What is Darkfield Microscopy?

Also called Live Field Microscopy, this refers to the type of illumination used in a microscope, usually used to view a patient's blood. Instead of light coming through the sample from top to bottom, in darkfield microscopy light comes from the side: this allows the scientist to see very fine elements in detail against a dark background. It is much more accurate in detecting things that would otherwise be missed, but requires special training to read the results correctly.

Because so much more can be seen using darkfield microscopy, it is very effective at the early detection of conditions and diseases that otherwise have not shown any symptoms. In a sense you can see potential health conditions that are developing but have not yet manifested themselves with symptoms. Getting a head start on treatment is extremely valuable and can save the patient much time as well as expense. Early detection will also allow the patient to take corrective measures before a serious health condition arises.

Blood is an important factor in assessing health because it carries not only diseases and infections but the products of these as the body starts to fight them off before other symptoms are seen. As things begin to happen on a microscopic scale they show up in the blood first. It is used mainly to look at live blood samples to see what is really going on in the patient's blood that conventional blood tests cannot detect.

Using Darkfield Microscopy as a Diagnostic Tool

• With this method the shape and condition of blood cells can be seen, as well as the by-products and other micro-organisms associated with various diseases. For instance red blood cells that can't stay on the specimen slide may show nutritional deficiencies, damage from free radicals, and other effects, while white blood cells can be evaluated by the condition of their cell walls.

• The condition of the cell wall is extremely important in the case of cancer patients whose white cell count is used to chart the success of their treatment. Conventional methods can count the cells, but darkfield microscopy can show the actual condition of those cells, which is more important than their numbers.

• Darkfield microscopy is very useful in detecting mycoplasma, which are tiny micro-organisms that can be evidence of cancer and other diseases and are otherwise hard to see. They are classed as 'cell wall deficient' because they can change their shape. Mycoplasma are also connected with immune system problems and show up when lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are present.

• It can detect the early stages of fungal infections caused by cell wall deficient bacteria that are often the result of antibiotics killing bacteria that would have stopped the fungal growth. This is one of the chief dangers of the over-use of antibiotics.

• Many of the early stage fungal growths are able to be identified only with darkfield microscopy which allows the fine detail needed to make a positive identification - in most cases the number of nuclei within the cell must be counted. It is necessary to distinguish them from bacteria that have a fungal-variant phase and are otherwise harmless, or even necessary to the body.

• Candida, a type of yeast, can infect various parts of the body, including inside the intestines, and provide a place for secondary infections to start, especially other kinds of yeast, which can cause problems with digestion, joint pain, and allergies.

The amount of increased information provided by darkfield can also show:

• Mineral and vitamin deficiencies

• Poor circulation

• Poor oxygenation

• Blood-clotting problems

• Liver problems

• Kidney problems

• Hormone imbalances

• Hydrochloric acid and other digestive deficiencies

• Infections related to bacteria, parasites, yeast, fungus, and others

• Early warning signs of heart attacks