Gram stain tools

Your provider will also need to find out what type of bacteria is causing it. Depending on your symptoms, health history, and physical exam, you may have more tests. For example, if you have a lung infection, you may need a chest X-ray or CT scan. Or you may need lung function tests to see how well your lungs are working. You may also have blood tests. Your test results may not mean you have a problem.

Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you. A gram stain can't always show the exact type of bacteria causing an illness. But it can often help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis. This test requires a sample of a body fluid. Some samples may be collected with sterile swabs. Others may be collected with a syringe or needle.

The area where fluid is collected depends on where your infection is. For example, if you have a sore throat, your healthcare provider will take a swab of your throat. If you are being tested for bacterial pneumonia, you will likely have to give a sample by coughing up mucus. Or if your healthcare provider wants to check your knee joint, a needle is used to get a sample of joint fluid.

Samples collected with swabs do not have risks. Having a blood test with a needle carries some risks. These include bleeding, infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. When the needle pricks your arm or hand, you may feel a slight sting or pain.

Another one would be confusing debris stain crystals as organisms. In addition to the stain, the organisms' shape and the way they aggregate also gives clue to what they could be. Here are some examples:. A Shutterstock image in case you can't tell. Possible organisms: Streptococcus including beta-hemolytic Strep. Source This particular one is E.

Also a stock photo, but from RF. Of course, there are other forms and shapes one could see under the microscope. The point is, they give valuable clues to what the infectious agents could be.

I have often used what I see under the scope to determine if the gram stains, done by hand or machine, are legitimate. Sometimes, you may not catch rare growth of bacteria as their numbers are few, but that is what the cultures are for.

But in general, the gram stain should correlate with whatever growing on the plates. The lab will read every STAT gram stains ordered. Every non-STAT gram stains sourced from sterile body sites receive the same treatment. Some specimens, such as sputum, needs examination to determine validity of specimen. The lab can reject sub-par specimen on the grounds of not suitable for testing.

They're not happy until you are. Bottom line? We guarantee our products and service won't mess up your science study—no matter how messy it gets. Have questions? Talk to Customer Service. Quantity Decrease Quantity: Increase Quantity:. Add to Wishlist Create New Wishlist. What is Gram Staining? This is because the cell walls of G ram-negative cells contain more lipids fatty substances. The solvent dissolves the lipid layer, allowing the color to be drawn from the cell.

The solvent causes the G ram-positive cell wall to dehydrate, closing the pores and trapping the stain inside the cell. In the last step, the Gram-negative cells are stained a different color, to contrast them from the Gram-positive cells. Gram Staining Science Fair Project Ideas: Discover whether or not antibacterial cleaners work more effectively against Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria Find out if common antibiotics equally effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria Take amazing close-up pictures with your microscope!

Get a great deal on a 2. You'll be able to take high- clarity images of everything you see under your scope.