The Department of Pathology Microscopy Imaging Center

The Department of Pathology Microscopy Imaging Center

Access Policy

Eligible Users and Access to Equipment

Access to the Spinning Disk Confocal microscope and analysis stations in the Department of Pathology Microscopy Imaging Center is open to investigators within HarvardMedicalSchool and AffiliatedHospitals and Institutions. However, priority is given to those members in the central Pathology Department (quad-based) if usage approaches maximum capacity. Use of other microscopes in the Center, including the Olympus confocal microscope, is limited to members of the central (quad) Pathology Department unless permission is granted. Members of the central Pathology Department are granted access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Members of other departments and institutions have access to the facility between 8am and 5pm Monday through Friday. Users will be required to set up an account to access the confocal microscopes and analysis stations. To obtain an account with a User ID and Password, please contact Kristen Lentini (see contact below)

Training Requirements

Instrument Training

All users of the spinning disk and Olympus confocal microscopes must have had previous training or must obtain training from qualified individuals as determined by the facility manager or the Pathology Department Director of Research prior to any unsupervised use of the instrument. The Pathology Microscopy and ImagingCenter manager reserves the right to verify that all users have had training. Users interested in obtaining spinning disk training should contact Kristen Lentini (see contact info below), who will coordinate the sessions with the appropriate trainer.

The Pathology Microscopy and ImagingCenter will work with an Imaging Consultant who will provide general training on the use of the Olympus confocal microscope as well as provide more intensive training to laboratories with specific scientific questions or needs. General training (no charge) with the consultant will be provided twice a year and limited to 10 people per session (2-hr sessions). An hourly fee (see user fees table below) will be charged to each lab for lab-specific consultations.

Laser Safety Training

In addition to instrument training, users will be required to attend Harvard’s laser safety course, taught by EH+E. The schedule of upcoming classes can be found at the website below:

Users must notify the ImagingCenter manager and provide documentation of their course attendance prior to use of the spinning disk confocal microscope. Users that have already attended the laser safety course must provide documentation that completion of the course was no longer than one year prior.

Eye Examination

The Radiation Safety Department, in accordance with Mass Dept. of Public Health regulations, requires that all laser users of class 3B and 4 laser systems complete a baseline laser eye examination.

Users must:

• Schedule an appointment at university Health Services/Eye Clinic:

(617) 495-2056

• Complete the examination form signed by supervisor or Principle Investigator
• Include the department billing code on the examination form – please see Kristen Lentini for this.
• Mail or Fax completed form to:

Radiation Protection Office

175 North Harvard Street

Boston, MA02135

Fax: (617) 496-5509

Please see the Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope Guide Book (located in the ImagingCenter) or the Radiation Department website (environmental health and safety→radiation safety→lasers) for the laser eye examination form.

Fees for Use of Equipment and Training

Principal investigators whose laboratory members use the spinning disk confocal and Olympus confocal microscopes and image analysis workstations (for spinning disk only) will be charged a fee for the use of the equipment (see table below). The fee will be on a per hour basis and will be assessed on the actual usage time as indicated by log in and log out times. For example, if the actual usage time on the spinning disk confocal is 1.25 hours the fee will be 1.25 multiplied by the per hour rate. Users who schedule time to use the scope on the online calendar and fail to write the actual usage time in the logbook (located next to the scope), or fail to cancel scheduled use, will be charged for the amount of time scheduled on the calendar. Please note that if you sign up to use the Spinning Disk Confocal microscope for analysis only then you will be charged the hourly Image Analysis fee and not the Spinning Disk hourly fee.

Department of PathologyMicroscopyImagingCenter
Equipment / User Fee
Spinning Disk Confocal / Internal (Quad-Pathology) / External
Less Than 6 Hours per session / $25/ hour / $40/ hour
6-24 Hours per session / $20/ hour / $30/ hour
>24 Hours per session / $15/ hour / $20/ hour
Image Analysis (Spinning Disk) / $10/ hour / $15/ hour

Olympus Confocal

/ No Charge / $75/ hour

Lab-based Consultations (Olympus Confocal)

/ $55/ hour / $55/ hour

Scheduling Use of Equipment

All users must sign up to use the equipment using the online calendar for each image acquisition equipment and image analysis workstations. The online calendar can be accessed through the link: To obtain an instruction manual for the calendar or an account to use the calendar, please see Kristen Lentini. Members of the central Pathology Department may schedule time to use the equipment up to two weeks in advance. Members of other departments and institutions may sign up no more than 2 days in advance.

If changes or cancellation of scheduled use of equipment need to be made, users must make these changes or cancellations by removing their scheduled time from the calendar. Members of the central Pathology Department will not be assessed fees for canceling scheduled time, but are strongly encouraged to cancel scheduled time with as much notice as possible. Members of other departments and institutions who cancel scheduled time with less than 24 hours notice will be charged a cancellation fee of $40 for the spinning disk and $75 for the Olympus confocal. Members of other departments who schedule time on the microscopes but do not cancel or show up to use the station will be charged $40 per hour (spinning disk) or $75 per hour (Olympus Confocal) for the full amount of scheduled time.

Data Management

Data shall not be stored on the hard drive. Any data remaining on the hard drive during routine maintenance will be purged.

MISCELLANEOUS

There is a Troubleshooting Log located next to the SDCM. Please use this book to write down any issues you run into while using the scope. Alternatively, questions or issues regarding the use of the microscopes can be forwarded to Kristen Lentini. By sharing your experiences with the scope all users can learn from one another’s errors and troubleshooting solutions.

A Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope Guide Book is located in the ImagingCenter next to the scope. Within the guide book you’ll find Laser Safety Info, Eye examination info and forms, Volocity Image Analysis software tips, Cleaning and Care instructions, etc. If you find any other info that would be useful in the guide book, please inform Kristen Lentini.

For questions please contact the Microscopy Imaging Center Manager:

Kristen Lentini

617-432-5620