BIOFILM LOSS DURING SAMPLE PREPARATION FOR SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

This study was conducted to evaluate the loss of biofilm during a conventional preparation procedure for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biofilm lost during preparation stages was collected on membrane filters. A different technique - the membrane filter method - was devised to carry a biofilm sample through the preparation stage with reduced losses. The sample was sandwiched between membrane filters during preparation so that the loss was minimized and the lost biofilm could be saved for qualitative and quantitative evaluations. SEM examination of biofilms and membrane filters showed that biofilm loss was much more significant with conventional treatment.