A Simplified Bacterial Spore Stain

Abstract

A simplification of the Schaeffer-Fulton spore stain for bacteria is presented. It is shown that omission of the heating step during staining with malachite green resulted in spore stains as good as when the heat was applied. The simplified procedure involves (1) heat fixation of the smear by 20 passages through the flame, (2) staining with saturated aqueous malachite green for 10 minutes, (3) rinsing, and (4) counterstaining with 0.25% aqueous safranin for 15 seconds. The omission of the heating step in staining has obvious advantages, particularly in the classroom.