Kim,
 
You may be understimating the cost of a complete system.  I do not know the
price for the BioRad system but the one that I direct is a Zeiss LSM 310
confocal microscopte with a SiliconGraphics work station for image
analysis.  About 4 years ago the purcase price was approximately $350,000
in US funds!!  And you spend around $20,000 per year in service contracts.
So, you are right in that it is not something that every lab would
purchase.  It usually is a shared resource.  I hope this helped you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Kamiar Moin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
Director, Confocal Imaging Core Facility
Center in Molecular and Cellular Toxicology with Human Applications
& Karmanos Cancer Institute
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Detroit, MI 48201
 
Tel:  (313)577-0514
        (313)577-1112
FAX: (313)577-6739
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