bacterial smear definition
Bacterial smears are prepared for the purpose of viewing microorganisms under the microscope. Visualization of microorganisms in the living state is very difficult, not just because they are minute, but because they are transparent and almost colorless when suspended in an aqueous medium. A bacterial smear is a dried preparation of bacterial cells on a glass slide. Smears may be made from a dry culture (from a slant, stab or plate), or from a wet/liquid culture. In preparing bacterial smears, the following qualities must be observed: 1.