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If you are seeing things that are not cells in your microscope, congratulations: you have artifacts!
If you are seeing things that are not cells in your microscope, congratulations: you have artifacts!
Artifacts are small changes that are not normal for a given sample. For example, dark spots left by dust or tissue folds left by poor sample preparation can leave artifacts on a micrograph. Examples of common artifacts are shown on the left.
Step 1: Blow loose dust away parallel (NOT perpendicular) to the lens using a compressed gas duster, air blower, or clean camelhair brush.
Step 2: Remove water-soluble dirt using distilled water, and remove residue with a dry cotton swab in a spiral pattern.
Step 3: Remove non-water soluble dirt using a specialized cleaning solution, and remove residue with a dry cotton swab in a spiral pattern.
Step 4: When you are done with your microscope, put a dust cover on it to avoid getting dust on it again in the future.
Caring for the Olympus BH-2 Microscope.mp4How to care for an Olympus BH-2 microscope. Skip to 1:55 to learn how to remove dust.
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