The Auramine Rhodamine solution consists of a mixture of Auramine O and Rhodamine B dissolved in an aqueous base. Phenol and anhydrous glycerol are also included to optimize the staining properties of the solution.

Focus of use of this solution is in microscopy and medical diagnostics, especially in the field of bacteriology. The auramine-rhodamine solution is mainly used for fluorescence staining of acid-fast bacteria such as mycobacteria, which cause, for example, tuberculosis or leprosy.

The chemical mode of operation is based on the binding of the dyes auramine O and rhodamine B to the cell wall structures of the acid-fast bacteria. When excited with light of a specific wavelength, the bound dyes emit fluorescence that can be visualized under a fluorescence microscope. Phenol and glycerol serve as excipients to improve the staining properties of the solution and to stabilize the dyes in the solution.

The special suitability of the Auramine-Rhodamine solution lies in its high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of acid-fast bacteria. Fluorescent staining allows faster and more efficient examination of samples compared to conventional staining methods such as Ziehl-Neelsen staining. The application is thus particularly useful in clinical diagnostics and research.