| Characteristics | Kinyoun stain | Ziehl Neelsen Stain |
| Primary Stain | In Kinyoun stain method basic fuchsin is used as a primary stain. | In Ziehl Neelsen Stain method, carbol fuchsin is used as a primary stain. |
| Phenol concentration | A high concentration of Phenol is used. | A low concentration of phenol is used. |
| Heating | During the staining procedure cells are not heated. | Cells are heated for 5 minutes during the staining procedure. |
| Concentration of Primary stain | A high concentration of primary stain is used. | A low concentration of primary stain is used as compared to kinyoun stain. |
| Mordant | High concentration of Phenol and basic fuchsin act as a mordant and help in the penetration of stain into the cell. | Phenol and heat act as a mordant and help in penetration of stain into the cell. |
| Decolorization | The primary stain is not removed by the acid-alcohol. | The primary stain is removed by the decolorizer. |
| Toxic effect | Kinyoun stain method is safe as compared to the Ziehl Neelsen Stain method because in this method the phenol is not heated. | In Ziehl Neelsen Stain method phenol is heated as a result it giving rise to toxic form that can harm our eye and mucus membrane. |
