Gram's method

[gramz]

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. a method of staining and distinguishing bacteria, in which a fixed bacterial smear is stained with crystal violet, treated with Gram's solution, decolorized with alcohol, counterstained with safranine, and washed with water.

Gram's method

noun

1. bacteriol a staining technique used to classify bacteria, based on their ability to retain or lose a violet colour, produced by crystal violet and iodine, after treatment with a decolorizing agent See also Gram-negative Gram-positive

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gram's method¹

Named after Hans C. J. Gram (1853–1938), Danish bacteriologist

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gram's method¹

C19: named after Hans Christian Joachim Gram (1853–1938), Danish physician

Example Sentences

It stains with moderate rapidity with the ordinary anilin dyes, and is decolorized by Gram's method.

From Project Gutenberg

A. Gram's Method.—Young individuals give an intense reaction with this stain; old bacilli are easily decolourised, and degenerate forms are always Gram-negative, while single individuals have been observed which showed gradation from one pole of the cell to the other.

From Project Gutenberg

Young individuals are stained by Gram's method; older individuals are, however, Gram negative.

From Project Gutenberg

Stain: Gram's method coloured with aqueous fuchsine afterwards.

From Project Gutenberg

Prepare cover-slip preparations, fix and clear as for milk preparations, stain carbolic methylene-blue, Gram's method, Ziehl-Neelsen's method, and examine microscopically with a 1/12 inch oil-immersion lens.

From Project Gutenberg