Wayson stain

Wayson stain is a type of stain used in microbiology for the visualization of certain types of bacteria. It is particularly useful for the detection of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague.

History

The Wayson stain was developed by Harold Wayson, a bacteriologist at the United States Public Health Service. He introduced the stain in 1921 as a method for detecting Yersinia pestis in human and animal tissues.

Preparation and Use

The Wayson stain is a simple, rapid staining method. It involves the application of a basic fuchsin solution, followed by a decolorization step with ethanol, and a counterstain with methylene blue. The stained bacteria appear as dark blue or purple rods against a light blue background.

Applications

The primary use of the Wayson stain is in the detection of Yersinia pestis. However, it can also be used to stain other bacteria, such as Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, and Bartonella henselae, which causes cat scratch disease.

Advantages and Limitations

The main advantage of the Wayson stain is its simplicity and speed. It can be performed in a matter of minutes, making it useful for rapid diagnosis in clinical settings. However, it is not as sensitive or specific as other staining methods, such as the Gram stain or Giemsa stain. Therefore, it is typically used as a preliminary screening tool, with positive results confirmed by more specific tests.

See Also

• Staining (microbiology)
• Yersinia pestis
• Plague
• Harold Wayson
• United States Public Health Service

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