THE MICROSCOPE and HOW TO PREPARE SLIDES

This is the link for the You-Tube Video below if you wish to view it in full screen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD2u74VOK3A

How to prepare a microscope slide

One of the most basic parts of working with a microscope is preparing a slide. The microscope slide holds the specimen you will be examining through the microscope. In order to see your specimen clearly and observe it for any appreciable length of time, you must know how to prepare a microscope slide properly

Preparing a Flat Slide 

• Make sure your slide, cover slip and medicine dropper are all clean, dry and dust-free.
• Place your flat slide on a clean, dry surface.
• Use your medicine dropper to suck up a few drops of your liquid sample.
• Squeeze one drop of your liquid sample out onto the direct center of the flat slide.
• Gently lower your cover slip onto the flat slide. Put one edge of the cover slip down first, before lowering the rest of it. Do not press down on the cover slip once it is in place.
• Pick up the slide and cover slip combination and gently place it in the viewing tray of your microscope.

Preparing Wet and Dry mount with stain

Preparing and staining microscope slides for frequent and repeated use saves the specimen on the slide and protects the slide itself from being scratched or broken.

How to prepare and Stain a Dry mount

• Lay the slide on a flat, clean surface to prepare it. Avoid placing the slide on small objects that can scratch or contaminate the surface.
• Place your sample specimen on the slide. Make sure the specimen is as flat as possible.
• Put the slip cover over the slide. Put the slide cover on slowly so that it does not bump or destroy your specimen.

How to prepare and Stain a Wet mount

• Lay the slide on a flat, clean surface to prepare it. Avoid placing the slide on small objects that can scratch or contaminate the surface.
• Mix a small amount of dye with water until it has reached the color you want for your specimen. Do not get the dye on your skin, as it will stain.
• Put a small amount of your colored water on the surface of the slide.
• Place your specimen into the water on your slide.
• Place the cover slip onto the slide. Hold the slide cover at an angle and lower it onto the slide so that it spreads the water evenly out on the slide without catching any air bubbles or damaging the specimen.

Handling of Microscopes

1. Microscopes must be carried upright, with one hand supporting the arm of the microscope and the other hand supporting the base. Nothing else should be carried at the same time.
2. Microscope must be positioned safely on the table, NOT near the edge.
3. After plugging the microscope into the electrical outlet, the cord should be draped carefully up onto the table and never allowed to dangle dangerously to the floor.
4. The coarse adjustment must NEVER be used to focus a specimen when the 40x or oil immersion lens is in place.
5. When finished with the microscope, the cord should be carefully wrapped around the microscope before returning it to the cabinet.
6. The microscope must be placed upright and in the appropriate numbered slot in the cabinet.
7. All prepared microscope glass slides are to be returned to their appropriate slide trays; wet mount preparations are to be disposed of properly.
8. Malfunctioning microscopes should be reported to the instructor.

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