Re: testing - epifluorescence scope?

[Guest guest]

I've been mulling over the possibility of a group buy of an

epifluorescence scope. I've seen bottom-rung ones for around US$4,500.

I dont know if those are any use. It may be that you need a US$10,000

one to get anywhere.

The problem is how to share it. I think the key question is can it be

mailed 3000 miles ten times a year without sustaining damage (postal

insurance?).

The other hitch is whether you can privately obtain fluorescent

antibodies, and the fluorescent murimidase which should be the most

sensitive way to search for bacteria nonspecifically (I'm not sure if

capsules or outer membranes interfere with the binding of fluorescent

murimidase, but I could find out).

Finally, theres the issue of storing samples for when your turn having

the scope comes. You would need to do this in order to carry out any

kind of longitudinal investigation. I dont know if samples would keep

well in a normal freezer. Samples are generally kept at -80 C.

There might be some bacteria too small to see with such a scope. But

theres not much you can do about that short of getting an electron

microscope.

I wish I had $25,000, actually a million.

> > I think that what we need is an existing lab that is prepared to

> do

> > work ups and drug probes privately.

> >

> > How about a good vet?

> >

> > bleu

[Guest guest]

I think we need a central location for a lab. Or we fund an existing

facility to carry out our research objectives.

I've talked to a couple of people who are really keen on the idea of

creating our own entity for the purpose of finding a cure for our

own health issues. I don't actually think the money is the hard

part. It's getting ourselves organized enough to effectively reach

people to find the money. And that takes our most precious

commodity, energy. We need a really good website and really good PR

for a non profit. We could find all kinds of people willing to

participate in our studies with samples for our research (in

exchange for finding out what kind of organisms they have). I think

many of these same people, if they knew about our goals, would be

willing to donate money.

I'm told we can even get a license for insurance reimbursement after

about 6 months of operating as a lab. Don't know all the particulars

on that, but that would really help if true.

Seriously, I think the hard part is the energy it requires to set it

up and coordinate everything to get it off the ground.

Anyone know anyone with big time marketing/PR skils? And a really

expert website designer?

We should get ourselves positioned and ready to go, so as soon as we

acquire a decent chunk of money and/or some benefactors, we can

start making an impact before we're too sick from the medical

neglect we're getting now.

penny

>

> I've been mulling over the possibility of a group buy of an

> epifluorescence scope. I've seen bottom-rung ones for around

US$4,500.

> I dont know if those are any use. It may be that you need a

US$10,000

> one to get anywhere.

>

> The problem is how to share it. I think the key question is can it

be

> mailed 3000 miles ten times a year without sustaining damage

(postal

> insurance?).

>

> The other hitch is whether you can privately obtain fluorescent

> antibodies, and the fluorescent murimidase which should be the

most

> sensitive way to search for bacteria nonspecifically (I'm not sure

if

> capsules or outer membranes interfere with the binding of

fluorescent

> murimidase, but I could find out).

>

> Finally, theres the issue of storing samples for when your turn

having

> the scope comes. You would need to do this in order to carry out

any

> kind of longitudinal investigation. I dont know if samples would

keep

> well in a normal freezer. Samples are generally kept at -80 C.

>

> There might be some bacteria too small to see with such a scope.

But

> theres not much you can do about that short of getting an electron

> microscope.

>

> I wish I had $25,000, actually a million.

>

>

> > > I think that what we need is an existing lab that is prepared

to

> > do

> > > work ups and drug probes privately.

> > >

> > > How about a good vet?

> > >

> > > bleu

>