Problem: Article: Place the slide under the light microscope. Bacteria vary greatly in size, so the total magnification required will vary from 400x to 1000x. At the higher end of these magnifications, an oil immersion objective lens is recommended for greater clarity. Place a drop of immersion oil on the slide, avoiding motion during application to prevent bubbles. Move the microscope turret so the objective lens clicks into place, touching the oil. Oil immersion can only be used on specially designed lenses, not a "dry" lens. Examine the slide under the light microscope. Gram-positive bacteria appear purple, due to the crystal violet trapped within their thick cell walls. Gram-negative bacteria appear pink or red, since the violet washed through the thin cell walls, then the pink counterstain entered them.  If the sample is too thick, you may see false positive results. Stain a new sample if all bacteria types are gram-positive, to make sure the result is correct. If the decoloriser ran too long, you may see false negative results. Stain a new sample if all bacteria types are gram-negative, to double-check your results. If you are not certain what a bacteria is, look through a collection of reference images, sorted by shape and result of the gram stain. You can find databases online at the National Microbial Pathogen Database, Bacteria in Photos, and many other sites. To make identification easier, common or diagnostically important examples are sorted below by gram status and shape. Bacteria are further classified by their shape under the microscope, most commonly as cocci (spherical) or rods (cylindrical). Here are a few common gram-positive (purple-stained) bacteria organized by shape:   Gram-positive cocci are generally either Staphylococci (meaning cocci in clusters) or Streptococci (meaning cocci in chains).  Gram-positive rods include Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, and Listeria. Actinomyces spp. rods often have branches or filaments. Gram-negative (pink-stained) bacteria are often classified into three groups. Cocci are spherical bacteria, rods are long, thin bacteria, and coccoid rods are somewhere in between.   Gram-negative cocci are most commonly Neisseria spp.  Gram-negative rods include E. coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Serratia, Proteus, Salmonella, Shigella, Pseudomonas, and many others. Vibrio cholerae can appear as ordinary rods or curved rods.   Gram-negative "coccoid" rods (or "coccobacilli") include Bordetella, Brucella, Haemophilus, and Pasteurella. Some bacteria are difficult to stain precisely, due to the fragility or waxiness of their cell walls. They may have a mix of purple or pink stain in the same cell, or among different cells in the same smear. Any bacteria sample over 24 hours old can have this problem, but some species are difficult to stain at any age. They may require more specialized tests to narrow down the identification, such as an acid-fast stain, culture growth observation, TSI medium cultures, or genetic testing.   Actinomyces, Arthobacter, Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium, and  Propionibacterium spp. are all considered gram-positive bacteria, but often appear inconclusively stained. Small and slender bacteria such as Treponema, Chlamydia, and Rickettsia spp. are difficult to Gram-stain properly. Waste disposal procedures vary between laboratories and according to the materials being used. Typically, the liquid in the staining tray is disposed of in sealed bottles as hazardous waste. Soak slides in a 10% bleach solution, then dispose of them in sharps containers.
Summary: Prepare the light microscope. Identify gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Look up reference images. Identify gram-positive bacteria by shape. Identify gram-negative bacteria. Evaluate mixed results. Dispose of materials.

Problem: Article: If you cannot find any spirit gum, try another type of cosmetic adhesive meant for gluing on lace-front wigs, mustaches, and beards. For example, the Telesis 5 silicone matte lace adhesive is designed for use with skin and lace-backed cosmetic items.  Try to get something high quality. It may be more expensive, but a cheaper product may irritate your skin. If you have not used spirit gum before, or have sensitive skin, consider doing a patch test on your inner elbow or wrist to see whether or nor you are allergic to the spirit gum. If you are allergic, consider using wig tape instead. Place the merkin in your genital area to approximate its proper placement. Draw a guideline with an eyeliner if you do not feel you will be able to apply the glue in the right area. Once you apply the spirit gum, it will be tricky to remove it. Flip the merkin over so that the mesh side is facing you. Twist the cap off the spirit gum, and use the brush to trace the perimeter of the merkin. Most bottles of spirit gum will have a brush attached to the cap, like nail polish. If yours did not come with a brush, use popsicle stick or a clean brush with short, stiff bristles instead. Position it just above the pubic mound, where the majority of your pubic hair would be. If you need to make any adjustments, do so now. Start smoothing the merkin from the center and move to the edges. Don't worry if the merkin starts to slip; it's simply because the spirit gum has not finished setting. Simply hold the merkin in place until it stays still. It should only take a few seconds for it to finish setting. Avoid scrubbing the merkin itself. Spirit gum is typically waterproof and can last a few showers. Remember, this is not a permanent accessory, so you will need to remove it after day or two. Do not wear it for more than 3 to 4 days. Merkins are reusable. If you'd like to wear your merkin more often, take it off, clean it, and reapply it using the same method listed above. You can also secure it using some wig tape instead.
Summary:
Buy some spirit gum online or from a costume shop. Stand in front of a mirror, naked, and figure out where to place the merkin. Apply the glue to the back, perimeter of the merkin and wait about 20 seconds for it to get tacky. Place the merkin, glue side down, onto your skin. Smooth the merkin down onto your skin, and hold it in place until the spirit gum sets. Wear your merkin, and wash your body as usual if you want to wear for 3 to 4 days.