Date sent:      	Wed, 28 Mar 2001 10:11:24 -0600
From:           	Sheila Poellein <sheila_poellein@deaconess.com>
Subject:        	formalin carboy storage
To:             	"'histonet'" <histoNet@pathology.swmed.edu>

> We supply a 5 gallon 10% formalin carboy to an off-campus surgicenter
> facility for their tissue specimens.  They keep this carboy in a separate
> room that is also used for frozen sections.  They insist that this carboy
> needs to be kept in a small countertop flammable cabinet.  What are other's
> protocol for formalin storage of your opened container and then also your
> bulk supply?  We have never kept our formalin in a flammable cabinet.
> thanks  Sheila

I always keep formaldehyde (37%) in a flammable cabinet as it is a 
convenient way to store (containment/spillage etc) despite its 
"potential" flammability.We mainly use prefilled specimen 
containers to avoid single large volumes of formalin. I have 
witnessed a tap coming away from one of these carboys, luckily in 
a contained fume cupboard.I would dread to think of the 
consequences of this happening in an open laboratory! 
Terry.


Terry Hacker,
Medical Research Council,
Harwell,
Didcot,
Oxfordshire, OX11 ORD
01235 834393 x360