Name: Latasha
Status: Student
Grade: Other
Location: VA
Country: United States
Date: Spring 2010
Question:
Why is the Gram stain technique more valuable than the
simple stain technique in the
diagnostic laboratory? Under what circumstances might the simple
stain be preferable to the Gram
stain technique?
Replies:
The gram stain has two dyes. There are two types of bacterial cell
walls-gram positive which is very thick and gram negative which isn't
as thick. The gram positive wall holds onto crystal violet for longer
than gram negative which can be destained. Then the gram negative are
counterstained with a second dye. This allows you to break all
bacteria down into two basic groups and allows to begin the
identification process. Simple staining only uses one dye. If all
you want to know is what shape the bacteria is or if there is bacteria
at all, a simple stain is quicker to do.
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