Central Microscopy Facility Fees





Effective 1/1/2004 (Until Further Notice) - For Umass Clients







Description unit cost






Optiphot Fluorescence Microscope Use hr $3.75


Spot/ Nikon E600 system hr $7.50


Zeiss 510 Meta Confocal Usage hr $17.50


MRC-600 Confocal microscope usage hr $7.50








SEM samples; fixation kit ea $15.00


Critical point dry ea $15.00


Sputter coater runs ea $15.00


SEM stubs prepared ea $1.00


SEM usage, beam time hr $22.50


Thermal (video) prints ea $0.25








TEM samples; fixation kit ea $15.00


TEM usage hr $22.50


TEM film ea $1.50


Sectioning (Staff time) (+ grid cost) hr $20.00


      Grids are "at cost" ; many materials, styles, supports.



Negative Stain preparations: >> time and materials










Freeze-Fracture/Freeze-Etch run $31.25 Each "run" is a pump-fracture-shadow-replicate cycle.

Low temp substitution (Osmium extra) run $30.00


Plunge freezing (propane, etc.) run $30.00


Low-Temperature UV polymerization run $15.00


Cryo-fee (for all activities using LN2) ea $30.25  This is a "per day" fee to cover tanks, and LN2 used in sample handling.








Carbon evaporator runs ea $18.75


Platinum shadowing/evaporator runs ea $18.75








Liquid Nitrogen, bulk users (>30 liters/qtr.) liter $0.65


Liquid Nitrogen, small draw, 4 liter min liter $1.00







Codonics color prints (8.5x11) ea $3.75


Codonics B&W prints (8.5x11) ea $3.00


Coodonics Transparencies (8.5x11) ea $4.25








CD-R disks, w/paper sleeve,  blank ea $1.50


CD storage: paper sleeves w/window per 10 $1.50


Shell vials (1 dram or 3 dram) ea $0.28


SEM specimen stub boxes ea $4.00


Grid boxes (Pelco, blue) ea $4.00












BEEM flat embedding molds ea $7.50




Microtome glass strips ea $4.95


Chemicals and Supplies (ask) ea $1.00


Staff assistance, per hr (training, project assistance) hr $20.00













Five College Faculty receive the Umass rate; Umass clients receive priority
Staff Assistance is not included in equipment, fixation, embedding charges, etc.
Assisted by Staff: add the hourly staff charge for actual time of work

Non-Umass: rate for equipment, services, staff assistance are double UMASS rate.