Santiago, Selwyn Joseph C.

2FMT

Types of Microscopes used in Clinical Laboratories

A. Standard Compound Light Microscope This microscope consists of an eyepiece lens that is in line with the revolving nose piece. The nose piece holds two or more objective lenses. The light passes from the stage through a hole into the sample. From the sample it passes to the lenses. The images are enlarged by 4X, 10X, 40X or 100X according to the objective lenses fitted on the revolving nose piece. B. UV Microscope - A UV microscope uses UV light to produce an image that is twice the resolution seen in visible light microscopy. Mercury arc or xenon burner is used as the source of UV light. As UV light is harmful to human eye, a digital sensor or photographic film is produce to help observe the images.

C. Fluorescence Microscope Fluorescence microscope uses high-energy, short-wavelength light that excites the electrons of certain molecules present within the sample. This causes the electrons to shift into a higher orbit and when they come back to their original energy levels, they emit low energy, long wavelength light. This light is within the visible spectrum that helps in formation of an image.

D. Digital Microscope - A digital microscope uses optical lenses as well as CCD/ CMOS sensors. It provides a 1000x magnification power. Used to achieve high quality recorded images of the specimen. The commonly used ones have 15 inch monitor and 2 million pixel camera. E. Dark-Field Microscope Dark-field microscope is used to observe live spirochetes. This microscope uses a special condenser lens that helps scattering light. This causes it to reflect the light off the specimen at an angle. The result is such that any light object is seen on a dark background.

F. Phase Contrast Microscope - The phase contrast microscope uses special condensers that help in throwing the light out of phase. This helps the light pass through the object at different speeds. The phase contrast microscope is one of the types of microscopes used in biology to view unstained specimens. It is one of the types of microscopes used to study cells and cell parts like mitochondria, lysosomes, Golgi bodies using a phase contrast microscope. G. Transmission Electron Microscope The transmission electron microscope (TEM) is used to study cells. Ultrathin slices of microorganisms like viruses are placed on a wire grid. Then, these cells are stained with gold or palladium and then used to observe under a transmission electron microscope. The electron beam is deflected on the densely coated parts of the cells and the image is observed on dark and light background.

H. Scanning Electron Microscope - Scanning electron microscope (SEM) is also a type of electron microscope with lower magnification power than a transmission electron microscope. However, this microscope helps in viewing three-dimensional images of microorganisms.

Sources: 1. Retrieved on November 11,2013 from:

(http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-microscopes-and-their-uses.html)