1. Place the Bacteria Slide on the stage, specimen-side up and make sure that it is secure. Focus the specimen under low and high power according to proper procedure.
2. Rotate the nosepiece to the oil-immersion objective (100x) and move it past your specimen to one side.
3. Place a drop of immersion oil on the slide directly over the center opening in the stage. Do not allow the dropper to touch your slide.
4. Carefully rotate the oil-immersion objective into place; a click sound will be heard.
5. Focus slowly using the fine adjustment knob only.
6. Increase the amount of light by using either the iris diaphragm.
7. If you lose focus, rotate the nosepiece back to low power (10x) and then relocate and center the cells. Now switch directly to oil immersion objective (100x). DO NOT allow the high-dry objective (40x) to come in contact with the oil. This will damage the lens. If you do, notify the instructor immediately and she/he will show you how to clean the lens.
8. Examine the specimen as required.
9. When your microscopic examination is complete, clean the oil immersion objective lens using lens paper only. You may use 70% isopropyl alcohol.
10. Clean the stage and prepared slide with Kim wipes; alcohol will be provided. Return your lide back to the original slide box.
1. A microscope will be assigned to you and your lab partner to share. Please be advised that microscopes are expensive and delicate instruments and thus need to be handled with care.
2. Always carry the microscope to and from the storage cabinet with two hands, one on the arm and one hand as a support below the base.
3. If any problems develop when you are using your microscope, be sure to notify your instructor.
4. If you accidentally damage a prepared microscope slide, please notify your instructor in order that a replacement may be ordered.
5. When you are done using your microscope, clean the ocular and objective lenses with lens cleaner and lens paper only.
- A Kim wipe may be used to clean the stage.
- The stage should be placed in the lowest position and rotate the scanning objective into position.
- Loosely wrap the cord in a figure 8 and secure it.
- Properly carry the microscope to its storage area.
6. Please note that following your lab, the microscopes will randomly be checked to ensure that they have been cared for properly.