Standard Operating Procedure (S.O.P.

):
1. Make sure all the exposed optical surfaces are free from dust.
2. Adjust the observation head to convenient working position.
3. Rotate the nosepiece until the lower power objective is in the viewing position.
4. The lower power objective, the greater the area of the specimen surface include in the field of view.
5. Take down the stage to a fairly low position with the help of coarse focus knob.
6. Make sure that the stage surface is free of dust, grit or any other material that shall interfere with the
movement of the specimen slide across the surface of the stage or scratch the stage.
7. Position the specimen area of the slide (cover glass upward) over the centre of stage aperture. Use the stage
control knobs to move the specimen slide to the desired position.
8. Looking through the binocular head, raise the stage by adjusting the coarse focus knob until an image
appears.
9. Now adjust the image with the help of fine focus knobs to sharpen.
10. Look at the image and adjust the condenser aperture to obtain the best possible resolution. The clarity of the
image depends upon the size of the aperture. As the aperture becomes smaller, the contrast and the depth of
focus increases. The clearest image is produced by the combination of these factors.
11. Examine the specimen. When you find a feature you wish to observe at a higher magnification, move the
slide so that the feature gets centered in the field of view.
12. When using objective of higher numerical aperture (NA), proper focusing of the Abbe condenser is
important. Move the Abbe condenser by racking the condenser movement knob up and down so that the
field is evenly illuminated.

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13. This microscope has a rotating potentiometer for regulating the light intensity. Rotate the potentiometer
knob from low to high as going from low magnification to high magnification objectives for obtaining best
light in the field of view.
14. For examining a specimen using the oil immersion objective use the following procedure.
15. Rotate the nosepiece so the low power objective (10 X) is in the light path.
16. Place one drop of immersion oil on the lighted area of the specimen slide.
17. Rotate the nosepiece so that the 100 X oil immersion objective is in the light path. Be cautious that 40 X
objective should not get in contact with oil.
18. Since all the objectives are para-focal, the specimen shall be visible when changed to 100 X. Use fine focus
knob to get the best image.
19. After using the oil immersion, wipe off all traces of oil from the objective, and the specimen if it is with
cover glass, with a lens tissue or clean soft cloth moist with lens cleaning solution.
20. After observing the sample under binocular microscope records the sample detail.

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