Question

What is the purpose of air-drying (or gently warming) smears?

A) To enhance bacterial growth
B) To kill bacteria on the slide
C) To fix the sample on the slide
D) To stain the bacteria

Answer 1

The purpose of air-drying or gently warming smears is to fix the sample on the slide.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of air-drying or gently warming smears is (C) to fix the sample on the slide. When a bacterial smear is air-dried or gently warmed, it helps to attach the bacterial cells to the glass slide, making them more stable and preventing them from washing away during the staining process. This fixation step is important to ensure that the bacteria remain intact and in their original positions on the slide.