Role of the air bubble in increasing cell recovery using cytospin I and II

The Shandon Cytospin II cytocentrifuge invariably produces greater cell recovery than does the Cytospin I due to the persistence of an automatically formed air bubble created between the cell suspension and the slide by the new design of the head of the centrifuge. Similar results were achieved with the Cytospin I when care was taken to produce such an air bubble while introducing the sample into the chamber. The instructions for creating such an air bubble in the sample chambers of the Cytospin I are given. The protective role of an albumen solution for cells on slides to be air dried for Giemsa staining, which is particularly valuable for many cytocentrifuged preparations, is also discussed.