Specimen Collection and Staining Flashcards
Eukaryotic cells
Contain genetic material within a membrane (nucleus)
Prokaryotic cells
Contain genetic material but does not have a nuclear membrane.
Is bacteria Eukaryotic or Prokaryotic?
Prokaryotic
What does presumptive identification mean?
“Best guess” on what is growing
What is the process of identifying bacteria?
- Collect the specimen
- Initial Gram stain (Direct or Indirect)
- Inoculate culture media
- Incubate for 18-24 hours
- Check growth. If no growth reincubate and recheck
- If positive: select colonies and perform gram staining and continue with ID
What is used to collect samples from hollow organs and external lesions?
Aspiration (bladder or pustules)
What samples need to be processed immediately?
Swab samples
What should the specimen contain?
The organism causing the problem
What should you do to keep yourself safe while working with microbes?
Wear gloves, lab coats, and closed toed shoes
Why do we use gram staining?
To categorize bacteria, which helps the veterinarian select treatment
What is the first step of the gram staining process
Use a wax pencil to draw a circle on the slide
What is the second step of the gram staining process
Place distilled or sterile water and the sample in the wax pencil circle
What is the third step of the gram staining process?
Air drying
What is the fourth step of the gram staining process
Heat fixing
After heat fixing, what do you flood the slide with?
Crystal violet
How long do you flood the slide with crystal violet for?
30-60 seconds, but read the package insert for exact time
What do you rinse the slide with after letting the crystal violet sit on the slide?
Distilled water
What is the next solution that you flood the slide with after you rinse the Crystal violet?
Iodine for 30-60 seconds
Rinse with distilled water after
What is the the next solution you flood the gram slide with after rinsing the Iodine?
Decolorizer for 10 seconds until no more color washes off and then rinse with distilled water
What is the final solution you rinse the gram stain slide with?
Safranin for 30-60 seconds.
The primary stain is usually what?
Crystal violet
What is the the mordant stain and what does it usually do?
Gram’s Iodine solution and it fixes dyes to the cell wall