What are the procedural steps of Ziehl-Neelsen?

Ziehl Neelsen Acid-fast stain

1. Step 2: Smear Preparation (Review)
2. Cover the smear with carbolfuchsin dye.
3. Dry heat for 2 minutes.
4. Cool and rinse with water.
5. Wash the top and bottom of slide with water and clean the slide bottom well.
6. Counterstain with Methylene Blue for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

What is Ziehl method of staining?

Introduction. The Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) method of staining acid fast bacilli has been in vogue for more than hundred years. In the ZN method [1], the basic fuchsin phenol dye is used hot there by melting the unsaponifiable waxy substance on the surface of the cell wall.

What is the principle of Ziehl Neelsen staining?

Neelsen in 1883 used Ziehl’s carbol-fuchsin and heat then decolorized with an acid alcohol, and counter stained with methylene blue. Thus Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques was developed. The main aim of this staining is to differentiate bacteria into acid fast group and non-acid fast groups.

What is Ziehl-Neelsen stain used for?

Acid-Fast Bacteria—Ziehl– Neelsen Stain This stain is used to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. Acid-fast organisms have a lipoid capsule that has a high molecular weight and is waxy at room temperature.

What diseases can be diagnosed through the acid-fast procedure?

An acid-fast bacteria (AFB) culture is done to find out if you have tuberculosis (TB) or another mycobacterial infection. Besides TB, the other main mycobacterial infections are leprosy and a TB-like disease that affects people with HIV/AIDS.

What is the principle of AFB test?

The mycobacterial cell wall contains mycolic acids, which are fatty acids that contribute to the characteristic of “acid-fastness.” The principle of the AFB smear is based on the fact that mycolic acid in the cell wall of AFB render them resistant to decolorization with acid alcohol.

Which Decolorizer is used in ZN staining?

These acids resist staining by ordinary methods such as a Gram stain. It can also be used to stain a few other bacteria, such as Nocardia. The reagents used for Ziehl–Neelsen staining are – carbol fuchsin, acid alcohol, and methylene blue. Acid-fast bacilli are bright red after staining.

Why is carbol Fuchsin used in acid-fast staining?

Carbol fuchsin is used as the primary stain dye to detect acid-fast bacteria because it is more soluble in the cells wall lipids than in the acid alcohol.

What is the principle of AFB?

Why is carbol Fuchsin used in acid fast staining?

What are examples of acid-fast bacteria?

Acid-fast bacteria, also known as acid-fast bacilli or simply AFB, are a group of bacteria sharing the characteristic of acid fastness….These include:

• Bacterial endospores.
• Head of sperm.
• Cryptosporidium parvum.
• Isospora belli.
• Cyclospora cayetanensis.
• Taenia saginata eggs.
• Hydatid cysts.
• Sarcocystis.

What happens if AFB is positive?

If your AFB smear was positive, it means you probably have TB or other infection, but an AFB culture is needed confirm the diagnosis. Culture results can take several weeks, so your provider may decide to treat your infection in the meantime.

How is heat used in the Ziehl-Neelsen method?

This application of heat is used in the Ziehl-Neelsen method. The Kinyoun method, a modification of the Ziehl-Neelsen method, circumvents the use of heat by addition of a wetting agent (Tergitol) to this stain, which reduces surface tension between the cell wall of the mycobacteria and the stain. After primary staining, all cells will appear red.

What is the principle of the Ziehl-Neelsen stain?

Ziehl-Neelsen Stain (ZN-Stain) : Principle, Procedure, Reporting and Modifications. The Ziehl-Neelsen stain (ZN stain), also called the hot method of AFB staining, is a type of differential bacteriological stain used to identify acid-fast organisms, mainly Mycobacteria.

How is Ziehl-Neelsen used to differentiate bacilli?

To differentiate between acid-fast bacilli and non-acid-fast bacilli. To stain Mycobacterium species. The Ziehl-Neelsen stain uses basic fuchsin and phenol compounds to stain the cell wall of Mycobacterium species.

When did Neelsen use acid fast staining method?

So this method is also called Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques. Neelsen in 1883 used Ziehl’s carbol-fuchsin and heat then decolorized with an acid alcohol, and counter stained with methylene blue. Thus Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques was developed. The main aim of this staining is to differentiate bacteria into acid fast group