ALBERTS STAIN 

 (Laybourn's modification) 



For diphtheria bacilli 



Solutions required: 



Dissolve by warming or shaking well; allow to 

 stand for twenty-four hours ; then filter. 



B. Potassium iodide . . • • 3 gm. 



Iodine . . . . . . . . 2 gm. 



Distilled water . . . . . . 300 ml. 



Dissolve the potass, iodide in about 5 ml. of the 

 distilled water; add the iodine and shake until dis- 

 solved ; then add the remainder of the distilled water 

 and shake well. 



Technique: 



1 . Fix films by gentle heat ; then stain for five minutes with 

 Solution A. 



2. Without washing apply Solution B for one minute. 



3. Wash rapidly with water; blot dry. 



Results: 



Granules of diphtheria bacilli are stained bluish-black ; bars of 

 bacilli dark green to black. Body of cells, light green; other 

 organisms, light green. 



Note: Best results are obtained with a young culture (eighteen 

 to twenty-four hours old) on serum medium. 



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