Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think these are just three air bubbles, but it is weird how one seems to be inside the other.

I have not been using stain, but just ordered some Lugols. What exactly does the stain help/make easier?

Thanks for all the help guys.

The dark circles are certainly air bubbles. The lighter circle might be a bubble or a drop of water either on top of the cover slip or the bottom of the slide which puts it slightly out of the normal focal plane.
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Larry D. Fishel
Side effects may include paralysis
and death but are generally mild.

lugols iodine is used to stain parasites for better veiwing. When I do a direct smear I will make two smears one with saline and one with iodine the iodine usully kills the protoza but they are stained in the saline they are still moveing. With a float I will first centrifugation the sample then float a usully with no iodine as ova are pretty easy to see. I do not do alot of directs as they are only needed to see flagellates alot of witch have questionable pathogenisity and some may help in digesting compelx carbohydrates. I have givin my answer to your question regarrting the egg in your float in a prev. post but if you have any further questions please ask.
ryancentini@cc.usu.edu

Ryan Centini