View an outline of the steps taken to chemically prepare samples for TEM and SEM. View the Kirsch Note here

There are 2 important qualities that a solvent used in the tissue processing protocol for TEM must have. Do you know what they are? Read the Kirsch Note here

Knowledge of film has become all but forgotten, but you can still be assured of beautiful images using film. Read on to learn more. View the Kirsch Note here

Who is responsible for safety in your laboratory? Find out! View the Kirsch Note here

It is easy to overlook the importance of mounting samples for SEM observation, but this step is just as critical as all the ones you took in order to ensure accurate morphology in the first place. So, taking a little extra time to mount the specimen with purpose will pay off when imaging in the SEM. View the Kirsch Note here

Chemical fixation of biological samples for light and electron microscopies is required to halt biochemical reactions, prevent autolysis, stabilize macromolecules, preserve delicate morphologies and reduce artefacts which may be induced during other treatments such as dehydration. Besides these general objectives of all fixatives there are also some selected for performing specific functions, such as staining individual organelles or structures. Read on for a list of the more popular fixatives, their functions and other benefits. Read the Kirsch Note here

There are seven common buffers used for biological sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy (TEM): Phosphate (Sorensen's Phosphate, Millonig's Phosphate) Cacodylate, PHEM, S-Collidine, Tris, Hepes, and PIPES. There are three primary functions for the use of buffers in biological sample preparation. View the Kirsch Note here

Embedding adds desired strength and support to tissue for thin sectioning. It also adds size to specimens for easy handling. Knowing the different properties of several embedding mediums can aid in determining what type of resin would be most suitable for the type of specimen being examined. View the Kirsch Note here

Low contrast of biological TEM thin sections is a constant challenge. The use of digital image acquisition has helped tremendously, but it is still important to process the sample, stain the section, and use the proper parameters on the microscope before resorting to digital corrections. Here are a few ways to ensure the best possible specimen makes a great image. View the Kirsch Note here

Every step in preparation of samples for TEM is the most critical step. Ensure that you give the same level of attention to each of them: Fixation, Dehydration and Infiltration. View the Kirsch Note here

The brain is an excellent image processor and can ignore image defects in real time, but when viewing a captured image, the image stands alone and the brain then sees the defect. Performing a Köhler alignment will ensure that most common defects, such as uneven illumination, will not be present in the final image. View the Kirsch Note here

The retrieval of your perfect thin sections floating in the boat now requires you to get them onto the grid with no wrinkles, tears, or foul language. View the Kirsch Note here

Critical point drying is an established method of dehydrating biological tissue prior to examination in the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Read the Kirsch Note here

Critical point drying is an established method of dehydrating biological tissue prior to examination in the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Read the Kirsch Note here