Choosing: Phase Contrast or Darkfield

First, ask yourself this fundamental question:

"What is the foremost application for which I am using this microscope?"

There are two primary answers.

1) I am using this microscope primarily as a tool for patient education and nutritional counseling, and for insights into the status of my clients overall biological terrain.

2) I am using this microscope primarily as a tool for pleomorphic biological research and to propagate the theories of Enderlein, Naessens and others and I previously have been schooled using strictly darkfield technology.

If #1 is your answer, you may find that combination phase contrast/darkfield microscope is a better choice. If #2 is your answer, you  may find that a top-level darkfield capable system is the optimum way to go.

The question of which is better, phase contrast or darkfield for live blood viewing, is a question that is not black and white.  There are advantages and disadvantages to either medium.

For the vast majority of clinics and practitioners doing nutritional counseling and education, phase contrast typically holds the edge over darkfield. Here are some reasons why...

Due to the shades of gray and the ability to easily differentiate between various bacterial/parasitic blood forms, phase contrast often becomes the top choice for a live blood visual medium for patient/client counseling and education, while offering fast, easy and efficient operation.

But now that we've said that, let's not ignore the strong points of using darkfield for live blood viewing.

What microscope is for you?

Ultimately, you have to decide what the primary focus is of your microscope. If you get into phase contrast today, (with the right system) the capability can always be extended into research grade darkfield tomorrow. With our core fiberoptic systems, you don't have to choose, you can have either one at your disposal.

Remember: A microscope is NOT a diagnostic tool. It is just a way to observe the qualitative properties of an individuals underlying biological terrain through imaging of the blood. It may give you unparalleled insights into your clients state of health, but it will not give you a diagnosis. It is a premium tool for education.

Keep that in mind and you'll discover that you can buy a scope like the Biomedx System 1 or 2 configuration, save a lot of money, and put your savings towards more quantitative items like a terrain auditing system.

While we love selling $14,000 microscopes, we have to be honest; with this particular application (live blood/dry layer work) we have to ask ourselves, why should a doctor spend $14,000 when half that cost or less will give him/her the same functional information? Wouldn't it make sense to take the savings and expand the capabilities of the clinic with other useful equipment?  We tend to think so, but your situation may be different and we can't answer that from your perspective. 

If you're still trying to decide which options are best for your situation, please give us a call and we can help you sort through your choices.

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