Variations in quality of carbol fuchsin stains collected from routine tuberculosis laboratories.

Abstract

SETTING:

In-use carbol fuchsin stains were collected from 10 different routine acid-fast bacilli smear microscopy laboratories.

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the variations in the composition of carbol fuchsin stains.

METHOD:

Carbol fuchsin concentrations were first determined spectrophotometrically by measuring absorbance at 547 nm. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separated and quantified the four basic fuchsin homologues: para-rosaniline, rosaniline, magenta II and new fuchsin, and identity was confirmed by mass spectrometry (MS).

RESULTS:

Absorbance measurement showed that three of 10 (30%) samples contained insufficient carbol fuchsin (<70%). Wide variations in relative proportions of fuchsin homologues were found.

CONCLUSION:

The relative abundance of rosaniline + new fuchsin was quite stable among the different laboratories. Spectrophotometry and HPLC/MS are necessary and sensitive tools for monitoring fuchsin quality.

• Authors: Y L Zhao, Y H Liu, G L Jiang, W Y Chan, C W Yip, K M Kam
• Journal: The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (Int J Tuberc Lung Dis) Vol. 13 Issue 1 Pg. 126-9 (Jan 2009) ISSN: 1027-3719 [Print] France
• PMID: 19105890 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• Coloring Agents
• Rosaniline Dyes
• carbol-fuchsin solution

Topics

• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Coloring Agents (chemistry, standards)
• Hong Kong
• Humans
• Laboratories (standards)
• Rosaniline Dyes (chemistry, standards)
• Spectrophotometry
• Sputum (microbiology)
• Tuberculosis, Pulmonary (diagnosis)