Simple Staining (P)

Question 1

How many reagents (for simple staining) are used to stain the bacterial smear?

Answer 1

A single reagent

Question 2

What is the principle of simple staining?

Answer 2

The bacterial smear is stained with a single reagent, which produces a distinctive contrast between the organism and its background

Question 3

What type of stains are preferred for simple staining?

Answer 3

Basic stains with a positively charged chromogen

Question 4

Why are basic stains with a positively charged chromogen preferred for simple staining?

Answer 4

Because bacterial nucleic acids and certain cell wall components carry a negative charge that strongly attracts and binds to the cationic chromogen

Question 5

What is the purpose of simple staining and what are the most commonly used basic stains for basic staining?

Answer 5

To elucidate the morphology and arrangement of bacterial cells. The most commonly used basic stains are methylene blue, crystal violet, and carbolfuchsin