Leica SP5 X Confocal Microscope

System Overview

CBMG The Imaging Core's SP5 X confocal microscope arrived in January 2009 and is now available for use. The confocal system is equipped with multiplel aser lines, including a 405 diode, an Argon laser (458, 476, 488, 496,514nm) and a white light laser (470-670nm in 1 nm increments). A separate workstation with a copy of the Leica imaging software is available for image analysis and processing.

New Users

Faculty and students who wish to use the microscope should follow the instructions in the New Users Guide .

Training is conducted in two sessions. Prepared slides will be used during the first training session in order to acquaint new users with all aspects of the microscope. Users are expected to bring their own samples to the second training session. It is also highly recommended to review the UMD SP5X Quick-Start Guide before training begins.

Rate Schedule

The following rate schedule is current for the 2009/2010 academic year. Fees are used to help cover the cost of the service contract on the microscope, which is partially subsidized by the department, and help pay for materials such as lens paper, lens cleaning solution and mercury bulbs.

Users within the College of Life Sciences: $15.75/hour
On-campus users whose grants are not handled by the College of Life Sciences: $26.25/hour
Users not affiliated with the campus: $52.50/hour

For an overview of current and anticipated rates for the SP5X, click here.

Policy

The microscope is available to trained users on an equal basis. An individual user may reserve one four hour block of time during daytime hours. Investigators performing live cell imaging experiments may signup for 12 hours blocks of time after 6pm.

Scheduling is accomplished using Oracle Calendar. New users who do not have an Oracle Calendar account will need to apply for a single account.

Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance and any unused microscope time will be billed at 75% the standard rate for peak-usage times, or at 25% the standard rate for off-peak times.

All users are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the complete list of policies governing the use of the SP5X.

References

The facility manager is available during normal business hours to provide technical assistance to users. Additional resources include the following Imaging Core protocols:

Leica Application Notes and Software:

Useful Links:

System Specifications

Microscope Stand	Inverted
Conventional Fluorescence Filters	Dapi, CFP, GFP long pass, RFP
Lasers	405 Diode, Argon (458, 476, 488, 496, 514nm), White light laser (470-670nm in 1nm increments)
Objective Lenses	10x/0.4 Plan Apo, 20x/0.7 multi-immersion Plan Apo, 40x/1.25 oil Plan Apo, 63x/1.2 water, 63x/1.4-0.6 oil Plan Apo, 63x/.3 Glycerine Plan Apo FWD 0.28mm
Additional features	x-y motorized scanning stage, z-galvo stage, resonant (high speed) and conventional scanner, environmental chamber

Contact Information

Amy Beaven
Manager
Core Laboratory Facility
0107 Microbiology Building
University of Maryland
abeaven@umd.edu
301-405-7238