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PhycoTech nannoplankton counting chamber is fashioned after the
Palmer-Maloney counting cell, and is used to hold a known volume
of sample for quantitative counting of cells with a microscope.
The PhycoTech nannoplankton counting chamber has several advantages
over other cells and hemocytometer: 1) It is thinner, which allows
examination and counting of microalgae at higher magnification,
2) larger cells will not be crushed by the weight of the coverslip,
as this chamber uses a #1, 22 mm2 coverslip, 3) it is less expensive
and easier to use, and 4) it is individually calibrated. It is suitable
for counting organisms up to approximately 300 µm in length. It
can be used up to 600x using a high, dry objective.
Each PhycoTech nannoplankton counting chamber has been individually calibrated and this particular chamber holds exactly 0.08* milliliters (mL). Retain underlined data for future use with this counting chamber. After counting all of the algae in the entire chamber, simply multiply by 12.5* to calculate the number of cells/mL. A less tedious counting
method involves extrapolating from counts on several individual
microscope fields. To do this, measure the diameter of the field
at a given power with a stage micrometer. Then calculate the area
of the field using the formula 3.14159( To use the PhycoTech nannoplankton counting chamber, place a #1, 22 mm2 glass coverslip on the side and leave a small space to add sample as illustrated below. As the sample fills the chamber, it will draw the coverslip over the chamber. Then position the coverslip over the entire opening to seal in the sample. If air bubbles are present, repeat the filling process.
*These instructions are an example of what you'll receive with your chamber the example of numbers are similar to those for each individually calibrated chamber. |
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times the radius squared (radius = 1/2 of the diameter): area
= 
