Table 1.

Experimental Design Including Fixatives and Exposure Times for Cultured Cellular Specimens^a

		HeLa cells (adherent cervical cancer cell line), cultured
fixative	24 h exposure time	1 week exposure time	2 week exposure time	4 week exposure time
SurePath	A	B	C	D
formalin	E	F	G	H
unfixed	I

^aFixed samples: HeLa cells were cultured onto CaF₂ windows, then removed from cell culture medium, rinsed with de-ionized water, and then submerged in the appropriate fixative for their allowed exposure time. At the end of each exposure time, windows with cultured cells were washed with de-ionized water, air-dried under a clean, dry air stream, and then desiccated for 24 h before data acquisition. Unfixed sample (I): The CaF₂ window was removed from cell culture medium, washed with PBS and de-ionized water, air-dried, and then desiccated. Windows exposed to fixative for 24 h (A, E), including the unfixed sample (I), were desiccated after the first data collection (24 h), and data were re-collected for each time point thereafter.