[Demonstration of mycoplasma by direct fluorochromation with acridine derivatives (author's transl)].

Vital fluorochromation of mycoplasmas can be obtained with acridine derivatives. Stained with acridine-orange und 9-aminoacridine chloride-1-hydrate mycoplasmas appear as yellow (green) fluorescing homogeneous spots or discs under the fluorescence microscope, the exact appearance depending on the concentration of the fluorochrome and the absorption by nucleic acids. Non-specific supplements and undermixed bacteria have significantly different fluorescence. Depending on the metachromasia of acridine-orange and on double-fluorescing with acridine-orange and 9-aminoacridine chloride-1-hydrate, the bacterial cell wall is green, the protoplasma red. The method is suitable as a screening test for mycoplasma.