*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

The Light Microscopy Research Group which is part of the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF) is conducting an international study on some quality control tests for laser scanning confocal microscopes.

We are offering FREE test slides:

1) point spread function bead test slide
2) mirror test slide
3) spectral separation bead test slide

In exchange we would like you to run our protocols to test your confocal microscope resolution, spectral detector resolution and the quality of your software/hardware spectral separation analysis.

See the information in our announcement for more information and a link to an online survey you need to fill out in order to be a part of our study and receive your free samples.

The deadline for the survey has been extended to June 30, 2011.

-----------------------------------

The Light Microscopy Research Group (LMRG), which is part of the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF) is about to embark on our second international microscopy standardization study. For more information on the ABRF (http://www.abrf.org/) and the LMRG see our web page: http://www.abrf.org/lmrg<http://www.abrf.org/index.cfm/group.show/LightMicroscopyResearchGroup.54.htm>

We are happy to announce that the results from our first study "Quality Assurance Testing for Modern Optical Imaging Systems" by Stack et al. on laser stability, co-registration, and field uniformity were  recently published in Microscopy and Microanalysis (see link below).  This work will provide imagers with protocols to help ensure that their instruments are performing up to international standards.
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=MAM&tab=firstview

Our second study will consist of two parts, the first measuring and evaluating objective lens quality and instrument resolution. This will be accomplished by measuring the point spread function of sub-resolution beads or alternatively, using a mirror slides,   the second part involves spectral separation,  this test will measure the accuracy of spectral detectors as well as the spectral unmixing software.   If you are interested in participating in this study, please fill out our online survey by June 30, 2011.

All materials and protocols will be provided to participants.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ABRF_Study_2011

Once the survey closes, we will send out protocols and samples.
Please feel free to forward this message to your colleagues if you think they may be interested in this study.

Sincerely,
Claire Brown
LMRG Chair