Sulfuric Acid 1% Decolorizer

Use Thermo Scientific™ Remel™ Sulfuric Acid 1% Decolorizer in the acid-fast staining procedure to detect Cryptosporidium in clinical specimens.

Cryptosporidium is an intestinal protozoan parasite that causes diarrhea in animals as well as humans. This strain causes infection in immunocompromised hosts, especially those with AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)¹. A modified acid-fast stain procedure was described by Ma and Soave because of its simplicity and specificity to detect Cryptosporidium². Recent modification of the Kinyoun carbolfuchsin stain is recommended by Garcia for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in clinical specimens³.

Cryptosporidium oocysts are spherical, 4-6 μm in diameter, and stain pink to red to purple with Kinyoun carbolfuchsin stain. Most will contain several dark staining granules. Yeast cells which are most likely to be confused with Cryptosporidium stain blue or green based on the counterstain used. Sulfuric Acid 1% decolorizes the primary stain⁴.

Cryptosporidium is more difficult to detect in formed stool specimens. Stain time is increased that allows the oocysts to stand out from the background material. The hot acid-fast stain maximizes detection and identification of Cryptosporidium in formed stools³.

• Easy-to-use- Examine smear in the slides mounted with mounting medium and a coverslip by bright field microscopy (40 X objective) and oil immersion is used (100 X objective) to observe the internal morphology.
• Easy-to-interpret- In case of positive test oocysts stain pink to red to purple, are 4-6 μm in diameter and round or oval in shape. One to four sporozoites maybe visible within the oocyst. In case of negative test the yeast cells and background material stain blue or green in color based on the counterstain used
• As per procedure recommended by CLSI⁴

This reagent contains 1% of sulfuric acid (CAS 7664-93-9) in demineralized water (CAS 7732-18-5)

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