Table 1. Width measurements of microbes.

Specimen	Sample preparation	Electron Imaging	Width (nm)	N	Relative Size
Salmonella Senftenberg	Ionic liquid	SEM	627.1 ± 50.9	193	–
Salmonella Senftenberg	Sputter coating	SEM	564.9 ± 44.4	185	90.1%
Salmonella Senftenberg	Negative Stain	TEM	563.6 ± 43.5	174	89.9%
Leptospira biflexa	Ionic liquid	SEM	156.2 ± 15.8	153	–
Leptospira biflexa	Sputter coating	SEM	129.7 ± 14.1	158	83.0%
Leptospira biflexa	Negative Stain	TEM	126.8 ± 17.0	164	81.8%
Ebola virus	Ionic liquid	SEM	98.5 ± 10.2	123	–
Ebola virus	Sputter coating	SEM	85.6 ± 8.4	141	86.9%
Ebola virus	Negative Stain	TEM	82.8 ± 5.0	146	84.1%

The effect of sample preparation methods on microorganism size. N = number of measurements.