Basis of differentiation

Simple staining

Differential staining

Definition

Simple staining involves directly staining the microbial cell with only one type of stain

Differential staining uses more than one type of stain 

Colors 

It stains a microbial cell only one color

It stains a microbial cell two or more different colors

Significance

It helps to observe and identify the shape, size, structure, and arrangement of bacterial cells

It helps to differentiate between distinct types of bacterial species

Example

Methylene blue staining

Gram’s staining, acid fast staining