Scotch Tape Preparation / Tape Touch Mount - Principle, Procedure, Advantage
Introduction to Scotch Tape Preparation / Tape Touch Mount
Scotch tape preparation or tape touch mount is done to microscopically study molds. It is prepared with clear cellophane tape – which is available only in craft or art supply stores. Clear cellophane tape, which is a thick and tough film, has variable optical qualities with frosted tape having advantages. It is readily available, is thick, and can be torn easily.
Although it is difficult to handle the scotch tape with gloved hands, preparing the tape touch mount with bare hands poses a safety risk to the microbiologist.
Principle of Scotch Tape Preparation / Tape Touch Mount
The Scotch Tape Preparation / Tape Touch Mount pulls up the fungal structures and sticks them to the scotch tape - locking them in place.
Scotch Tape Preparation / Tape Touch Mount (Source: NCBI)
Procedure of Scotch Tape Preparation / Tape Touch Mount
The common procedure for Scotch Tape Preparation / Tape Touch Mount is as follows:
Tear around 2 inches of tape roll.
Place an applicator stick parallel to the length of the tape - about half an inch onto the middle of the sticky side of the scotch tape.
Anchor the applicator stick to the tape by folding the tape, adhesive to adhesive.
From the free end, make a cut that half an inch of the tape is perpendicular to the tape
Prepare several tape “flags” by the use of an applicator stick.
Put on gloves if required.
With the sticky side of the tape facing towards the fungal sample, hold a tape flag by the applicator stick and touch the fungal colony grown in the fungal culture media.
* The fungal culture must be opened in a biological safety cabinet.
Use a second applicator stick to gently press the tape down onto the fungal grown to ensure contact between the tape and the colony.
On a clean, grease-free slide, add 1-2 drops of mounting medium such as lacto-fuschin, lacto-phenol aniline blue
Take the tape flag containing fungal elements on the sticky side and place it on the slide with mounting medium.
Hold the corner of the tape’s end with the help of a second applicator stick on the cover glass and gently pull away.
* This step with tear the previously cut tape and leave the tape containing the fungal elements in the mounting medium present on the cover glass.
Add a drop of previously used mounting medium to the exposed tape surface.
Lift and invert the entire preparation such that the cover glass is uppermost.
View under the microscope.
Advantages of Scotch Tape Preparation / Tape Touch Mount
Better superior quality as the tape is behind the fungal elements. The tape also does not cause distortion while under microscopic examination.
As the scotch tape is thin, the Scotch Tape Preparation / Tape Touch Mount lies flat. It lacks ripples which are mostly present in mounts with thicker tape.
Smaller scotch tape “flags” can be prepared to retrieve fungal particles from tube cultures.