KinyounFärbemethode

The Kinyoun staining method is a differential staining technique used in microbiology to classify bacteria based on their cell wall composition. It is a variation of the Ziehl-Neelsen method, designed for use with less decolorizing solution and typically for staining acid-fast bacilli.

The procedure involves applying a primary stain, usually carbolfuchsin, to a heat-fixed bacterial smear. This stain is driven into the waxy cell wall of acid-fast bacteria with the help of heat. After cooling, the slide is decolorized with a solution of acid-alcohol. Non-acid-fast bacteria will lose the primary stain during this step, while acid-fast bacteria will retain it due to the high lipid content in their cell walls, which resists decolorization.

Following decolorization, a counterstain, typically methylene blue or malachite green, is applied. This counterstain stains the non-acid-fast bacteria, making them visible against the background. Acid-fast bacteria appear red or pink due to the retained carbolfuchsin, while non-acid-fast bacteria appear blue or green.

The Kinyoun method is particularly useful for identifying organisms like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, and other species of Mycobacterium. Its main advantage over the Ziehl-Neelsen method is that it does not require as much prolonged heating, making it a quicker and simpler procedure for routine laboratory use. It is a crucial diagnostic tool in identifying infectious diseases.