Practical Implementation of Light Microscope Quality Control Measures

Session

QUAREP-LiMi: An International Collaboration for Microscope Quality Control

Authors

Dr Alex Laude (1), Dr Glyn Nelson (1)

Affiliations

1. Newcastle University

Keywords

Quality control, light microscopy, metadata, reproducibility,  

Abstract text

Over the past 15 years, technological advances have allowed us to image beyond the Abbe diffraction-limiting barrier.  In addition, the advance of computer-controlled and automated imaging systems have also significantly increased the volume and complexity of the imaging data collected. Unfortunately, controlling and measuring microscope performance has not kept up with these step-changes in technology, data generation as well as the complex microscopy methods that are now being applied.  Currently, there are no minimum information standards for reporting microscopy standards and quality, unlike many other technological methodologies.

In life sciences, quantitative fluorescence-based bioimaging techniques are becoming more popular and relied upon.   As a consequence, it is now more vital that the end-user understands and can provide information relating to the consistency and performance of the optical system that they have used.  It is also important for those that maintain microscopes (facility managers and nominated individuals) to be able to ensure consistency in performance for the end user.  

Experience from a facility that operates over thirty light microscopes of varying complexities and across multiple sites, we can testify to the amount of time required to quality control these resources.  Moreover, across the UK and international light microscopy communities, we are aware of the inconsistent approach to microscope quality control and the operational and knowledge barriers that are preventing progress.

QUAREP-LiMi over the past three years has made significant strides into addressing the microscope quality control issue with each of 12 working groups focussing down onto a specific, hardware, software or metadata question.  Protocols have now been developed, many of which have been enriched with user guides and videos.  We outline in our presentation how we have taken some of the QUAREP recommendations and protocols and have implemented them into a quality control regimen in a technologically diverse light microscopy core facility.  We outline a pragmatic approach and our thoughts on the prioritisation of tests and the practical implementation of them as well as recording and interpreting the data that they produce.