Lab Chronicles: Mapping Vaccines

Lab Chronicles: Mapping Vaccines

Lab bench work can be tedious and repetitive (I should know) and it is as important to rule things out as it is to rule them in. I have edited the video and accelerated segments up so that the video is cut down from about 2:22 mins to 22 mins. Dr McCairn with the assistance of Rimo live streamed the testing and employed SEM and EDX for elemental mapping.

SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) provides detailed high resolution images of the sample by rastering a focussed electron beam across the surface and detecting secondary or backscattered electron signal. An Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analyzer (EDX or EDA) is also used to provide elemental identification and quantitative compositional information. Genetic material should contain phosphorus [P] and nitrogen [N].

Dr McCairn commences with a platinum coated biological sample (as control) but cannot find nitrogen and wants to repeat the test without the coating. He detects the presence of phosphorus [P] and nitrogen [N] (out of range) in the biological control sample.This demonstrates that [P & N] in biological samples can be detected, however better control samples are needed. There was no detectable N or P in the Moderna vaccine that was tested. The audio is not very clear due to the masks and background noise from the equipment.

SEM/EDX – Mapping Jabberwockies (22 min)