The preparation of smears and simple stains is a common technique used in microbiology to visualize and identify bacterial cells under a microscope. This report outlines the steps taken to prepare smears and perform simple stains on bacterial samples.
Procedure: 1. Using an inoculating loop, a small amount of bacterial culture is transferred onto a clean microscope slide. 2. The bacterial culture is spread evenly across the slide to create a thin, even smear. 3. The slide is heat-fixed by passing it through the flame of a Bunsen burner several times. 4. The slide is then flooded with crystal violet stain and allowed to sit for 1 minute. 5. The stain is rinsed off with water, and the slide is flooded with Gram's iodine and allowed to sit for 1 minute. 6. The slide is rinsed again with water and then decolorized with alcohol or acetone for a few seconds. 7. The slide is rinsed once more with water and then flooded with safranin stain for 1 minute. 8. The stain is rinsed off with water, and the slide is allowed to air dry. 9. A drop of immersion oil is added to the slide, and a coverslip is placed on top. 10. The slide is then observed under a microscope at 1000x magnification.
Results: The bacterial cells appear purple or blue after staining with crystal violet and Gram's iodine, indicating that they are Gram-positive. After decolorization and staining with safranin, Gram-negative bacteria will appear pink or red.
Conclusion: The preparation of smears and simple stains is a valuable technique for visualizing and identifying bacterial cells. By following the steps outlined in this report, accurate and reliable results can be obtained for further analysis and identification of bacterial species.