Meltmount™ 1.539

EMS #17994-10

Instructions

Remove the cap from the Meltmount™ 1.539 bottle, placing the cap upside down on the top of the bottle to prevent any contamination from entering, and also to prevent exposing the cap liner to temperatures that will melt it.

Position the Meltmount™ 1.539 bottle on a small hotplate and set the heat to medium.

Heat to a temperature that will make the Meltmount™ thin and watery. Avoid bringing to a temperature that will smoke (60 to 70°C).

Next, place a glass eyedropper into a small vial or bottle on the hotplate. Use this eyedropper to apply the Meltmount to the slide. In order to prevent the Meltmount™ from hardening, it is kept in the vial on the hotplate between each use.

You may choose to put a piece of colored paper on the hot plate and cover it with a piece of heat resistant glass, putting the slide on top of the glass to ultimately enhance contrast. This is optional, but not required.

Then, position a cleaned microscope on the hot plate.

Pressure Method

This method is sufficient for making slides that are permanent in the field, or for making permanent slides of heat sensitive specimens. The protocol is as follows:

The Meltmount™ is melted to a liquid as mentioned above.

Position a clean slide on the hot plate.

Apply a thin layer of the Meltmount™ with an eyedropper. Be sure to fill the area on the slide that is to be covered by the cover glass. We recommend having a flat layer of Meltmount™.

Before using, let the slide cool to room temperature.

Once cooled, store the slides with the Meltmount™ layer in a slide box until ready for use.

Please be advised that all prepared slides should be stored flat.

You may apply the specimen by choosing to do one of the following:

1. Transfer the specimen to sticky tape, then transfer from the tape to the Meltmount™ layer on the slide. This can be done by carefully running your fingernail over the back of the tape (sticky side toward the Meltmount™ layer)
2. Position the Meltmount™ layer and slide directly onto the specimen
3. Drop the specimen onto the Meltmount™ layer

Then, the coverslip is positioned over the specimen. The Meltmount™ layer is pressed between the thumb and the forefinger. Be aware of the amount of pressure applied, as too much could crack the coverslip.

You may choose to improve the finished slide by doing one of the following:

1. Apply more pressure using the thumb and forefinger
2. Heat for a brief amount of time on the hotplate
3. Place a wax paper covered weight on the attached cover glass overnight, or for at least 24 hours

Product Information

Meltmount™ 1.539