Table 1.
Impression Cytology Membrane Identifiers and Properties
| Membrane (Alternate Names), Company | Pore Size (μm) | Porosity (%) | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass (German Glass), EMS* | NA† | NA | 160–190 μm |
| Cellulose acetate plastic (CA plastic), EMS | NA | NA | 1570 μm |
| Rinzl (clear vinyl), EMS | NA | NA | 280 μm |
| Thermanox (TMX, polyolefin polymer), EMS | NA | NA | 200 μm |
| Polycarbonate (Isopore), Millipore | 0.4 | 5–20 | 7–22 μm |
| Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF, Durapore), Millipore | 0.45 | 75 | 125 μm |
| Polyethersulfone (PES, Express PLUS), Millipore | 0.45 | 60–80 | 130–155 μm |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Omnipore, Biopore, Teflon), Millipore | 0.45 | 80 | 65 μm |
| Mixed cellulose ester (MCE, MF filter), Millipore | 0.45 | 79 | 180 μm |
| Surfactant-free mixed cellulose ester (SF MCE, Immobilon-NC membrane, Triton-free), Millipore | 0.45 | 79 | 180 μm |
*
Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS, Hatfield, PA) and Millipore (Billerica, MA).
†
Coverslip materials not characterized by pore sizes or hydrophilicity (NA).