It is a preservative, I believe.
HH

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	RODRIGUEZ, RICHARD [SMTP:RICHARD.RODRIGUEZ@spcorp.com]
> Sent:	Thursday, June 29, 2000 09:13 AM
> To:	histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject:	Kinyoun's Method for Acid fast Bacteria
> 
>      We would like to know if anyone knows what purpose the melted phenol 
>      crystals serve in the recipe from the AFIP manual for the Basic 
>      Fuchsin for Kinyoun's method.
>      Is it part of the stain or is it used as a preservative?
>      
>      Thanks for your help
>      
>      Richard Rodriguez
>      Schering-Plough Research Institute
>      Lafayette, NJ