Choosing Microscopic Fields

Properly Decolorized Smears

  • In a properly decolorized smear, background material and nonbacterial cells stain pink and reddish pink, respectively, as demonstrated in this slide.
  • This field is a good example of one appropriate for microscopic examination.
  • Note that the stained material is only one cell thick; therefore cells can easily be counted and identified. Note absence of flecks of precipitated stain.

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