Increasing throughput of manual microscopy of cell suspensions using solid medium pads

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Microscopy Techniques

Background:

• Traditional microscopy methods using slides and coverslips are time-consuming.
• Cell movement during observation often leads to poor image quality.
• Existing automated equipment and consumables can be expensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective and efficient method for high-quality microscopy of multiple cell samples.
• To overcome challenges associated with cell movement and lengthy observation times.
• To provide a versatile technique applicable to various microscopic samples.

Main Methods:

• Manual spotting of multiple cell samples onto solid-medium pads.
• Utilizing visible and fluorescence microscopy for imaging.
• Implementation with *Saccharomyces cerevisiae* (yeast) samples.

Main Results:

• Enabled rapid, high-quality imaging of hundreds of samples per day.
• Eliminated the need for expensive automated equipment, multi-well plates, and large consumables.
• Demonstrated effectiveness across a wide range of working cell concentrations.
• Successfully applied to *S. cerevisiae*, with potential for other microorganisms and pollen.

Conclusions:

• The solid-medium pad method offers a significant improvement for routine microscopy.
• This technique is cost-effective, efficient, and versatile for diverse microscopic samples.
• The method's simplicity and lack of specialized equipment make it suitable for field applications.