Moeller stain

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Endospore made visible with a stain

Moeller staining involves the use of a steamed dye

endospores. Carbol fuchsin is the primary stain used in this method. Endospores are stained red, while the counterstain methylene blue
stains the vegetative bacteria blue.

Endospores are surrounded by a highly resistant spore coat, which is highly resistant to excessive heat, freezing, desiccation, as well as chemical agents. More importantly, for identification, spores are resistant to commonly employed staining techniques; therefore alternative staining methods are required.

Method

Carbol fuchsin is applied to a heat-fixed slide. The slide is then heated over a bunsen burner, or suspended over a hot water bath, covered with a paper towel, and steamed for 3 minutes. The slide is rinsed with acidified ethanol, and counter-stained with

Tergitol 7 to the carbol fuchsin stain, and the omission of the steaming step.[1]

See also

References