DIY prepared slides archive

Here you can discuss sample and specimen preparation issues.
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JGQ
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2022 12:26 am

DIY prepared slides archive

#1 Post by JGQ » Sun Oct 02, 2022 12:10 pm

Hi, I’m new to this so forgive me if I use the wrong terminology. How does one go about making your own “permanent” prepared slides for a personal archive? I’d like to start a collection of things I find.

BramHuntingNematodes
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Location: Georgia, USA

Re: DIY prepared slides archive

#2 Post by BramHuntingNematodes » Sun Oct 02, 2022 12:58 pm

While temporary mounts are quite simple, making permanent ones is an art of nearly limitless depth. Moreover, each type of sample has different approaches and known solutions. I would recommend firstly checking out the posts here on the subject as well as the subforum devoted to books, of which there are many on the subject. My personal favorite to start with would be Gray's Handbook of Basic Microtechnique.
1942 Bausch and Lomb Series T Dynoptic, Custom Illumination

SuiGenerisBrewing
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Re: DIY prepared slides archive

#3 Post by SuiGenerisBrewing » Mon Oct 03, 2022 4:18 pm

Just to add to Bram's excellent answer, because different techniques are needed to make permanent mounts of different types of organisms, it is easiest to start by making permanent mounts of one kind of organism, and mastering that technique before moving onto another kind of organism. It is much easier to "transition" from a method you know well to a new method, than it is trying to learn multiple (often quite different) mounting methods at the same time.

dtsh
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Re: DIY prepared slides archive

#4 Post by dtsh » Mon Oct 03, 2022 5:26 pm

To add just a tad more, I would look at PVOH-Glycerin as a mountant for starting out as it's pretty forgiving, easy to clean up, inexpensive to make, and works on a lot of different subjects.

The main focus for this paper is botanical samples, but it can work with other subjects. https://www.mobot.org/plantscience/resb ... ia2014.pdf

BramHuntingNematodes
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Location: Georgia, USA

Re: DIY prepared slides archive

#5 Post by BramHuntingNematodes » Mon Oct 03, 2022 6:24 pm

Glycerin is often described as temporary mounts, but I have some nematodes that were put into 60-70 years ago that look quite good.
1942 Bausch and Lomb Series T Dynoptic, Custom Illumination

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