Science Lab

The knowledge portal of Leica Microsystems offers scientific research and teaching material on the subjects of microscopy. The content is designed to support beginners, experienced practitioners and scientists alike in their everyday work and experiments. Explore interactive tutorials and application notes, discover the basics of microscopy as well as high-end technologies – become part of the Science Lab community and share your expertise!

Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) Microscopy

This article demonstrates how differential interference contrast (DIC) can be actually better than brightfield illumination when using microscopy to image unstained biological specimens.

Image of MDCK (Madin-Darby canine kidney) cells taken with phase contrast.

Phase Contrast and Microscopy

This article explains phase contrast, an optical microscopy technique, which reveals fine details of unstained, transparent specimens that are difficult to see with common brightfield illumination.

Staining is crucial to revealing details in the specimens.

H&E Staining in Microscopy

If we consider the role of microscopy in pathologists’ daily routines, we often think of the diagnosis. While microscopes indeed play a crucial role at this stage of the pathology lab workflow, they…

How to Benefit from Digital Cytopathology

If you have thought of digital cytopathology as characterized by the digitization of glass slides, this webinar with Dr. Alessandro Caputo from the University Hospital of Salerno, Italy will broaden…

Factors for Selecting Clinical Microscopes

If you are considering the purchase of new clinical microscopes for yourself or your team, you will think about many options, vendors, and microscope models. Here are some tips to help you come to the…

The Time to Diagnosis is Crucial in Clinical Pathology

Abnormalities in tissues and fluids - that’s what pathologists are looking for when they examine specimens under the microscope. What they see and deduce from their findings is highly influential, as…

Perform Microscopy Analysis for Pathology Ergonomically and Efficiently

The main performance features of a microscope which are critical for rapid, ergonomic, and precise microscopic analysis of pathology specimens are described in this article. Microscopic analysis of…

Koehler Illumination: A Brief History and a Practical Set Up in Five Easy Steps

The technique of Koehler Illumination is one of the most important and fundamental techniques in achieving optimum imaging in any given light microscope set-up. Although it should be routinely used as…