[Investigations for improving the microscopic detection of mycobacteria following rapid cultivation by means of a rotating incubator. I. Improvement of the fixation technique (author's transl)]

The optimal qualitative and quantitative identification by microscopy of mycobacteria cultivated in liquid medium in including several problems. Acridine-orange was used for staining in all investigations. Polyvinyl-alcohol (1--2.5%) proved to be the best means for fixing mycobacteria culture suspensions on slides. A reliable sterilization of the sides was possible with peracetic acid (3%). Tween 80 in the culture medium did not impair the adherence of the fixed suspension on the slide under these conditions. Mycobacteria in a suspension of 10(-4) mg (wet weight) per ml could be still found by microscopy with this procedure.