Re: Expiration Date

From:Lee & Peggy Wenk

I'm going to respond in a slightly different track. And this is for ANYONE
with old dyes that they are thinking about throwing out.

PLEASE do NOT throw out the old dyes!!! Many were originally dyes for cloth,
but some of these dyes found a use in histology, too. Unfortunately, for
histology, when some particular shade is no longer in vogue in the fashion
world, the manufacturing of that dye is discontinued. The problem is, we in
histology may still need it. But we don't need enough of some of these dyes
every year to warrant having the dye manufacturers continuing to make some
of these dyes. (Think about it - how often DO you order Congo Red? I think
our 25 gram bottle of dye powder will still be in use for about 25 years!
(No - Congo red has not been discontinued. It's just an example.))

I know that Dick Dapson, PhD, at Anatech, Ltd. is always looking for old
dyes that are no longer being made. He analyses them, and figures out a way
to make them, so that we in histology can still have our needed supply. Or,
if someone needs an obscure dye, they have been calling Dick, and he looks
through is stash to see if he can find it.

I hope Dick doesn't mind me "talking" about him again. The Anatech phone
number is 1-800-ANATECH.

There might be other companies out there that are "rescuing" old dyes for
the same use, and would also be willing to take your old dyes. If so,
please, histology companies, let the Histonet community know.

For the editors of state histology newsletters - Dick did write a 2 part
article for the Michigan Society of Histotechnologists newsletter about the
disappearing of dyes from histology, and about his/Anatech's attempts to
"rescue" dyes. If you think this might be of interest to your state
members - contact our newsletter editor (Janet Dapson), also at
1-800-ANATECH.

(And no, I don't work for Anatech. Just work in the same state, and have
known Dick for about 2 decades (does that sound better than - for 20
years?).)

Thank you for letting me try to rescue "unwanted" dyes.

Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073


----- Original Message -----
From: "DeLovino, Salvacion S." 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2002 2:34 PM
Subject: Expiration Date


>
> Hello Histonetters:
>
> What's the usual shelf life of most chemicals and dyes when the
> expiration dates are not indicated on the container? We have a whole lot
of
> old chemicals and dyes that we don't know if they're still good or not.
Some
> date back to the 60's! Thanks in advance.
>
> Salvacion S. Delovino
>





<< Previous Message | Next Message >>