Micro cover glass, also known as microscope cover glass or microscope slides, are thin glass squares or rectangles used to cover specimen slides when viewing under a microscope. Some key features of micro cover glass:
– Very thin, typically 0.13-0.17 mm thick. Allows light to pass through for microscopy.
– Made of optical quality glass that is flat and smooth to not distort specimen images.
– Typically come in standard sizes (18×18 mm, 22×22 mm, 24×50 mm, etc.) to fit microscope stages and specimen slides.
– Often pre-cleaned and free of impurities that could interfere with microscopy.
– Protects and flattens specimen samples mounted on slides. Prevents contamination and damage.
– Allows the application of stain, oil, or water on top of the cover glass rather than directly on the specimen.
– Usually, an affordable, disposable supply is used in large volumes by microscopy labs.
So in summary, micro cover glasses are thin, high-quality glass covers that are placed over specimens on microscope slides to enable examination under a microscope and protect the sample. They are an essential microscopy supply.