Selection of Preparation Techniques Based on Material Problems and TEM Analyses - Sample Preparation Topic for Transmission Electron Microscopy - page 196

properties (immunolabeling on tissues, for example). These two ways of investigat-
ing a material can be used separately, but can also be changed at any time during
the investigation depending on the fragility of the molecules that are to be observed.
Note that immunolabeling is not used just once, but at different times in the prepa-
ration depending on the type of material and the fragility of the molecule to be
labeled.
Knowledge of the options related to the material, the artifacts induced by the
technique, and requirements of the analysis planned all help to refine the choice
of the technique to be used. It remains essential, insofar as possible, to compare
the results obtained with at least two different preparation techniques in order to
properly understand the intrinsic structure of the material.
All of the selection criteria presented in this chapter are listed in an interactive
online database, the transmission electron microscopy (TEM): sample preparation
guide, which can be viewed at http://temsamprep.in2p3.fr . This database contains
the significant criteria for each technique for all types of materials.
A glossary has been created for defining all of the significant criteria used. In the
decision-helping software (basic guide and a pedagogical guide), the selection of
the technique can be made based on the material criteria or the type of analysis to
be conducted.
Through its design, the advanced guide enables the user to learn how to choose
the proper sample preparation technique based on the type of material and the type
of TEM analysis to be carried out.