Now that the weather has cooled down it’s going to take a bit more to keep semen samples warm enough to view motility. Live semen is sensitive to thermal shock and the glassware will need to be warmed up in a water bath to at least 35C before you introduce the sample.
A top tip from the supplier to keep the slide warm and slow down the rate of cooling of the glass:
- cut a piece of cardboard the same size as a microscope slide,
- cut a hole in it the same size and position as the cavity to allow the light through,
- mount the cardboard on the microscope stage,
- mount the warmed slide on top of the cardboard.
When you order the live semen sample I will send you an info sheet so you are prepared before it arrives, so don’t panic if you’re not sure what I’m talking about here.
And if you’re wondering whether or not to order the sample in the first place, why not have a look at what a labbie had to say about how they managed it and what the kids got out of it?
