The gram staining procedure involves several steps: 1. Sample Preparation: A sample, often from a patient’s blood, urine, or wound, is smeared onto a glass slide. 2. Heat Fixing: The slide is passed through a flame to fix the bacteria onto the slide. 3. Crystal Violet Staining: The slide is stained with crystal violet dye. 4. Iodine Treatment: An iodine solution is applied, which forms a complex with the crystal violet. 5. Decolorization: The slide is washed with alcohol or acetone. Gram-positive bacteria retain the crystal violet-iodine complex and remain purple, while gram-negative bacteria lose the stain. 6. Counterstaining: The slide is stained with safranin, which colors gram-negative bacteria pink.
