Adaptation of a low-power stereomicroscope to scan cell colonies labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate.

A stereomicroscope was modified for use in visualizing fluorescence-labelled cell-colonies at low magnifications. A xenon lamp and an FITC filter (Zeiss) were used to obtain exciting radiation to illuminate fluorescent-labelled specimens. The system is precise enough to distinguish between normal and cancer cell-colonies after specific interaction with FITC-conjugated antiserum.