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Our imaging facility is considering acquiring a spinning disk confocal to 
compliment our 2 laser scanning instruments (Radiance 2000, Zeiss 510 NLO 
META).  The leading configurations are the Yokogawa and Olympus DSU units 
with an EMCCD.  I would appreciate insight on the following issues:  Are 
service contracts on the spinning disk unit or EMCCD essential (I have them 
on my LSMs)?  For those of you running core facilities, does the spinning 
disk siphon a significant proportion of users off the LSMs or do you find 
its use restricted to live cell/fast acquisition studies?  And finally, how 
much does going with laser excitation really improve things over the use of 
a mercury arc or metal halide illumination source?  Thanks for any comments 
you have on this. Tom

Thomas E. Phillips, PhD
Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Molecular Cytology Core
2 Tucker Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7400

573-882-4712 (office)
573-882-0123 (fax)
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http://www.biology.missouri.edu/faculty/phillips.html
http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/mcc/