Prepared Slides

nickyw · Post by **nickyw** » 30 Mar 2007, 13:55

Hi everyone

I have noticed that on one of my prepared slides the cover slip is smashed.
Does anyone know how to fix this problem or am I better off just tossing this one.

Cheers Nicky

Kath · Post by **Kath** » 30 Mar 2007, 14:36

In my opinion Nicky, just toss it. It would cost more in your time to fix it, than it would cost to buy a new slide.
Cheers Kath.

ri · Post by ri » 30 Mar 2007, 15:02

On the other hand Nicole, if you wanted to save the specimen:
The broken cover slip could be eased off by soaking the slide in some xylene in a fume cupboard.
Xylene is the solvent for Canada balsam which is probably the original mountant.
A drop of Canada balsam can then be put on the slide and a new coverslip placed over it. It takes about a week to dry and the excess can be peeled off.

~Robyn