The use of non-deparaffinized tissue sections for staining leprosy bacilli.

Reduced acid-fast staining of leprosy bacilli occurs during the dewaxing of paraffin sections by xylene and alcohols; the older and more decrepit bacilli being especially affected. By the use of non-deparaffinized sections, the leprosy bacilli which could not be stained with the usual carbol fuchsin are strongly stained. Moreover, non-deparafinized sections can be used for the periodic acid-carbol pararosanilin stain or methenamine silver stain for demonstrating mycobacteria.