>From 1958 onwards our lab used 10%NBF acc. Carleton's Histological
Technique, prior to this Routine tissues were fixed with 10% Formalin made
up in carbouys containing marble chips. All long term storage specimens viz
from approx 1940-1965 were stored either in Wentworth's solution or
Kaiserling's as for museum mounts (Some still are). And no! I haven't been
in the lab since 1940, but my mentor had been, and I'm grateful for the
unwritten knowledge he imparted- it has certainly come in useful with power
failures and chemical shortages etc.
Regards Mike (Downunder)
-----Original Message-----
From: Ms Louise Taylor <179LOU@chiron.wits.ac.za>
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
Date: Wednesday, 9 December 1998 7:54
Subject: formalin


>Hello histonetters,
>
>I am currently engaged on a seriously retrospective project involving
>performing PCR on  paraffin embedded archival tissues some of which
>are more than 30 years old. The variablity of the DNA viability and
>content is astounding. A factor that I can only ascribe to the
>various fixatives used way back then.
>
>Could some of the older histotechnologists give me some insight into
>what was common practice in say, the late 50's early 60's?
>(I will understand if some of you just say that you are reporting
>hearsay - after all - we don't all want to reveal our age?)
>
>When did buffered formalin come into vogue? As a mere whippersnapper
>of some 17 years experience - I can recall the unpleasantness of
>trying to make up buffered formalin in 25l quantities - an innovation
>and a great pain to a raw recruit.!
>
>I will appreciate any insight into what really happened
>
>many thanks
>Louise Taylor
>Johannesburg
>South Sfrica
>