What are the Steps Involved in Ziehl-Neelsen Staining?
Preparation: A sample smear is prepared and heat-fixed onto a slide. Primary Staining: The slide is flooded with carbol fuchsin and heated gently to facilitate dye penetration. Decolorization: The slide is washed with acid-alcohol to remove the dye from non-acid-fast cells. Counterstaining: Methylene blue is applied to stain non-acid-fast cells and background tissues. Observation: The slide is examined under a microscope. Acid-fast organisms appear red, while non-acid-fast organisms and background tissue appear blue.
