Cheap or free sources of cells

Posted by John Oreopoulos on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Acceptor-Photobleaching-vs-Sensitized-Emission-FRET-results-tp4828946p5635266.html

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Dear confocal listserver,

I'm looking for cheap or free sources of cells that can be used for testing various fluorescent stains and/or microscopy instrumentation. I've had good success in the past with blood cells pricked from my finger with a finger lance and cheek cells scraped from my mouth. I'm wondering if any of you out there know of any other sources of cells for this same kind of purpose. Maybe urine samples? Anything from nature/outdoors (besides pond water)? Anything from the supermarket?

Looking forward to all your creative responses!

John Oreopoulos