NetNotes


Writing from NYC, I’m very interested in prudent and science-


based best practices for re-opening our core in the months ahead. We normally do a few trainings every week, but one-on-one training in- volves way too much back-and-forth to maintain proper distance and sanitation. I also think that training someone remotely (me at home, them at the microscope) is impossible. So, I am wondering if we should begin to offer something I’ve always avoided—doing imaging as a ser- vice. Te main barrier to this has been the need for constant user input on “good” areas of interest and “good” images. Perhaps we could apply our newfound videoconferencing expertise to bring the *user* into the room remotely, so they could see the computer screen and tell us if we are choosing the right area and capturing the right detail. Has anyone tried this? Teresa Swayne tcs6@cumc.columbia.edu


I have been thinking along exactly the same lines just across the


city from you. We do not normally perform service work, but these are special circumstances. For the users working on COVID-19 who are already trained, we are writing out practical guides for each instrument and we have installed Teamviewer on the instruments so that the staff can provide remote assistance via the VPN. We are all having to work this out as we go, and it is great to see everybody’s ideas popping up on the listserver and elsewhere. I am immensely grateful for the quick and proactive work German BioImaging did in coming out with their guide- lines - those are super helpful. As long as we stick to the rule of only one person per microscope room, and all of the recommended clean- ing precautions (including arriving with pre-wiped and non-hazardous samples!), I think we should be able to get on with a fair bit of COVID research. Training, however, is undoubtedly going to bring new chal- lenges. I think that we will need to use a combination of approaches. For certain of our systems, such as our Zeiss CellDiscoverer 7, remote training WILL actually be possible, using a combination of written guidelines and Teamviewer sessions via the VPN. For others, we may need to make brief videos showing the different hardware components, and the procedures for turning on, shutting down, and taking slides on and off. etc. - but once within the soſtware, again, written guides and Teamviewer sessions might suffice. Finally, I will confess that I would feel safer myself if I knew that I am the only person ever using a certain microscope - then less stringent cleaning would be required, etc. So I am considering, for example, having the trained users using the confocals and the CD7, while I (and staff members, once they are back at work) might each be in charge of one more specialized microscope (e.g., the super-resolution systems), and at least temporarily, the only user on that system. Alison North northa@mail.rockefeller.edu


I have put thought into how to train users on the usage of micro-


scopes. I do not see how to train users without a give-and-take at the instruments with up-close demonstrations and observations, passing the equipment back and forth, etc. It’s the assignment we had in sev- enth grade to write a protocol on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich; there was always an essential detail another classmate needed that had been leſt out, and in the end, without extensive pri- or knowledge, the protocol was insufficient. And in this case, to ex- tend the metaphor, the microscope is a sandwich making machine, but some people need Nutella and others need BLT and others want a Reuben, but they have brought thick rye bread with seeds instead of the #1.5 thin sliced seedless rye required by the instrument. Also, the instruments have been squeezed into the smallest spaces possible with HVAC of varying behaviors. In setting up new safety protocols, we should not forget that science is based in empirical study as well as hypothesis. We are currently in a phase where hypotheses are running wild without much evidence. We need to test these hypotheses. A lot of good ideas have been floated here regarding cleaning and isolation, but


2020 July • www.microscopy-today.com


we don’t really know to what extent they are effective or even needed (maybe we need more; maybe we don’t need them). If we’re going to make dramatic changes, let’s have them based in science, like the rigor- ous sample preps and image quality that we espouse. Michael Cammer michael.cammer@med.nyu.edu


I agree with you. We are just starting to discuss what a return to


our facility might look like. I am currently taking my cue from the German BioImaging group and microscope cleaning protocols we are discussing but also from the clinical teachers at our institution. In my opinion, if they only train when wearing PPE (learners also wearing PPE), then we should do the same. I can’t imagine teaching someone how to use a microscope remotely at this stage as I simply haven’t had enough practice to be able to do it well and it wouldn’t be safe for the microscopes. I oſten have to give advice on specimen preparation as well and part of training involves building that relationship with the user. I am comfortable with authorized users (already trained) using our systems when we first return with occasional support from us if needed (we can keep the 2-meter social distance) but training new us- ers requires a lot of thought. We are potential conduits of transmission, so we need to remember that we are not only protecting ourselves but others. Jacqui Ross jacqui.ross@auckland.ac.nz


I know that some cores are currently wrapping eyepieces in plastic


wrap to minimize COVID-19 transmission, but this may be cumber- some and hard to keep in useful shape for users, especially during the eventual ramp back up when user flow is increasing. I wonder what the community thinks about having people wear safety glasses at the scope instead? Most oculars can be adjusted to accommodate glasses and safe- ty glasses could easily be disinfected by the user. Toughts? I have not had the opportunity to try it myself. Ben Abrams babrams@ucsc.edu


I have been wondering the same, but how would you adjust the


oculars? I didn’t get it to work properly (especially if you have to look for suitable areas for quite some time), so I dismissed this idea. Angela Kurz a.kurz@centenary.org.au


Tanks everyone for your replies to this thread. Angela, I did try


this over the weekend and found that it was totally workable to wear standard safety glasses when viewing a sample through the eyepieces. I had to remove the rubber cups, but aſter that it seemed fine. I have mostly Zeiss and Leica scopes and tried it on a few different scopes and with two different models of eye wear. Neither were the splash-resistant kind used for chem labs. Ben Abrams babrams@ucsc.edu


I wear prescription glasses when I work at the scope. I do not take


them off, but I do take the eye cups off the oculars. Tis works with all brands of microscopes. I used to need new lenses every 6 months or so, but in recent years there are new extra hard scratch resistant lenses that I have found are incredibly resilient. Also, they have great UV protec- tion, as evident by how white the skin around my eyes remains even when I get tanned elsewhere on my face, and anti-reflectance coating that truly works. If you wear glasses, I recommend shelling out the money for premium lenses. And they may double as protective eye- wear. Michael Cammer michael.cammer@med.nyu.edu


An alternative workaround would be to supply plastic wrap to


cover the oculars. Each user will need to replace it. Further recommen- dations can also be found on the GerBI website: https://www.gerbi- gmb.de/Corona Gabriel Krens gabriel.krens@ist.ac.at


We have removed the eye cups, insist our users wipe the oculars with 80% (v/v) ethanol on a Kimwipe before and aſter each use, users


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