1. Handle the microscope by the stand only.
2. Remove the microscope from its box beneath the table and place it on the desk.
3. Ensure that there are no wires, books or pens under the base.
4. Turn the rheostat to 5.
5. Open the iris on the condensor all the way.
6. Turn the condensor as low as it can go.
7. Open the spring-loaded finger of the specimen holder and insert the slide. The tissue should be above the condenser in the path of the light. Ensure that the cover slip is on top.
8. Switch on the microscope.
9. Turn the condensor to directly beneath the slide.
10. Adjust your chair until the levels of your eyes are slightly higher than the level of the oculars.
11. Look through any of the two oculars and adjust the light (using the rheostat) to a comfortable level (5-8).
12. Move the oculars apart.
13. Position your eyes approximately 2cm from the oculars.
14. Slowly move the oculars closer to each other until you see two circles or two half circles.

15. Move the oculars slowly until you see only one circle. Check:
    • Close the left eye. Without moving your head, your right eye should see an image. The right ocular often contains a pointer. The pointer must be visible.
    • Close your right eye. Your left eye must see an image. If the right ocular has a pointer, it should not be visible.
    • Open both eyes. You should see one image with both eyes. If the ocular has a pointer, it should be visible with both eyes.

16. If you see one image with both eyes, you can start focusing the image.
17. Ensure that the 4x objective is in position above the slide.
18. Close your left eye.
19. Turn the course focus adjustment knob and focus the image in the right ocular.
20. Adjust the right image by turning the fine focus knob.
21. Close your right eye.
22. Focus the right image by turning the diopter adjustment ring.
23. Open both eyes and focus the image by turning the fine focus knob. After this it is not neccessary to turn the diopter adjustment ring.
24. Turn the nosepiece until the 10x objective click into place above the condensor.
25. Focus the image only with the fine focus knob.
26. Turn the nosepiece until the 40x objective click into place above the condensor.
27. Focus the image with the fine focus knob.

Introduction to cytology