| Gram stain | <microbiology, procedure> A method of staining bacteria using a violet stain. The gram staining characteristics (denoted as positive or negative) can assist in the identification of the offending bacteria. A heat fixed bacterial smear is stained with crystal violet (methyl violet), treated with 3% iodine/potassium iodide solution, washed with alcohol and counterstained. The method differentiates bacteria into two main classes, gram-positive and gram-negative. Certain bacteria, notably mycobacteria, that have walls with high lipid content show acid-fast staining the stain resists decolouration in strong acid. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| Weigert-Gram stain | <technique> A stain for bacteria in tissues in which sections are stained in alum-haematoxylin, then in eosin, aniline methyl violet, and Lugol's solution. (05 Mar 2000) |
| half-a-gram stain | <technique> A lab technique used to detect the presence of members from the bacterial family Legionellaceae in samples of sputum. (09 Oct 1997) |
| Stirling's modification of Gram's stain | <technique> A stable aniline-crystal violet stain. (05 Mar 2000) |