To prepare a wet mount microscope slide, simply place a few drops of the required liquid on the slide using the dropper before placing the specimen in the centre of the slide.
Next, add a few more drops of liquid until the specimen is covered. This will reduce the risk of air bubble formation when you position the cover slip.
Cover the specimen using the cover slip, do this slowly and gently, at a 45 degree angle – this will help prevent the formation of air bubbles.
Extra liquid may need to be removed as necessary, you can do this using some tissue paper, which absorb any excess liquid.
Types of wet mount – Water and glycerin are two of the main types of liquid that can be used to make a wet mount microscope slide. The type of liquid that should be used will depend on the specimen or sample to be tested.
For example, glycerin has a high refractive index, so will enable observation of small cell structures. It also acts has a preservative, allowing the sample to last much longer than usual.
Disadvantages – While this type of microscope slide provides several benefits, there are still disadvantages to consider. Wet mounts have a tendency to dry faster when put under the microscope, since the heat from the microscope lamp will evaporate the water.
If this happens, just add a few more drops of liquid to it. In addition, wet mounts can not be stored, hence why they are termed a temporary mount.