[Fluorescence bacterioscopy, a direct method for bacteriological food analysis]

The present bacteriological method which is intended for the simultaneous direct detection of live and dead germs in foods, offers certain difficulties in differentiating between bacterial cells and food consituents of similar forms. Furthermore, gram-negative germs are not disclosed. To overcome these difficulties, the authors performed comparative model experiments with Gram's stain and the fluorescence method, including pure cultures and foods of animal and vegetable origin. Among the fluorochromes tested (primuline, auramine, acridine orange and acridine yellow), acridine yellow has proved to be specially suited and superior to Gram's stain. A method is described which is termed fluorescence bacterioscopy. Its advantages and disadvantages are discussed.