Hi all,

We have been having troubles with our gram stain (paraffin) procedure.  The results are not giving sufficient distinction between Gram +ve's and -ve's.  It has worked in the past, and nothing should have changed.  I have tried numerous variations, new reagents, different differentiation times, and different people doing the stain, all with no luck.  What is the crucial part of this stain?  Where are we going wrong?!  I've been using the protocols from Bancroft and Stevens.

Many thanks in advance for your help,

Aidan, New Zealand.


_____________________________________
a i d a n   c   s c h u r r
 section head, histology
  department of pathology
hutt valley health
high street, lower hutt
wellington
new zealand
telephone ++64 4 5709173
facsimile ++64 4 5709214