Provision of Instruments used for SEM sample preparation

Public Health England (PHE) awarded a contract to Leica Microsystems (UK) Ltd for the provision a high vacuum sputter coater and critical point dryer for the Electron Microscopy lab located in Colindale. The sputter coater is required for biological sample preparation for high resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM). Critical point dryer is required to preserve near-native surface morphology of biological material (other than insects) which is to be studied dry inside an SEM. Air drying and freeze-drying can be used but both lead to significant disruption (collapse or explosion) of structure.