Microscopic image of Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria (pink-red rods).

Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol. In a Gram stain test, a counterstain is added after the crystal violet, coloring all Gram-negative bacteria with a red or pink color. The test itself is useful in classifying two distinct types of bacteria based on the structural differences of their bacterial cell walls. Gram-positive bacteria will retain the crystal violet dye when washed in a decolorizing solution.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License Wikipedia.  Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization