formalin etc.

From:LINDA MARGRAF MD



Here's a letter I am posting for Barry:

Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 8:59 AM
To: 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu' 
Subject: RE: Formaldehyde nomenclature (was Help with a fixative)


Be nice.
I think that the real question is whether it makes any difference if
the
concentration is 3.7 or 4%. The answer is that it does not. Formalin
solutions, and in fact most fixatives, have excessive amounts of
fixing
agent for the purpose of say cross linking proteins. 
The problem with formalin solutions is that if they are stored for a
long time, formaldehyde oxidizes partially to formic acid. If this is
then used in an unbuffered solution there are all sorts of problems
with
the fixation picture.
If you wish to be a purist, you can just use the vapor to fix small
specimens.
Barry

	-----Original Message-----
	From: Jackie.O'Connor@abbott.com 
[mailto:Jackie.O'Connor@abbott.com] 
	Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 8:29 AM
	To: Laurie Reilly
	Cc: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu 
	Subject: Re: Formaldehyde nomenclature (was Help with a
fixative)
	
	

	Formaldehyde is a gas - Full strength formalin, is a liquid -
37-40% formaldehyde in water. 
	10% Formalin (made from full strength formalin) used for
routine
fixation is 3.7-4% formaldehyde. 
	Why is that so hard?   
	
	
	
	
	
	Laurie Reilly  

01/07/2003 10:13 PM 


        
        To:        histonet@pathology.swmed.edu 
        cc:         
        Subject:        Formaldehyde nomenclature (was Help with a
fixative)	



	Dear Histonetters,
	The confusion surrounding the use of the words "formalin" and 
	"formaldehyde" is obvious from Charles' question and Katri's
answer.
	The undergraduate and graduate students at this University have
just as 
	much trouble and I find myself frequently having to reach for
pencil and 
	paper to give an explanation, which is hopefully, but not
always, understood.
	
	May I suggest a radical solution to the problem?
	We could take the word "formalin" out of the English language.
	
	Then the concentrate would remain as 40%Formaldehyde solution
and the 
	fixative we commonly use would be 4% Neutral Buffered
Formaldehyde. I am 
	now labelling containers with 4% Buffered Formaldehyde and 10%
formalin 
	because that terminology is so ingrained. How many generations
do you think 
	it might take to change the mindset away from "formalin"?
	
	Regards,   Laurie.
	
	
	Mr.Laurie Reilly                                             
Ph
07 4781 4468
	Physiology & Pharmacology                           Fax  07
4779
1526
	Aust.Inst.of Tropical Vet.& Animal Sc.
	James Cook University
	Townsville  Qld. 
	4811
laurie.reilly@jcu.edu.au 
	
	Australia.
	
	
	
	
	



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