PARAFORMALDEHYDE EFFECT ON RUTHENIUM RED AND LYSINE PRESERVATION AND STAINING OF THE STAPHYLOCOCCAL GLYCOCALYX

The utility of lysine in glutaraldehyde-ruthenium red fixatives for th e preservation and/or staining of the fibrous staphylococci glycocalyx was improved by inclusion of paraformaldehyde. Short, 20 min prefixat ion times far paraformaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixatives containing lys ine, with or without ruthenium red, were compared to an extended overn ight fixation. Samples were often lost in fixatives that did not conta in paraformaldehyde at extended fixation times hampering the effective use of these fixatives for clinical or environmental applications. In clusion of paraformaldehyde in the fixation with lysine permitted long er fixation times as well as stabilized the staphylococcal glycocalyx. Thus, the technical usefulness of fixatives employing lysine tvas sig nificantly improved. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.