieved thru staining techniques
Contrast
is what is used to visualize bacteria. It is also the only objective lens that requires a substance to visualize slides, as the substance (oil) prevents the scattering of light to visualize the outlines of the specimen
The Oil Immersion Objective
Has no specific distance as it is dependent on your own vision
Interpupillary Distance
The ability of the microscope to not lose focus when switching objectives
Parfocal
Direct observation of unstained specimens – wet mount / wet preparation
PHASE-CONTRAST MICROSCOPY
Direct examines of organism , NO STAINING
Wet Mount
Uses a SPECIAL CONDENSER is used with an annular (ring-shaped) diaphragm – direct and reflected/diffracted light rays are brought together to produce the image
PHASE-CONTRAST MICROSCOPY
Light from below the specimen is blocked (condenser), so that it reaches the object at a sharp angle – specimen appears luminous against a dark background
DARKFIELD MICROSCOPY
Used primarily to view spirochetes
DARKFIELD MICROSCOPY
Microscopy limited to specialized research facility
DARKFIELD MICROSCOPY
Absorb light in UV range and emit visible light at a longer wavelength (when returning to their normal/lower energy state
Fluorochromes / Fluorophores (fluorescent dyes)
Direct chemical interaction with the component of the bacterial cell (i.e., Acridine orange, Auramine, Calcofluor white)
Fluorochroming
antibodies are conjugated (monoclonal antibodies) to a fluorescent dye (i.e., Fluorescein isothiocyanate / FITC
Immunofluorescence
Fluorescing object appears bright against a dark background
FLUOROSCENT MICROSCOPY
PART OF FLUOROSCENT MICROSCOPY
prevents the excitation wavelengths from damaging the observer’s eyes; selects and limits the wavelength of transmitted light
Excitation / Barrier filter
often used to maintain permanent records in FLUOROSCENT MICROSCOPY
Digital photography
IN FLUOROSCENT MICROSCOPY
It is the excitation light that activates the Fluorochromes, which result in the production of energy
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
The process of coloring the microorganism prepared in a thin film on a slide known as smear (sample)
STAINING
smear prepared directly from patient sample / specimen
DIRECT SMEAR
smear prepared from grown cultures in artificial media (preferably from 24-hour cultures)
Indirect smear
Identify the smear being described
Checks slow-growing organisms
Used during Antibiotic treatment
Done when specimen is not processed immediately or
appropriately
Indirect smear
2 types of differential staining
Gram Staining and Acid Fast Staining
Principal stain utilized in bacteriologic examination
Gram Staining
Why is Gram Staining performed
To identify the causative agent may it be gram +, gram -, or even yeast.
Provides rapid presumptive identification of pathogens and assessment of specimen quality
Gram Staining
In Gram Staining they retain the stain based on the characteristics of their cell wall
Bacteria
Cell walls that retain the crystal violet-iodine (CV-I) complex
Thick cell walls (peptidoglycan
is commonly negatively charged so all stains used to visualize them are most likely basic dyes at Ph 7
Bacteria
Primary stain: stains all bacteria blue to purple
Crystal Violet
Mordant: enhances reaction between cell wall and primary stain
Gram’s Iodine
Decolorizer: gram-positive bacteria retain the primary stain because of the peptidoglycan and teichoic acid cross-links. Gram-negative bacteria lose the primary stain because of the large amount of lipopolysaccharide in the cell wall
Ethyl alcohol or acetone
Counterstain: no effect on gram-positive bacteria; stains gram-negative bacteria pink to red
Safranin O or carbolfuchsin
is the most critical step in gram staining
DECOLORIZATION
May result in false gram –
Overdecolorization
May result in false gram +
Underdecolorization
Mordants like gram iodine enhances the binding of crystal violet to thick cell walls of bacteria
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
Debris like proteins, squamous epithelial cells, polymorphonuclear cells, WBC’s, etc… will stain Gram – (red). Usually Gram + is reserved for yeast and other Gram + organisms
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
Quantitate the organism in Gram Stain Reporting:
10-20 per oil immersion field
Many (4+)
Quantitate the organism in Gram Stain Reporting:
6-10 per oil immersion field
Moderate (3+)
Quantitate the organism in Gram Stain Reporting:
3-5 per oil immersion field
Few (2+)
Quantitate the organism in Gram Stain Reporting:
Fewer than 10 identified on complete smear
Rare (1+)