To prevent a microscopic slide specimen from drying quickly, various materials can be used. When preparing a wet mount slide, a drop of water is added to the slide, and to extend the life of the wet mount slide, petroleum jelly can be scraped onto the edges of the cover slip to seal it to the slide, which can make the sealed slide last for several days
. Additionally, cover slips, which are very thin, transparent pieces of glass or plastic, can be used to protect the sample specimen
. These methods help maintain the specimen's integrity and prevent it from drying out too quickly during microscopic observation.
