dirty coverslips

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:28 am

I posted those images on our polish forum but received no response.

The problem is that coverslips are not clean, they are very dirty I would say... I bought a new box of coverslips, took one from the middle of the pile. All of them look like on photos below - there are somekind of crystals on their surface. it is possible to remove them but it takes time and is something that one doesn't want to do... (;

It is not a first time when I see those crystals, moreover - I'm not the only one who has seen them on coverslips.

Does anyone know a store where I can purchase coverslips that are confirmed to be clean?

Phase contrast image

DIC image

olivier barth · Post by **olivier barth** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:14 am

Hi,
I have the same problem...all "brand" I use are dirty.Is it possible to get one clean? at more hight price?

NikonUser · Post by **NikonUser** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:36 am

Dirty is an understatement

I have and use # 260148, so far all have been spotless.

European supplier:

http://www.tedpella.com/histo_html/coverslp.htm

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:07 am

thanks (: It is "good" to hear that this problem occurs all over the world...

BJ · Post by BJ » Tue Dec 18, 2012 10:55 am

A problem here in Portugal ..also with some batches of slides that I buy. It did not used to be like this.

Careful cleaning first with detergent and then alcohol works for me. I reclean and reuse any slides and coverslips that I can. When i was in university we were supplied with 5 slides and about 100 coverslips to last the year and this thrifty approach has stayed with me.

regards,

Brian

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:46 pm

I clean mine too. I think even when I would have had clean ones I would keep using and recleaning one until it breaks (;

René · Post by **René** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 4:33 am

Plenty of variability out there. We use slides and coverslips from Menzel, they are spottless. Menzel is the house-supplier of Thermo Scientific, most of the laboratory suppliers can deliver them.

Nowadays, histology laboratories are completely automated. Machines are loaded with slides and coverslips. Glass for these machines needs to be clean, no discussion, so the big suppliers deliver that. Less clean glass ends up at the amateur market...

Generally, the glass is contaminated with grinding dust. I used to put a couple of boxes in a 50 ml tube and wash them with 96% ethanol until no dust comes off anymore, usually 4-5 rinses were enough.

René