Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal I am a PhD student at Auburn University just getting started into my thesis work. I am looking for a reliable method for quantifying fluorescence. My project deals with marine dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) that reside intracellularly in hosts (usually cnidarians). I am working with cultures or isolates of only the dinoflagellates for my confocal work. I have an antibody that was created against the surface secretions of mucilage (secreted as part of a daily cycle by the alga) from one strain of zooxanthellae. I am attempting to use this antibody to label various strains to identify differences in mucilage between them. Thus far, I have seen that the strain the antibody was created against labels around the cell fairly brightly. Most samples either show this or a complete lack of labeling. However, a few samples show a faint fluorescence lifted off the cell surface. I would like to be able to quantify this fluorescence in comparison to either the control strain that the antibody was created against or against a known fluorescence. Any help on ideas for this, or places to look for ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Maria Mazzillo