In Kinyoun's Acid-Fast Stain, acid-fast bacteria appear in which color?

Prepare for the Histotechnologist Certification Exam with our comprehensive study material. Use flashcards, detailed explanations, and intuitive multiple-choice questions. Boost your test readiness and achieve certification success!

Multiple Choice

In Kinyoun's Acid-Fast Stain, acid-fast bacteria appear in which color?

Explanation:
Acid-fast organisms retain the red dye because their waxy, mycolic-acid–rich cell walls resist decolorization by acid-alcohol. In Kinyoun’s stain, the primary stain (carbol fuchsin) is applied with phenol and no heat is required; after applying the decolorizer, acid-fast bacteria stay red, while non–acid-fast cells take up the blue counterstain and appear blue. So acid-fast bacteria appear bright red. The other colors listed don’t reflect the appearance of acid-fast organisms with this method.

Acid-fast organisms retain the red dye because their waxy, mycolic-acid–rich cell walls resist decolorization by acid-alcohol. In Kinyoun’s stain, the primary stain (carbol fuchsin) is applied with phenol and no heat is required; after applying the decolorizer, acid-fast bacteria stay red, while non–acid-fast cells take up the blue counterstain and appear blue. So acid-fast bacteria appear bright red. The other colors listed don’t reflect the appearance of acid-fast organisms with this method.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy