Modified India Ink BD BBL™ 0.5 mL

Features

• Visualization of cryptococcal polysaccharide capsules capsular material of cryptococci displaces the colloidal carbon particles of the ink so that the capsule appears as a clear halo around the microorganisms against a black background
• Used to stain pus, exudate, tissue, sputum and sediment of centrifuged urine and cerebral spinal fluid (csf) specimens
• Particularly useful for csf specimens because cryptococcus neoformans is the most common cause of fungal central nervous system (cns) infections
• Appearance of encapsulated yeast forms in an india ink smear from csf is diagnostic for cryptococcal meningitis
• Positive (a 48-h culture of Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC™ 36556), negative (Candida albicans ATCC 10231) and stain (1 drop India ink + 1 drop sterile saline) controls should be run simultaneously with the organism or specimen being tested, Examine the reagent for signs of deterioration