LABORATORY HINTS
(1) This is your laboratory and it is your responsibility to keep it clean and care for the instruments
you use.
(2) Before you leave the laboratory after a practical class,
(i) Discard any slides and specimens you have used.
(ii) Switch off the microscope lights and cover the microscopes.
(iii) Off any burners you have lighted
(iv) Close the gas taps properly
(v) Clean your place.
(vi) Wash your hands with soap and water.
(3) In the laboratory, most of the time you will be handling infective material. like urine, faeces,
sputum bacteriological cultures etc. Therefore it is very important that you DO NOT SPILL
these infective materials on the tables, on the microscope or on your belongings. (if you spill
any material by mistake, please inform the lab attendants and take necessary steps to clean up
the place with some detergent solution.)
THE MICROSCOPE
The microscope is an instrument which is used to magnify small objects which are not visible to the naked
eye. For this purpose the instrument is fitted with a series of lenses. The important ones are the EYE
PIECE and the OBJECTIVES.
OBJECTIVES:
(i) magnification of (X 4) - for identification of most of the arthropods.
(ii) low power – (X 10) – for identification of helminthic eggs.
(iii) high power – (X 40) – for identification of protozoan cysts.
- for confirmation of helminthic eggs.
- for identification of a perfect area to look for malarial parasites.
(iv) oil immersion- (X 100)
– for the confirmation of the stages of malarial parasites
and species identification of filarial parasites.
OIL IMMERSION OBSERVATION (Fig.2)
(1) First bring the specimen image into focus using the objective 10X or 40 X, and then, into the
center of the view field.
(2) Revolving the nosepiece, bring the 100x objective into a convenient position for applying oil.
(3) Tilting the oil container, when oil enters the nozzle, press slightly the container to push out a drop
of oil on to the cover glass. At the beginning, the oil may take air bubbles. So, if any bubble is
seen, once clear it off using lens tissue, and apply a drop of oil to the cover-glass again.
(4) Keep pressing the oil container, then, attach the oil on the end of the nozzle to the front lens of the
100x objectives
(5) Revolvung the nosepiece, swing in the objective into the optical path.
LIGHT ADJUSTMENT
Two adjustments One adjustment only.
1. Condenser 1. Condenser- Light can be adjusted by
moving upward and downward directions.
2. Electric switch: Illumination can be increased from 0-10
EYE PIECE
2 eye pieces 10 X, 15X
20 X
Usually we use the eye piece: 10X
TOTAL MAGNIFICATION
Eye piece magnification x objective magnification x own magnification
If the picture id drawn
eg: 10x40x2 (high power) (2 is your magnification)
STOOL EXAMINATION
Tips for students
Tend to be in the sediment
Eg: Ascaris
Trichuris
Cysts- E. coli
Giardia
Tend to float
Eg: Necator
Enterobius
Selection of mount
Saline- for identification of live trophozoites & their movements
Iodine- stains the eggs or cysts for clear identification.
Objective 10x is ideal for screening eggs & trophozoites but for the confirmation of eggs or trophozoites
objective 40x is used. Cysts are identified under the high power. Never use 100X or 4X for stool
examination.
Light:
Condenser should be kept at a lower position.
In light adjustable models reduce the light desired level