microscopic slides

Maybe in a laboratory, you might not think microscopic slides are that important. But they are. Choosing between a glass microscope slide and a plastic microscope slide can make a huge difference in what you observe and how long your specimens will last.

In this blog, we will help you decide between glass and plastic microscope slides. So, before you contact a laboratory plasticware and glassware supplier to buy equipment for your lab, go through this blog once.


Glass Microscope Slides

Glass microscope slides are commonly made from soda-lime because it offers excellent durability and clarity. For more extreme laboratory applications, slides are made from borosilicate because it can withstand thermal and chemical shocks. They are easily available at any lab glassware supplier.

Glass slides are not susceptible to wear if they are handled properly. They can also be used multiple times as they do not lose their quality. Glass is a more eco-friendly choice and also easy to clean.

Do keep in mind that glass slides are generally more expensive. They are also very fragile because of their material.


Plastic Microscope Slides

Plastic microscope slides are made from materials like polystyrene and acrylic. These materials offer transparency and are also easy to fabricate. You can buy plastic microscope slides from a laboratory plasticware supplier.

As plastic slides can bend easily, they are prone to breakage. They are also very lightweight and budget-friendly. Plastic slides have a greater resistance to harsh chemical agents.

Plastic slides can bend easily, which may lead to distorted images during observation. They are not reusable and have to be discarded after a single use because of cross-contamination risk.


How to Decide?

So, how do you decide which one is good for you? It depends on what kind of facility you are buying slides for. If you are buying slides for school labs, then you should choose plastic slides as they don't break easily, and thus are safer for children to use. In clinical and research laboratories, glass slides are the standard because they provide high clarity and durability, which makes them perfect for disease diagnosis and detailed analysis.


Conclusion

Choosing microscope slides depends on various factors. Once you weigh in on all of them, it will be easy for you to make a decision.