Chapter: 11th Microbiology : Chapter 3 : Stains and Staining Methods
Simple Staining Method
Simple Staining Method
In Simple Staining method only one
stain is used. Stain is applied to the smear in one application. The fixed
smear on the glass slide is flooded with a staining solution for about one
minute. The solution is then washed off with water and the slide is blot dried.
The stained slide is examined under a microscope (Figure 3.6). The cells stain
uniformly. The simple stains used by the microbiologists for routine purposes
are dilute solutions of Methylene blue, Crystal violet, Safranin and Carbol
fuchsin.
Methylene blue is more frequently
used than any other stain in Bacteriology. It is used for the rapid survey of
bacterial population of milk. It is also used for the diagnosis of Diphtheria.
This stain is incorporated along with Eosin in Lactose Agar to distinguish Escherichia coli from other fecal
bacteria in contaminated water.
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