Direct Stain, Negative Stain, Gram Stain Flashcards
What does staining provide?
contrast to view the bacteria
What three characteristics of bacteria are we able to see when we stain?
morphology, sizze, arrangement
How many reagents are used in a simple stain?
1
What do direct stains stain?
bacteria
What do negative stains stain?
the background, not the bacteria
What are dyes?
charged colored ions in a solution
How are basic dyes charged?
positive
How are acidic dyes charged?
negative
How are bacterial cytoplasm’s charged?
slightly negative
Do basic dyes dye the bacteria or the background?
Bacteria
Do acidic dyes dye the background or the bacteria?
Background
What is the procedure for a direct stain?
Prepare a smear, let it air dry, heat fix, add basic due for 2 minutes, rinse with water, air dry
What is heat fixing?
passing a smear through a Bunsen Burner
What are the two functions of heat fixing a smear?
it adheres bacteria to the slide and it kills bacteria
What is the procedure for a negative stain?
Add one drop of acidic dye on one end of a slide, mix in two loopfuls of culture, push smear slide, air dry
What is an example of an acidic dye?
India ink
What is an example of a basic dye?
Methylene Blue
What are the two advantages of negative stain?
fast, no heat fixing so more accurate morphology
What are two disadvantages of a negative stain?
Less safe, bacteria is sometimes difficult to find
What do differential stains involve?
more than one reagant
What do differential stains do?
it differentiates between various bacteria or brings out specific structures