Preparation of specimen in the phase contrast microscope- One may wonder why specimens are to be prepared in phase contrast microscope when staining is done away with and what is being viewed are living objects or live specimen. However, it is not as simple as that, as most specimens are colorless and transparent. Different procedures must be followed to obtain a clear and vivid picture of the specimen Some specimen have to be grown in a monolayer, some have to be fixed to afford a steady observation, and some have to be dissected or sliced appropriately for proper viewing. For studying unstained material, including living cells and tissues, light microscopes with special optical systems, so called phase contrast microscopes are used. In growing cells for study- the cells can be grown in a monolayer directly on a cover slip bathed in cell culture medium for study under a phase contrast microscope. The cell culture medium provides all the nutritional requirements for the cells to divide and prosper.

The microscopist must have a specific target for the designed population of cells to be studied before hand. When the cells have reached the desired population, the cover slip is removed from the cell culture medium and mounted upside down on a microscope slide. The specimen can then be viewed in the microscope. Proper and rich nutrition must be had for the particular specimen to be grown to avoid failure in growing the cells or increasing its population. Fixing the cells or tissues-to preserve the morphology of the cells or tissues, the specimen has to be fixed. The morphology or shape and form of the cells or tissues is of utmost importance in the study of cells or tissues, without which it would be a useless exercise. The specimen must be viewed in its natural state or as nearest its original state. The best fixatives maintain the specimen in as near a living state as possible. There are different methods of fixing the specimen- drying, freezing, and the use of chemicals. Of the three methods, drying, freezing, chemicals- the most common nowadays is the use of chemicals.

The process of sectioning tissues for study under a phase contrast microscope- thick specimen must be cut or sliced to its desired thickness proper for phase contrast study. Before, the specimen was cut using a razor blade, but the result was crude so better methods were developed. With the advancement of technology, a device was invented which cut or sectioned tissues into thin slices for study. This device is called a microtome, that automatically cuts thin slices of the specimen. If the specimen is frozen, a cryostat is used instead to keep the specimen in a frozen state while slicing it.