Albert Stain Test Overview

Albert Stain is a microbiological stain test that helps in detecting Corynebacteriumdiphtheriae bacteria that cause diphtheria. Diphtheria is an infectious disease that affects throat and nose mucous membranes while causing dangerous side effects like respiratory blockage along with heart failure and nerve damage.

The two-step staining method known as Albert Stain shows bacteria metachromatic granules as a distinct characteristic of C. diphtheriae. The polyphosphate-made granules called volutin or Babes-Ernst bodies serve as essential identification markers of the bacterium.

Why Is The Albert Stain Test Prescribed?

Medical professionals prescribe the Albert Stain for testing patients showing signs of diphtheria that include sore throat alongside fever, enlarged lymph nodes.

The public health sector uses Albert Stain for both outbreak confirmation and vaccination program evaluation. Although diphtheria is infrequently observed in parts of the world due to successful immunization campaigns, the Albert Stain functions as an essential diagnostic tool for locations with low vaccination rates and outbreak areas.

Components of An Albert Stain Test

The Albert Stain uses two essential solutions as its components, including Albert solution A and Albert solution B. The bacterial cells, together with metachromatic granules, receive distinct staining from toluidine blue and malachite green, which exist in Albert solution A. Through the combination of staining solutions in Albert A and B, the granules show a dark blue or black element

Albert solution B serves as a mordant because it contains iodine, which strengthens the visibility difference between granules and cellular material. The Albert Stain is effective as a C.diphtheriae identification tool because of its ability to implement differential cell staining.

Procedure and Prerequisites

The clinical sample obtained from diphtheria patients' nasal or throat swabs is used to create a smear that will serve as the starting point for the Albert Stain procedure. The entire process of creating the smear takes place on a slide where heat is applied before flooding it with Albert solution A for about 5 minutes. The slide gets exposed to Albert solution B for 1 minute once the previous step is complete.

The microscope examination takes place after one gentle rinse of the slide and its subsequent drying. The metachromatic granules show up as black or dark blue dots located within the green-coloured bacterial cells.

Albert Stain in Ernakulam

Albert Stain in Ernakulam

A0033

Mon - Sat

No Special Preparation Required

24 Hours

₹250

Parameters

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