Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided concerning the control of photobleaching of fluorescent labels during the study of samples by fluorescence microscopy. A method is described for operating fluorescence microscopy apparatus to analyse a sample (114), the apparatus including input, processing, sample irradiating and detection arrangements (110, 112; 104; 100; 122), and the method including the steps of: receiving parameters in the processing arrangement via the input arrangement, wherein the parameters relate to an experiment to be conducted using the apparatus and include at least one parameter relating to a fluorescent label present in the sample; and determining with the processing arrangement an excitation procedure to be carried out during the experiment having regard to the inputted parameters and the rate of photobleaching of the fluorescent label desired during the experiment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided concerning the control of photobleaching of fluorescent labels during the study of samples by fluorescence microscopy. A method is described for operating fluorescence microscopy apparatus to analyse a sample (114), the apparatus including input, processing, sample irradiating and detection arrangements (110, 112; 104; 100; 122), and the method including the steps of: receiving parameters in the processing arrangement via the input arrangement, wherein the parameters relate to an experiment to be conducted using the apparatus and include at least one parameter relating to a fluorescent label present in the sample; and determining with the processing arrangement an excitation procedure to be carried out during the experiment having regard to the inputted parameters and the rate of photobleaching of the fluorescent label desired during the experiment.