Bacteria and Amorphous Material

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Bacteria and Amorphous Material

A mixture of bacteria and amorphous material is seen in this field. In order to determine the approximate number of bacteria, the amorphous material can be eliminated.
  1. Amorphous urates can be dissolved in dilute sodium hydroxide.
  2. Amorphous phosphates will dissolve in dilute acetic acid.
In either case, the bacteria will remain.
In the lower image (higher magnification used), the addition of dilute acetic acid has removed the amorphous phosphates. The nuclei of the WBCs appear prominent. The blue arrows are pointing to bacilli.