Check with us for the next Filamentous ID 2 Day Training Class

We have been asked by numerous customers to sell them some of the slides we used in our hands on Filamentous Identification training classes.

So we created a new item for you to practice with your own microscope. It is one thing to look at photos of Gram and Neisser stains, it is another to try to find the filaments on a stain. They do not always pose and sit still for you.  Also, we tend to "crop" the photos we take so that you can focus on just the filaments we are demonstrating.

Our Lab at Environmental Leverage has created a set of Microscope Gram and Neisser slides. There are 10 sets from 10 different plants.  Each slide can be used again and again for practice. The slides are labeled with the major filaments present. This is an outstanding set of slides. Great Identification tool for your lab.

In this case you will find a matching set of slides for each sample that we tested. There are samples from wastewater plants in many environments. You may find a sample from many Municipalities, some from food plants or Industrial settings and occasionally a pond or lagoon.

Each slide will have a thick spot and a smeared spot on the slide. We do that during slide preparation so that in case the sample has changes in the floc, high Zooglea present, slime due to septicity or in case of over or under colorization, there will be a “back-up” area stained.

Usually, we focus on the thinly smeared portion of the slide. Gram stains will have a G in the bottom corner of the slide and Neisser stains will have an N.  The slides are numbered so you can put them back in the correct slot. There is also an internal ID number on the case, which lets us know which batch the slides are from. Gram stains have two colors- Gram negative is pink and Gram positive is purple. Keep in mind septicity in a plant can make filaments pick up excess coloring though.  Place slide right side up; place one drop of immersion oil directly on the slide. Use 1000x bright field to examine the slide. Try to find the filaments at the outer edge of the floc structure or in a clearer spot. Remember, even though it appears that this is 2 dimensional, it still technically is 3 dimensional. In areas where the floc and filaments combine too thick, it may be harder to see the exact filament present.

When you are through with the slide, place face down on a paper towel and let the paper towel absorb the excess oil. You can then place your slide back into the container and reuse it numerous times. Try to keep covered in the container in between viewings to make sure dust does not collect on the slides and alter the contents.

Microscope Slide Set. 20 slides with 10 sets.
Each set is a sample from different treatment systems.
Gram & Neisser sets of each sample. $99.95 plus S & H

Call now 630-906-9791 to order or send us an email:  Click here for Order form

1    More Information on Filamentous Identification

2    © Filamentous Identification the Easy Way™ Training CD

This advanced CD for Filamentous Identification is packed full of microscopic photographs from around the world for you to use in identification.
Learn how to troubleshoot your own plant & existing problems that will allow you to run your plant more efficiantly. Learn the causes from each filament.

Wastewater Training Classes

Wastewater Training CD's