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MICROSCOPY FOR THE CLINICAL LAB

Solutions and workflows built for the clinical lab

Discover ZEISS microscopy solutions designed around the realities of routine clinical work. From trusted optics and efficient digital documentation to ergonomic viewing and application-focused configurations, Axiolab 5 and Axioscope 5 help laboratories build microscopy workflows around the way their teams work.

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BUILT FOR THE WAY YOU WORK

A clinical microscope has to get a lot right.

Hours at the eyepiece. Detailed observation. Consistent illumination and color. Documentation, consultation, and teaching. These are the everyday demands that shape the way ZEISS clinical microscopes are designed.

 

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    Detailed observation

    Review cells, tissue, and microorganisms across a range of magnifications.

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    Consistent brightfield viewing

    Maintain consistent illumination as you move between objectives and specimens.

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    Extended microscope sessions

    Ergonomic viewing and control options support comfortable operation throughout the workday.

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    Image documentation

    Capture specimen images directly from the microscope for documentation, consultation, and teaching.

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    Consultation & collaboration

    Share the same specimen field with colleagues for collaborative review and consultation.

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    Teaching & instruction

    Give instruction while multiple observers share the same specimen field.

The clinical portfolio

Two smart microscopes, matched to how you work.

Both platforms bring Smart Microscopy and ergonomic design to routine clinical microscopy. Axiolab 5 provides a compact, flexible platform across six clinical disciplines, while Axioscope 5 extends the portfolio with premium optics, a larger field of view, and expanded co-observation capabilities for pathology and histology workflows.

  • ROUTINE · COMPACT · ERGONOMIC

    ZEISS Axiolab 5

    ZEISS Axiolab 5

    A compact, ergonomic microscope supporting routine microscopy across pathology, histology, microbiology, cytology, hematology, and urology, with flexible imaging, contrast, and viewing configurations.

  • EXPANDED CO-OBSERVATION

    ZEISS Axioscope

    ZEISS Axioscope 5

    A premium clinical microscopy platform for pathology and histology workflows, combining advanced optics, a larger field of view, and flexible co-observation configurations for consultation, collaborative review, and teaching.

Browse products by discipline

Explore products by discipline

Learn more about ZEISS Axiolab 5 and Axioscope 5 configurations designed around the needs of different clinical workflows. Select your application to explore recommended microscopy solutions, compare platform capabilities, and find the configuration that fits your laboratory.
Select a category Pathology
Pathology
Histology
Microbiology
Cytology
Hematology
Urology
Recomended Pathology Solutions

Axiolab 5 • Axioscope 5

Configured for routine pathology review, consultation, collaboration & teaching.
  • Brightfield imaging for routinely stained tissue sections.
  • Smart Microscopy for streamlined digital documentation.
  • Ergonomic viewing options for extended microscope use.
  • Co-observation configurations for consultation, collaborative review & teaching.
Buy or request a quote online
Axiolab 5 Pathology_standard configuration

ZEISS Axiolab 5 Pathology • Standard

Brightfield microscope with digital imaging for specimen review and documentation.
Configure solution
Axioscope 5 pathology_standard configuration

Axioscope 5 Pathology • Standard

Standard pathology microscope with a larger field of view, expanded objective range, and ergonomic viewing.
Configure solution
Axiolab 5 pathology_co-observation with phototube configuration

Axiolab 5 Pathology • CO + Phototube

2-user co-observation for shared viewing, consultation, review, and teaching.
Configure solution
Axiolab 5 pathology_co-observation with phototube configuration

Axiolab Pathology • CO + Ergo Phototube

2-user co-observation with an adjustable phototube for consultation and teaching.
Configure solution

Axioscope 5 Pathology • Adv Ergo

Larger field of view, expanded objective range, & ergonomic viewing for review & documentation.
Configure solution

Axioscope 5 Pathology • CO + Phototube

2-user co-observation with premium optics for consultation & teaching.
Configure solution

Axioscope 5 Pathology • CO + Ergo Tube

Same co-observation setup with ergonomic options for consultation & teaching.
Configure solution
Histology Recomended Solutions

Axiolab 5 · Axioscope 5

Stained tissue-section review, documentation & extended microscope use.
  • Premium optics.
  • True-color brightfield imaging for stained tissue sections.
  • Smart Microscopy for streamlined digital documentation.
  • Ergonomic viewing options for extended microscope use.
  • Larger field of view available with Axioscope 5.
Buy or request a quote online

Axioscope 5 Histology • Adv Ergo

Premium optics, large field of view, advanced condenser options & ergonomic viewing.
Configure solution

Axiolab 5 Histology • Standard

Brightfield microscope with digital imaging for tissue review, morphology assessment & documentation.
Configure solution

Axiolab 5 Histology • Standard Ergo

Brightfield microscope with digital imaging & ergonomic viewing for tissue review & extended use.
Configure solution
Microbiology recommended solution

Axiolab 5

From brightfield to fluorescence.
  • Brightfield, phase contrast, darkfield & fluorescence options.
  • Digital imaging compatibility for routine documentation.
  • Oil-immersion objective options for detailed specimen observation.
  • Ergonomic viewing options for extended microscope use.
Buy or request a quote online

Axiolab 5 Microbiology • Standard

Brightfield, phase contrast & darkfield observation with digital imaging compatibility.
Configure solution

Axiolab 5 Microbiology • Adv

Advanced configuration with brightfield, phase contrast, darkfield & ergonomic viewing.
Configure solution

Axiolab 5 Microbiology • Adv FL

Combining brightfield, phase contrast, darkfield, GFP/FITC fluorescence & digital imaging.
Configure solution
Recomended Cytology Solution

Axiolab 5

From Pap to Romanowsky.
  • Brightfield imaging for Pap- and Romanowsky-stained specimens
  • Smart Microscopy for streamlined digital documentation.
  • 2.5×–100× objective range.
  •  Ergonomic viewing options available for extended microscope use.
Buy or request a quote online

Axiolab 5 Cytology • Standarad

Brightfield microscope for routine review of stained cytology preparations & digital documentation.
Configure solution

Axiolab 5 Cytology • Ergo

Ergonomic phototube for routine review of stained cytology preparations & extended microscope use.
Configure solution
Recommended Hematology Solution

Axiolab 5

Blood smears and bone marrow,
viewed in true color.
  • True-color brightfield imaging for stained blood and bone marrow preparations.
  • 10× and 100× oil objectives in the Standard configuration; 10×, 50× oil, and 100× oil in Advanced configurations.
  • Smart Microscopy for streamlined digital documentation.
  • Ergonomic viewing options available for extended microscope use.
Buy or request a quote online

Axiolab 5 Hematology • Standard

Brightfield microscope with 10× and 100× oil objectives for routine blood & bone marrow review.
Configure solution

Axiolab 5 Hematology • Advanced

Adding 50× oil for smear and morphology review.
Configure solution

Axiolab 5 Hematology • Adv Ergo

10×, 50× oil & 100× oil objectives with ergonomic adjustable viewing.
Configure solution
Recomended Urology Solutions

Axiolab 5

See urinary sediment in a different light.
  • Brightfield & phase contrast for urinary sediment review.
  • Polarized light with lambda plate functionality for crystal evaluation.
  • Ergonomic viewing options available for extended microscope use
  • Smart Microscopy for streamlined digital documentation.
Buy or request a quote online
Axiolab 5 Urology_Standard Configuration

Axiolab 5 Urology • Standard

Brightfield & phase contrast for routine urinary sediment review & crystal evaluation.
Configure solution
Axiolab 5 Urology_Adv ergonomic configuration

Axiolab 5 Urology • Adv Ergo

Brightfield, phase contrast & polarized light with EC Plan-NEOFLUAR objectives & ergonomic viewing.
Configure solution
Discover the technology

Four things every clinical setup is built on

Faithful visualization, streamlined documentation, ergonomic operation, and shared viewing when collaboration matters. These are the capabilities designed into ZEISS clinical microscopy solutions.

Smart Microscopy_barcode scan

Smart Microscopy

Document without leaving the stand

Frame your specimen, press Snap, and capture an image directly from the microscope with scale information and metadata.

Ergonomics in use

Ergonomics

Designed for comfortable microscope operation

Adjustable viewing options and thoughtfully positioned controls help users adapt the microscope to their preferred working position during extended microscope sessions.

Mouse kidney, Axioscope 5

Visualization

See your specimen in true color

ZEISS optics, LED illumination, and imaging components are designed to support consistent visualization across magnifications and documentation workflows.

Multidiscussion user image

Co-Observation

See the same field, together

For consultation, teaching, and collaborative review, co-observation configurations allow multiple viewers to observe the same specimen field with consistent orientation and illumination.

Smart MIcroscopy

Image capture in three simple steps

Frame, focus, and capture directly from the microscope stand.

  • Explore key features of ZEISS Axiolab 5 and Axioscope 5 Smart Microscopy systems

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  • Search icon_blue

    Find the area of interest

    Position your specimen and bring the area of interest into focus.

  • Press icon_blue

    Press Snap

    Capture a properly scaled, color-accurate image with a single press of the Snap button.

  • Saved icon_blue

    Image saved

    Image data is saved with the correct scaling and metadata, ready for documentation.

VISUALIZATION

Faithful visualization from eyepiece to image

True-color illumination, consistent brightness across magnifications, and ZEISS optical systems support faithful specimen visualization, with additional contrast and fluorescence options available for specific workflows and configurations.

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    True-color LED illumination

    10 W white LED illumination supports natural-color specimen viewing and documentation, including subtle color differences in stained preparations.

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    Consistent brightness across magnifications

    Light Manager remembers the illumination intensity set for each objective and restores it as magnification changes, helping maintain consistent brightness without repeated manual adjustment.

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    Faithful color across common stains

    True-color illumination supports natural-color visualization across commonly used stains, including H&E, Papanicolaou, Giemsa/Romanowsky, Gram, and Ziehl-Neelsen preparations.

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    More of the slide in view

    Axioscope 5 supports a 25 mm field of view, providing more visible specimen area than a conventional 22 mm field of view.

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    LED fluorescence options

    Available configurations support LED fluorescence for fluorescence-based workflows. Axioscope 5 with Colibri 3 supports multichannel fluorescence imaging, including capture of up to four fluorescence channels with one click.

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    ZEISS optical systems and objectives

    Full Köhler illumination and the ZEISS Infinity Color-Corrected System (ICS) can be combined with objective options including A-Plan, N-Achroplan, and EC Plan-NEOFLUAR to support high-quality specimen visualization across clinical workflows.

Compatibility with staining and contrast techniques

Clinical specimens may be transparent or nearly colorless in transmitted light. Staining adds color and contrast to cellular and tissue structures, while optical contrast techniques, including phase contrast, polarization, and fluorescence, provide additional ways to visualize unstained specimens, birefringent materials, and fluorescently labeled targets. ZEISS Axiolab 5 and Axioscope 5 support a range of contrast methods depending on configuration. Available methods vary by platform and setup, talk with an imaging specialist to match the appropriate capabilities to your workflow.

  • Brightfield Staining

    Brightfield microscopy is widely used with stained clinical preparations. Staining provides color and contrast to cellular and tissue structures, while ZEISS true-color LED illumination supports natural-color visualization and documentation across commonly used stains.

    Compare brightfield staining techniques
    Clinical lab, leukemia in human blood, brightfield, Giemsa staining, PA 40x/1.4 oil

    Wright / Giemsa (Romanowsky)

    Commonly used with blood smear and bone marrow preparations for visualization of cellular morphology.

    Hematoxylin and eosin-stained section of an embryonic fisheye (Nothobranchius furzeri). Sample courtesy of Annekatrin Richter, Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute e.V. (FLI), Jena, Germany. Scale bar: 50 µm
    Courtesy of Annekatrin Richter, Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute e.V. (FLI), Jena, Germany.

    Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E)

    Provides characteristic contrast between nuclei, cytoplasm, and surrounding tissue structures for visualization of tissue architecture and cellular morphology.

    Application Image from Brochure 46-0074 in English, Cytological smear (human). Papanicolaou stain, Achroplan 50x/0.9 Oil

    Papanicolaou (Pap)

    Multi-dye cytology stain used to visualize cellular morphology and detail in cytological preparations.

    Bacillus_gram-staining

    Gram Staining

    Provides characteristic staining contrast for visualization of Gram-stained bacterial preparations.

  • Phase Contrast

    Phase contrast converts differences in refractive index into visible contrast, supporting visualization of transparent, unstained specimens that can be difficult to see in brightfield.

    Compare phase contrast staining techniques
    Urine in phase contrast,

    Urinary sediment

    Unstained urinary sediment viewed with phase contrast and brightfield (400x). Drag to compare.

    Trichomonas vaginalis, acquired with Axio Lab.A1
    Courtesy of Gerhard Ey Praxis Dr. Holthaus und Partner Lemförde, Germany

    Microorganisms

    Supports visualization of unstained microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.

  • Fluorescence

    LED fluorescence provides bright, stable excitation without lamp warm-up or cool-down. Depending on configuration, Axiolab 5 and Axioscope 5 support fluorescence imaging across a range of excitation wavelengths and fluorophores. Examples used in clinical laboratory workflows include:

    Compare fluorescence staining techniques
    fluorescence application image, Primo Star iLED, Auramine staining of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, counterstaining thiazine red
    Dr. med. Harald Hoffmann, WHO - Supranationales Referenzlabor IML Gauting, Germany

    Auramine (acid-fast fluorescence)

    Fluorescence visualization of auramine-stained acid-fast bacilli.

    Mouse kidney stained with FITC

    FITC-labeled antibodies

    Fluorophore-conjugated antibodies provide fluorescent contrast for labeled targets in immunofluorescence workflows.

    Fluorescence mouse kidney acquired with ZEISS Axioscope 5

    DAPI

    Fluorescent nuclear counterstain used to visualize cell nuclei in tissue and cell preparations.

  • Polarization

    Polarized light provides contrast for birefringent materials that may be difficult to distinguish in brightfield alone. Depending on configuration, Axiolab 5 supports polarized-light observation for specimens including crystals and stained tissue deposits.

    Explore polarization capabilities
    Uric_acid_crystals_under_polarization_contrast

    Urine crystals

    Polarized-light observation provides contrast for birefringent crystals in urine sediment.

    Positive birefringent crystal, transmitted light polarization with lamda plate, objective: Plan-Neofluar 20x Pol, Axioscope 5, Axiocam 208 color

    Birefringent tissue deposits

    Congo red-stained tissue can be observed under polarized light to visualize birefringent structures.
Multidiscussion & co-observation

One field of view. Every observer, together.

Both clinical stands support ZEISS multidiscussion configurations for shared observation. Setups range from face-to-face viewing to larger rows, U-form, or square configurations, depending on the platform and number of observers.

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    One shared view

    Every observer takes in the same 25 mm specimen area with matching orientation and brightness — top-left is top-left for all. A white, green, or red light pointer stays visible on any stain, so everyone follows the same feature in real time.

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    Each observer, their own fit

    Independently adjustable viewing tubes allow observers to set their viewing height and eyepiece position for a more comfortable shared session.

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    Grows with your team

    Configurations can accommodate different group sizes, from small face-to-face setups to larger multi-observer arrangements.

visual and interactive graphic depicting multidiscussion setups for ZEISS Axiolab 5 & ZEISS Axioscope 5
Axiolab 5 • Axioscope 5 Multidiscussion

✓ Rows

✓ U-form

✓ Square

✓ Grows with the group
Axiolab 5 • Axioscope 5 Dual Co-Observation

✔ Two active viewing positions
Compare Products

Axiolab 5 vs Axioscope 5, side by side

Both platforms share ZEISS Smart Microscopy, ergonomic design options, digital documentation, and a broad range of contrast techniques. Compare the features, optical capabilities, and clinical configurations available for each platform.

Compare

ZEISS Axiolab 5 

ZEISS Axioscope 5

Clinical Portfolio

Configured for: pathology, histology, microbiology, Cytology, hematology, urology

Configured for: pathology and histology

Configured Workflows

15

5

Contrast Methods 

*Available capabilities depend on system configuration.

Brightfield, phase contrast, darkfield, polarization, fluorescence

Brightfield, phase contrast, DIC, darkfield, polarization, fluorescence

Fluorescence

*Available capabilities depend on system configuration.

LED fluorescence available depending on configuration

LED fluorescence available depending on configuration; multichannel options available

Documentation

Smart Microscopy with integrated Snap controls, automatic scaling and metadata; operation without a PC supported

Smart Microscopy with integrated Snap controls, automatic scaling and metadata; operation without a PC supported

Field of View

Up to 23 mm

Up to 25 mm

Ergonomics

Ergonomic viewing and operating options, including adjustable tubes and accessible controls

Ergonomic viewing and operating options, including adjustable tubes and accessible controls

Co-observation

Active two-position co-observation and multidiscussion configurations for up to 20 co-observers

Active two-position co-observation and multidiscussion configurations for up to 20 co-observers

Not sure which fits? Start from your discipline in the portfolio above, or talk it through with an imaging representative.