Acid-Fast Staining Revisited, a Dated but Versatile Means of Diagnosis

Abstract

Acid-fast staining has been utilized in the field of medicine since the late 1800s. It was, for a while, considered the gold standard for diagnosing leprosy and tuberculosis. Principally it uses 1 primary staining agent, carbol fuchsin; and methylene blue as a counter stain. The emergence of molecular-based diagnostic tests makes some of us question the relevance of acid-fast staining in daily practice. This literature review aimed to revisit the acid-fast staining method, its uses, and the modification that occurred throughout the years.