Lab Exercise 6C (Cell Morphology: Acid-Fast Stain)

Question 1

What kind of stain is the Acid-Fast stain?

Answer 1

Direct, differential Stain: treat everyone the same cells appear
different

Question 2

Know general procedure – purpose of steps? If you do a step incorrectly, what will be the end result?

Answer 2

If done incorrectly then the control will not show two colors. sometimes the acid alcohol could be left for longer

Question 3

What reagents are used? What purpose do the reagents serve in the staining procedure (ie: primary stain, destain, etc.)?

Answer 3

KINYOUN’S CARBOL FUCHSIN (primary stain) –> + pink cells
- pink cells
ACID/ALCOHOL (destain) –> + pink cells / - colorless cells
METHYLENE BLUE (counterstain) –> + pink cells/ - blue cells

Question 4

Result for Acid- Fast

Answer 4

DATA: bright pink cells (magenta) RESULTS: + CONCLU:
organism has
mycolic acid
DATA: blue cells RESULTS: - CONCLU: doesn’t have mycolic acid