Chemicals needed for AFB microscopy

Chemicals needed for AFB microscopy For carbolfuchsin: basic fuchsin powder; phenol crystals of good quality; alcohol: denatured 95% ethanol or pure methanol; water, distilled or purified (see below) For acid solution: concentrated sulphuric acid, which can be of industrial grade if it is not too dirty; water, distilled or purified (see below) For methylene blue solution: methylene blue powder of good quality; water, distilled or purified. Water for preparation of stains does not have to be distilled, but it should not contain AFB. This can be obtained by regular cleaning (scrubbing, rinsing) of water containers and by using a household candle type filter to prepare water if distilled is not available. The filter should be maintained regularly (scrubbing, boiling, rinsing with purified water or alcohol).