I want to make cell sample for measuring SEM
but I don't have osmium tetroxide ( I heard it is expensive reagent...)
I have to use osmium tetroxide? or negligible?
Are there any other alternatives?
Hello Yong,
It is not always necessary to post-fix samples with OsO4 for scanning electron microscopy. In our hands, fixation with aldehydes (glutaraldeyde or mix of formaldehyde+glutaraldehyde) only works well for bacteria or yeasts.
Moran and Coates (2012) has published an comparison of different methods for SEM sample preparation in MicroscopyToday: doi: 10.1017/S1551929511001374
Dear Oldřich
Thank you very much for your exellent responses and comments
OsO4 generally is not needed for SEM specimen preparation. You can see a lot of funny things in published protocols. People tend to do a lot of not needed things. On some occasions (for really fragile specimens) I do use OsO4, but I still do not know if it is necessary - I am just trying to be on a safe side.
no it is not really necessary, the main purpose is to fix and complete dehydrate the specimen for good contrast view.
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