CARBOLFUCHSIN Meaning and
Definition
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Carbolfuchsin is a noun that refers to a red-colored dye used in various laboratory techniques, particularly in microbiology. It is a mixture of phenol (carbolic acid) and basic fuchsin, a triphenylmethane dye.
This compound is commonly employed as a staining agent in the Ziehl-Neelsen method, which is a specialized technique used to detect the presence of acid-fast bacilli, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this procedure, heat-fixed bacterial smears are treated with carbolfuchsin and then heated to intensify the stain. The high lipid content of acid-fast bacteria makes them resistant to typical staining methods, but carbolfuchsin helps to overcome this challenge. After staining, the bacteria retain the red color, making them easily distinguishable under a microscope.
Carbolfuchsin is also used in the Kinyoun method, a modified acid-fast stain technique. This method employs a cold staining process and uses a higher concentration of carbolfuchsin than the traditional Ziehl-Neelsen method. By utilizing carbolfuchsin, the Kinyoun method allows for the detection of acid-fast bacteria without the need for heat fixation.
Overall, carbolfuchsin is an essential component of staining techniques used in microbiology to identify acid-fast bacteria. Its vivid red coloration makes it ideal for visualizing these microorganisms under a microscope, aiding in the diagnosis and study of various diseases, particularly tuberculosis.
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Ziehl's solution; a stain for use in histology composed of a mixture of one part of a 10 per cent, alcoholic solution of fuchsin and 9 parts of a 5 per cent. aqueous solution of carbolic acid.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CARBOLFUCHSIN
- carbolfuchsan
- carbolfuchsmn
- carbolfuchshn
- carbolfuchsif
- carbolfuchsil
- carbolfuchsio
- c arbolfuchsin
- ca rbolfuchsin
- car bolfuchsin
- carb olfuchsin
- carbo lfuchsin
- carbol fuchsin
- carbolf uchsin
- carbolfu chsin
- carbolfuc hsin
- carbolfuch sin
- carbolfuchs in
- carbolfuchsi n
Etymology of CARBOLFUCHSIN
The word "carbolfuchsin" is a combination of two terms: "carbol" and "fuchsin".
"Carbol" refers to phenol, which is also known as carbolic acid. It is a chemical compound derived from coal tar and had various uses in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including as an antiseptic.
"Fuchsin", on the other hand, is a red dye that belongs to the group of compounds known as rosanilines. It was first synthesized in 1858 by the German chemist August Wilhelm von Hofmann and was named "fuchsine" in honor of the renowned German chemist, Professor Leonhard Fuchs.
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