Auramine-rhodamine stain

Auramine-Rhodamine Stain is a fluorescent stain used primarily in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The stain uses the fluorochrome auramine to stain mycobacteria.

History

The Auramine-Rhodamine Stain was first introduced in the 1930s as a more sensitive alternative to the traditional Ziehl-Neelsen stain. It has since become a standard method in many laboratories due to its high sensitivity and specificity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Procedure

The staining procedure involves the application of the auramine-rhodamine stain, which binds to the mycolic acids present in the cell wall of mycobacteria. The stained sample is then viewed under a fluorescence microscope, where the mycobacteria appear bright yellow against a dark background.

Advantages

The main advantage of the Auramine-Rhodamine Stain is its high sensitivity, which allows for the detection of mycobacteria in samples with low bacterial load. It is also faster and easier to read than traditional Ziehl-Neelsen stained slides.

Limitations

Despite its advantages, the Auramine-Rhodamine Stain also has some limitations. It is less specific than the Ziehl-Neelsen stain, and may give false positive results in the presence of certain other bacteria or substances. It also requires a fluorescence microscope, which may not be available in all laboratories.

See Also

• Ziehl-Neelsen stain
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Fluorescence microscope

Auramine-rhodamine stain Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia