acid fast
/ˈæsɪd fæst/
adjective
- Describing bacteria that resist decolorization by acid after being stained, used especially for tuberculosis bacteria.
- The lab technician identified the bacteria as acid-fast under the microscope.
- The acid-fast stain is an important test for diagnosing certain infections.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an acid-fast bacterium that causes tuberculosis.