After samples have been located, they should be placed in Ziploc® bags without water and placed on ice for
transport to the lab. After arrival at the lab, samples should be kept in the refrigerator and processed as soon as
possible. Using a dissecting microscope, a 2 x 2 mm reproductive portion of the blade (margin) can be excised
using a sterile razor blade. It is very important during this process to eliminate as much nonreproductive tissue
as possible in order to reduce the chance of contamination. Reproductive portions of the blade can be determined
by locating mature cells on the edges of the blade, which appear as red, square shaped cells divided into
four sections (Figure 6.10). After the reproductive tissue has been excised, it should be rinsed in sterile seawater
several times and cleaned with sterile cotton balls if necessary to remove all epiphytes. The clean reproductive
material can then be wrapped in damp, sterile cheesecloth or paper towel and placed in the dark at 4°C
overnight (i.e. in the refrigerator).