Advanced Light Microscopy FacilityBooking

In order to make working in the ALMF as easy, convenient and fair as possible for everybody, it is necessary for all users to follow some principle rules. To negotiate exceptions please contact us directly. Thank you for your co-operation.

General

• Introduction by ALMF staff is compulsory for all ALMF systems
• If you cannot remember how to operate a system you were already introduced to, ask the ALMF team for advice.
• Only samples classified in safety group S1 are allowed on ALMF systems! Do not enter any facility room with samples classified above S1!
• If you publish work done on one or more ALMF microscopes, we ask you to include an acknowledgement like:
  "We thank <(depending on the system used:) Olympus Europe, Carl Zeiss, Leica Microsystems, PerkinElmer, etc> for continuous support of the Advanced Light Microscopy Facility."

Booking

• Booking of the microscope before use is obligatory.
• Do not reserve the systems for more than 2 weeks in advance.
• Do not reserve the systems for more than 4 hours a day.
• Long-term time-lapse experiments should be scheduled between 18:00 and 10:00 the next morning (please don´t forget to switch off devices not needed during time lapse like the HBO lamp on confocal systems).
• You are responsible for the system while you are booked.
• Delete your booking if you do not use your slot. If you delete the last booking on the booked day, ensure that the system is switched off (the previous user didn´t know that you are going to delete your booking).
• Always include the temperature in the 'title' if you are using the incubator box.

Data

• There is no backup of data saved on the local harddisk drives of all ALMF PCs.
• If you save data locally, store it in a folder with the name ‘user_phone number’.
• ALMF provides disc space file://almf/almf/ to transfer data (temporary). Please transfer your data as soon as possible to avoid data loss and delete it locally to keep space on the local harddisk!
• In case of local memory shortage ALMF staff will delete data files older than 2 days.

Before you start

• Check the equipment for any obvious damage or spoilage and note it in the logbook or tell ALMF.
• Wipe off dust and smear from the lens and the sample cover slip using lens tissue (soaked in ethanol if required).

While working

• Check which immersion media are required for each lens you use, before you add any medium (oil, glycerol, water, air). If you don't know: ask ALMF.
• Clean immersion media from lenses with a dry lens tissue every time you change slides. Slides should also be cleaned by a dry kim wipe.
• Use moderate amounts (1 drop=50 µl) of immersion media. Immediately remove immersion media spilling over the objective rim.

After you have finished

• Clean immersion media from every lens you used with a dry lens tissue.
• Check whether the system is booked later on the same day.
• If you are second last to use the system, make sure the user after you shows up.
• If you are last user of the day, switch off all lamps and lasers as described in the operations short-manual for each system provided by ALMF.
• Comment on the performance of the system by writing into the logbook (e.g., o.k. or a failure description)  

Visiting the ALMF

• Visitors are welcome in the Advanced Light Microscopy Facility (ALMF). Please enquiry possibilities by mail to almf.