Warthin–Starry stain

It was first introduced in 1920 by American pathologists Aldred Scott Warthin (1866–1931) and Allen Chronister Starry (1890–1973), for the detection of spirochetes.

[1][2] It has been considered a standard stain for the detection of spirochetes,[3] and is also used to stain Helicobacter pylori, Lawsonia intracellularis,[4] Microsporidia,[5][6] and particulates.

[7] It is also important for confirmation of Bartonella henselae, a causative organism in cat-scratch disease.

Warthin–Starry stains organisms dark brown to black, and the background light golden brown/golden yellow.

This microbiology-related article is a stub.

Helicobacter pylori colonized on the surface of regenerative epithelium, stained with the Warthin–Starry method.
Clusters of bacteria (arrow) shown on Warthin–Starry stain.