Hi Fred,

Methanol in formaldehyde is used as a preservative.  I don't believe this
would effect fixation one way or another.  They may very well be using
paraformaldehyde since it is derived from formaldehyde by evaporation.

Rande Kline
EM Science




"Monson, Frederick C."  on 06/05/2002 07:10:51 PM

To:    'John Williams' 
cc:    'List-HistoPath' 
Subject:    RE: "instant" powdered formalin


Hi John,

 I'm not faulting you, and the bags sound really good, but you don't
have NB Formalin, because there was likely no methanol included.  I know
you
will still call it that, but, nonetheless, it isn't the same.  On the other
hand, it will be most likely be exactly like what everyone calls 4%
buffered
paraformaldehyde.

 It is becoming clear why death comes to the old.  It is required to
stave off total confusion, something from which the young are apparently
protected.

Regards,

Fred Monson

Frederick C. Monson, PhD
Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging
Schmucker II Science Center
West Chester University
South Church Street and Rosedale
West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA, 19383
Phone:  610-738-0437
FAX:  610-738-0437
fmonson@wcupa.edu
CASI URL:  http://darwin.wcupa.edu/casi/
WCUPA URL:  http://www.wcupa.edu/
Visitors URL:  http://www.wcupa.edu/_visitors/


> ----------
> From:     John Williams
> Sent:     Wednesday, June 5, 2002 6:49 PM
> To:       histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject:  "instant" powdered formalin
>
> Just a quick note to see if anyone else has sampled a
> product called Powdered Formalin.  One of my techs got
> a sample from a gentlemen at BBC Biochemical.  It came
> in 2 packets (A and B) and was very easy to mix.  "Add
> Bag A to container.  Add warm water to container and
> stir thoroughly.  Let sit for 15 minutes.  Add Bag B
> to same container, mix, and let sit for 5 minutes."
> After that I had 10% neutral buffered formalin ready
> to go!  In my opinion, it was ready before the 20
> minutes was up, but figured I would follow the
> directions this time.
>
> My tech was told that the price will be about the
> same, if not less, than conventional 10% formalin.
>
> Storage is a huge factor for my lab.  With this
> product I will be able to store, in a drawer, packets
> which will make 40 gallons of formalin!
>
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