Ziehl Neelsen staining is used to demonstrate which organisms in tissue sections?

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

Ziehl Neelsen staining is used to demonstrate which organisms in tissue sections?

Explanation:
Ziehl-Neelsen staining targets organisms with waxy, lipid-rich cell walls that resist decolorization, making them acid-fast. The method uses carbol fuchsin with heat to penetrate these walls; after an acid-alcohol wash, only acid-fast organisms retain the red stain, while non-acid-fast organisms are decolorized and counterstained (commonly blue). In tissue sections, acid-fast bacteria appear as bright red rods against a blue background. The classic example is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. Why the other options don’t fit: spores are best seen with a spore-specific stain, fungi are identified with stains like PAS or GMS, and viral particles are not visualized with Ziehl-Neelsen.

Ziehl-Neelsen staining targets organisms with waxy, lipid-rich cell walls that resist decolorization, making them acid-fast. The method uses carbol fuchsin with heat to penetrate these walls; after an acid-alcohol wash, only acid-fast organisms retain the red stain, while non-acid-fast organisms are decolorized and counterstained (commonly blue). In tissue sections, acid-fast bacteria appear as bright red rods against a blue background. The classic example is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the TB bacillus.

Why the other options don’t fit: spores are best seen with a spore-specific stain, fungi are identified with stains like PAS or GMS, and viral particles are not visualized with Ziehl-Neelsen.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy