This experiment aims to enable you to handle a light microscope, an essential skill to support other activities within a laboratory. In this experiment, the light microscope will be used. The first phase is the identification of each part of the device and the differentiation of its mechanical and optical functions. In the second phase, you will prepare a plain stain slide with methylene blue-stained buccal scraping material. For this, you should collect the material from the oral mucosa with the aid of a sterile swab, and perform the smear on the slide.

After this step, you must fix the material with 70% alcohol. The staining, as already mentioned, will be done with methylene blue. After removing the excess dye with distilled water, the prepared slide will be viewed under the microscope with a drop of distilled water under the smear, and then covered with a coverslip, taking care to avoid the formation of bubbles. The visualization will be done under the microscope, properly performing all the procedures to turn on the device safely and adjusting the mechanical and optical parts that you previously analyzed. Visualization should start with the lowest magnification objective, progressing to the highest magnification. Do not forget the immersion oil when viewing with the 100x objective. After viewing in all objectives, you must clean the device and proceed with its shutdown. All material used must be disposed of properly, in accordance with biosafety standards.