Skip to main content

Digital-Ready Slides

Glass: The Clear Choice for AI-Ready Digital Pathology

As digital pathology adoption grows, glass coverslips help deliver the clarity and consistency needed for efficient workflows and advanced tools, making them the trusted choice today and for future AI-ready applications.

When digital imaging and AI analysis depend on every pixel, “good enough” risks missed details and wasted time.

Image
Glass coverslips on microscope slides demonstrate greater consistency and performance than film coverslips

The following comparison highlights the strengths and limitations of glass and film.

Glass
Minimal Defects

Image
Glass microscope slide coverslips are better than film coverslips because the produce clean images with minimal artifacts and no longitudinal scratches.

Produces clean images with minimal artifacts and no longitudinal scratches.

Exceptional Image Quality

Film
~5x More Defects

Image
Film microscope slide coverslips exhibit significantly more surface artifacts, including multiple scratches, than glass coverslips

Exhibits significantly more surface artifacts, including multiple scratches.

Poor Image Quality

Glass microscope slide coverslips exhibit a highly stable and uniform surface

Highly Stable and Uniform Surface

Maintains a smooth profile, crucial for consistent and reliable digital focusing.

Film microscope slide coverslips exhibit an irregular and rippled surface which compromise image quality and consistency

Irregular and Rippled Surface

Shows height variations that compromise image consistency and quality.

Image
Glass microscope slide coverslips are optimized for AI and digital pathology efficiency

Optimized for AI and Efficiency

Cleaner scans reduce the need for rescans, saving time and enabling accurate AI analysis

Image
Film microscope slide coverslips present a risk of inefficient workflows

Risk of Inefficient Workflows

Can lead to suboptimal scans, reducing lab efficiency and requiring time-consuming rescans.

Why Glass

  • Cleaner images that help reduce rescans and support AI
  • Optimized digital imaging empowers diagnostic confidence

Study Highlights

  • Film shows more defects and surface artifacts, which can reduce efficiency
  • Glass delivers clear images, which can save time and enable accurate AI analysis

The Leica Biosystems Advantage: Designed for Digital Readiness

HistoCore Spectra Workstation for Staining and Coverslipping

HistoCore SPECTRA WS

Snowcoat Microscope Slides

Snowcoat Slides

Aperio GT 450 DX Digital Pathology Slide Scanner

Aperio GT 450 DX

Our expertise in pathology workflows enables us to deliver integrated solutions - including digital-ready glass coverslips - that streamline operations today and position laboratories for a digital, AI-powered future.

Click Here to Learn More

* Study on the performance of different cover glasses in microscopy, conducted by a renowned institute in Jena, Germany. Commissioned by Leica Biosystems GmbH, Nussloch, Germany; September 2025. Sample size: 6 total samples (3 with cover glass, 3 with cover film).

For In Vitro Diagnostic Use 


Related Content

Leica Biosystems content is subject to the Leica Biosystems website terms of use, available at: Legal Notice. The content, including webinars, training presentations and related materials is intended to provide general information regarding particular subjects of interest to health care professionals and is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, medical, regulatory or legal advice. The views and opinions expressed in any third-party content reflect the personal views and opinions of the speaker(s)/author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views or opinions of Leica Biosystems, its employees or agents. Any links contained in the content which provides access to third party resources or content is provided for convenience only.

For the use of any product, the applicable product documentation, including information guides, inserts and operation manuals should be consulted.

Copyright © 2026 Leica Biosystems division of Leica Microsystems, Inc. and its Leica Biosystems affiliates. All rights reserved. LEICA and the Leica Logo are registered trademarks of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.