# Fluorescence Microscopy & Tuberculosis

**URL:** <https://openuc2.discourse.group/t/fluorescence-microscopy-tuberculosis/180>\
**Category:** openUC2 Education\
**Created:** [October 7, 2026, 6:54am UTC](https://openuc2.discourse.group/t/fluorescence-microscopy-tuberculosis/180 "2026-10-07T06:54:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![evelyn\_ri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6bbea6/32.png) [@evelyn\_ri](https://openuc2.discourse.group/u/evelyn_ri)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 6:54am UTC](https://openuc2.discourse.group/t/fluorescence-microscopy-tuberculosis/180/1 "2026-10-07T06:54:33Z")

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Hello,

we are currently planning to use openUC2 for a seminar with our students who will be working on health-related challenges. The students will be given the task of building a fluorescence microscopy system that could support the detection of tuberculosis.

Regarding the wavelengths I found this information:

_"The review by Karen Steingart and colleagues[1](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(07)70058-0/fulltext) examined the usefulness of fluorescence microscopy for detecting acid-fast bacilli in sputum, but neglected some technical and practical aspects underlying the advantages of this technique. **The fluorescent dye most widely used is auramine O,** alone or in combination with rhodamine B. Established texts[2,3](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(07)70058-0/fulltext) and other sources state that auramine O, **which is excited by blue (450–500 nm) light and emits across the region from around 500 nm to 700 nm (green–yellow–red),** stains mycolic acids, and thus the mycobacterial cell wall. Consequently, microscopists search for bacillus-shaped objects that fluoresce homogeneously ([figure, A](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(07)70058-0/fulltext#fig1)). However, stained smears often contain other fluorescent objects, some similar in shape to bacilli. Confusing such structures with mycobacteria might reduce specificity.”_

Source: Hänscheid T, Ribeiro C, Shapiro H et. al (2007). **Fluorescence microscopy for tuberculosis diagnosis.** The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 7, 236-237.

Now, what I was wondering: **Does openUC2 offer anything that could fulfill these requirements?**

Thank you so much!