Access and facilities

MicroPICell provides microscopy services on a one-off or regular basis to non-autonomous users.

  • All requests must be made by e-mail. The e-mail addresses of the members of the platform are indicated on the home page of the website.
  • Services must be provided in the presence of the customer.
  • Micropicell undertakes to provide an appointment within 3 weeks of the initial request. (Each appointment is noted on the online reservation schedule. Equipment breakdowns may extend this timeframe, and the requestor will be informed accordingly.
  • The service consists in visualizing the applicant's preparation or sample, and Micropicell undertakes to use the most appropriate system(s) to best visualize the preparation or sample.
  • At least one acquisition will be carried out per preparation/sample. The image thus produced will contain all the information concerning the acquisition.
  • Micropicell guarantees functional systems. Machine monitoring can be consulted by applicants on request to members of the platform.

MicroPICell makes microscopy and histology systems available to all users on request.

  • The list of reservable systems can be viewed at: https://micropicell.univ-nantes.fr/imagerie-photonique
  • For all systems open to reservation, preliminary training is mandatory. Potential users can apply to the Imaging Department for autonomy.
  • On completion of the training and validation of prior learning, the applicant receives access to the booking schedule. This access is accompanied by a commitment between Micropicell and the user (see operating charter).


After using a system autonomously, the user must consult the reservation schedule on Platform Manager.

  • If there is another user on the same day: leave the system switched on and clean the optical microscope and stage.
  • If there are no users on the same day: switch off the system completely as indicated in the switch-off protocol available on each instrument, and clean the microscope (optics, stage).
Updated on 16 October 2024.