Posted By Rob Todd Hi, Does anyone know what qualifications/training are required to carry out phase contrast microscopy on suspected asbestos fibres. I am looking to become trained in this area. Cheers Rob

Posted By Mark Preston Check out the British Institute of Occupational Hygienists (BIOH) Certificates of Proficiency http://www.bioh.org/qualifications/certprof.htm Unfortunately the site no longer gives course dates and venues - you'll need to phone them PS While phase contrast microscopy is a valid technique for identifying asbestos fibres - it's not the most common one. (it is, however, essential for light microscopy counting of airborne asbestos fibres.) A combination of polarising light and dispersion staining is the more common means of identification - MDHS 77 Asbestos in Bulk Materials. Using phase Contrast in bulk analysis is a very neat trick to have up your sleeve - it's got me out of difficulties on a few occasions - the Casella course material I've seen (it was about 5 years ago) covered the technique well - better I think than its coverage in MDHS 77