Clinical specimens suspected of containing Mycobacterium are digested with sodiu!
Question:
Clinical specimens suspected of containing Mycobacterium are digested with sodium hydroxide for 30 min., why?
clinical specimens suspected of containing Mycobacterium are digested with sodium hydroxide for 30 minutes prior to staining. Why is this technique used? Why isn't this technique used for staining other bacteria?
Answers:
Sputum decontamination reagents are used to break down mucous components of sputum and other clinical specimens and to decontaminate the specimen of normal flora in order to allow slower growing mycobacteria to grow.
I don't really know why the technique isn't used for staining other bacteria unless other bacteria are not susceptible to NaOH.