Ziehl-Neelsen stain
Ziehl-Neelsen stain
The Ziehl-Neelsen stain (pronounced: /ˈziːl ˈneɪlsən/), also known as the acid-fast stain, is a special bacteriological stain used to identify acid-fast bacteria, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The stain is named after two German doctors: Franz Ziehl and Friedrich Neelsen.
Etymology
The term "Ziehl-Neelsen" is derived from the names of the two German doctors who developed the staining technique: Franz Ziehl (1859–1926), a bacteriologist, and Friedrich Neelsen (1854–1898), a pathologist. The term "acid-fast" refers to the property of the bacteria to resist decolorization by acids during the staining procedure.
Procedure
The Ziehl-Neelsen stain involves the application of a series of dyes to a smear of bacterial culture. The primary dye, carbol fuchsin, is applied and heated to allow it to penetrate the waxy cell wall of the acid-fast bacteria. The smear is then decolorized with an acid-alcohol solution and counterstained with a contrasting dye, usually methylene blue or malachite green. Acid-fast bacteria retain the carbol fuchsin dye and appear red, while non-acid-fast bacteria take up the counterstain and appear blue or green.
Related Terms
- Acid-fast bacteria: A group of bacteria that are resistant to decolorization by acids during staining procedures. Includes genera such as Mycobacterium and Nocardia.
- Carbol fuchsin: A mixture of phenol and basic fuchsin, used as the primary stain in the Ziehl-Neelsen procedure.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A species of acid-fast bacteria that causes tuberculosis in humans.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ziehl-Neelsen stain
- Wikipedia's article - Ziehl-Neelsen stain
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