µBrews – Episode 6

The simplest and quickest way to look at a yeast sample is using a method called a wet mount. In this technique a small amount of a yeast (or other) sample is placed between a slide and a coverslip, using a narrow thread or hair to create a layer of the sample thin enough to be easily imaged with a microscope.

This video provides a step-by-step guide on how to prepare a wet mount, and shows you how to get the best quality images from a sample prepared in this fashion. Wet mounts differ from other imaging methods in one key aspect – wet mounts keep your sample alive. As such, knowing how to perform a wet mount is critical if you want to perform viability or vitality staining – the topics of Episode 7 of µBrews.

This is part of a video series on using microscopy in the home or craft brewery. A full list of published episodes can be found on my µBrews YouTube playlist, or on my blog.