You might be thinking that the slides used for microscopes are just regular slides that can be bought from a hardware store. Well, this is not the case. The microscope glass slides are a lot different from the regular slides.
The microscope slides are extensively used in different fields for various purposes. That’s right, you might have seen in the movies that people in the laboratory use them for studying microorganisms, for pathology, or for carrying out forensics. However, they’re commonly used in:
1: Histology
Histology is the study of tissues. The process involves preparing the sample tissues for examination under the microscope. The tissues are examined for their structure and their functions for research purpose.
2: Botany
Botany is the study of plants. Researchers study plant cells and tissues to understand plant genetics, diseases, and their biology.
3: Medicine
You might have it in the hospitals or clinical laboratories that blood samples, tissues, and other specimens are placed under the microscope to diagnose diseases such as infections or cancer.
However, research laboratories also use them for biochemical processes and for studying cellular structures.
4: Pathology
Pathologist use the microscope for diagnosing diseases and other abnormalities in living organisms. This helps them identify the root cause and prepare a cure for it.
5: Education
Schools and universities usually use them for educational purposes. This practice allows the students to observe different biological specimens under the microscope.
6: Forensics
Crime scene investigators also use the microscope for analyzing evidence such as hair, fibers, soil samples, and blood stains to aid in the investigation of a crime scene.
7: Entomology
Lastly, entomologists use the microscope slides for examining insect anatomy and morphology. It is important for pest control, research, and taxonomy.
All in all, in these fields, the microscopes slides play a vital role for preparing and examining the specimen in order to gain insights into their compositions.
Are Regular Slides Different From Microscope Glass Slides?
The microscope slides are different from the regular slides that you can easily find at your local hardware stores. You might be wondering how? Well, you would need to keep reading below to find out.
1 – Material:
The glass slides for microscopes are made from high-quality optical glass material. In some cases, they are made from clear plastic as well. The slides are manufactured in such a way that they need to be clear and have minimal distortion. But the regular glass slides are made from low-quality plastic material, which means that they will not be very clear to see through.
2 – Surface
The regular glass slides are not clear to see through and do not have a smooth surface. The microscope slides on the other hand are smooth, have a flat surface, and have great optical clarity. Having a smooth and flat surface is important because that is where the specimens are to be placed.
3 – Thickness
The microscope slides are thin. That’s right, mostly the thickness of the slides is around 1mm, which allows the light to easily pass through when they are placed under the microscope. The regular glass slides, as compared to the microscope slides are thicker and are not designed to be used under the microscope.
4 – Size
Do you know that the microscope slides have a standard size of 3×1 inches. However, the regular slide sizes can vary depending on their intended usage.
5 – Use
Just as we’ve mentioned above, the size of the regular slides varies depending upon the intended usage. But the microscopic slides are used for examination of cells, tissues, and specimen. This means that their size is the same. What more? The slides are paired with cover slip for flattening and protecting the sample.
How To Get Your Hands On High-Quality Slides
The best way to make sure that your results turn out to be perfect is to get your hands on high-quality microscopes. Well, you can search for them online, but trust us, you will be overwhelmed by the search results.
You need to ensure that your specimen is rightly fixed on the glass slide in such as way that the light goes through it evenly and all the features or the specimen is demarcated.
In order to get the best microscope glass slides, you need to choose:
- High quality glass for the glass slides and the slip cover
- The kind of slide that perfectly fits your microscope. (The universal size is – 3×1 inches)
- The right kind of the slide mount
- The right stain that brings out the desired features of the specimen
The Right Way To Use The Glass Slides For Examination
Using a microscope and glass slides for examining the specimen is vital skill in various studies that we’ve mentioned above. Are you a college student who is eager to learn about microscopy or a profound researcher who fancies the details of microorganisms? Understanding the right techniques for using the microscope slides can make a huge difference in the end results.
Since you’ve landed on this page, you have nothing to worry about as we’ve compiled a guide which will help you master the art of using a microscopic glass slide.
Gathering The Material:
Before you start the research study, you need to ensure that you have all the right material for it.
· The Glass Slides:
The glass slides need to be thin, clear, and have a flat smooth surface. Only then you will be able to see the specimen under the microscope.
· The Cover Slips:
The coverslips are just like the microscope slides, but they are used to protect the sample. The coverslips are placed on the top of the slides. They are made of high-quality clear plastic.
· Specimen:
The specimen or the sample can be anything that you wish to examine.
· Staining Solution:
If you are looking to get a clear visibility of the sample under the microscope, you will need a certain type of staining solution.
Preparing The Slides:
Now that you have all the right material for the research, you need to make sure that the top coverslips are clean. A dust particle or even a slight finger smudge can obscure your view of the sample.
Also, you can add stains whenever they are needed. This is because the stains will highlight certain features of your sample. Mostly the specimens or the sample are transparent and lack contrast. Just add a drop of the stain because too much stain can obscure the fine details.
Examining The Specimen:
Placing the slide on the microscope in the right way is very important. You need to make sure that it is centered over the light in such a way that the light easily passes through.
NOTE: Do not move during the examination.
Cleaning Up The Slides:
Once you are done with the research. You need to remove the slides from the microscope carefully and clean. The best practice is to waste the coverslips and the slides according to guidelines.
Gently clean all the lenses of the microscope and the stage with cleaning solutions to ensure that they remain in pristine conditions for further use.
Conclusion
You should not get discouraged if you do not succeed at first. Each mistake that you will make should be considered a learning opportunity. With more practice, you will get adept at prepping the specimen and its examination.
Now, that you know the difference between a regular slide and a microscope glass slide, we can hope you will be able to get your hands on the right one for your lab research or educational purpose. Just remember the points of using the glass slides for more efficient and accurate results in your scientific or educational endeavors.
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