This is a method of staining microorganisms (bacteria) using a special series of stains. In this test, a specimen of pericardial fluid (fluid in the sac surrounding the heart) is stained and then examined under the microscope. The Gram stain method can be applied to almost any clinical specimen, and it is one of the most commonly used techniques for the rapid diagnosis of bacterial infections.

Alternative Names

Gram stain of pericardial fluid