Abstract: The invention relates to cover slips coated with covering medium for covering specimens and to machine processes for the production thereof. The cover slips according to the invention greatly simplify the covering of specimens since firstly there is no need to handle the tacky covering medium and secondly the specimens are permanently covered after just a few minutes and can be investigated under a microscope even using immersion objectives. The covering medium layer thicknesses and layer-thickness tolerances according to the invention produce stable and durable covering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stain solution, which is devoid of phenol, for staining bacteria. Said solution contains at least one dye, one solvent and one of the following substances, or mixtures thereof, as a phenol substitute: 2-butoxy thylacetate, 2-phenylethanol, benzyl alcohol, 4-methoxyphenol or cyclohexanol.