Can I use a haemocytometer for camera calibration

May 21, 2008 2:10 PM

Microscopy question. Can I use a haemocytometer to calibrate our new camera?

I know that normally you would use a micrometer, bur I have to track one down (which will take time). Haemocytometers, on the other hand, are aplenty.

But is this kosher? As far as I understand, the laser etching on a haemocytometer is *very* precise (hence their expense), but I've never heard of anybody using it like this. Thoughts?

posted by kisch mokusch to Science & Nature (5 answers total)

Best answer: Its use for microscope calibration is referenced here.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:15 PM on May 21, 2008

Best answer: It will probably work fine. I usually use stage micrometers for calibration (I like S29 on http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/magnifier/stage.aspx) but I've never worried if they're NIST-traceable or anything. Given that haemocytometers have to have pretty precise rulings for the cell counts to be accurate it's probably fine.

Of course you can always recalibrate with a stage micrometer later.
posted by pombe at 4:22 PM on May 21, 2008

Best answer: Now you've heard of somebody using it for this. I just used a hemocytometer yesterday for calibrating a scale bar overlay in a LabView program that a records a microscope picture. In fact, I remarked to a colleague today how convenient the hemocytometer is as a calibration device. I've never seen an indication from comparison measurements that our hemocytometer isn't extremely accurate.
posted by Mapes at 8:39 PM on May 21, 2008

Response by poster: Beautiful. Thanks everyone.
posted by kisch mokusch at 8:59 PM on May 21, 2008

A little belated, but I asked a colleague agreed that a hemocytometer would work fine for calibrating your camera. Good luck!
posted by RachelSmith at 2:35 PM on May 23, 2008