Using a Formvar-Coated Bridge to Apply Formvar Support Film to TEM Grids

Extract

One conventional method for picking up ultrathin sections for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is to prepare the mesh or slot grids with a formvar support film and then pick up your sections as they are floating in the knife boat. An alternative method is to first pick up sections on a naked grid and then lay them down on formvar film suspended over holes drilled in an aluminum bridge. I use this method when picking up serial sections on slot grids. A description of the method follows. The bridges I have were manufactured at the University of Georgia instrumentation Shop. They can also be purchased pre-made (for example, from SPI, Inc. They list them as Domino Racks), or one can make them from aluminum with a vise and drill. The sample bridge in the figure is similar to what I use. It is 5 cm long, 2.5 cm wide.