Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

This technique is really of value only for research purposes. Hair is a difficult material to prepare for high quality TEM studies, requiring skill and technical expertise particularly in the cutting stages. Hair does not require fixing prior to viewing by TEM except for detailed studies of cell membrane lipids with stains such as ruthenium tetroxide. All other stain methods do not require pre-fixing; indeed, fixation can often induce additional artifacts. TEM studies have proven to be of value in understanding the fine structure and organization of the hair. Similarly, they have shown the exact changes in the fiber resulting from genetic diseases. However, as with all investigations, detailed knowledge of normal hair is a prerequisite to avoiding misinterpretation.