Hi Greg,

Formalin substitutes are of good enough quality for us to use in research
(we are just starting to use Prefer)
and many hospital labs are using them now.  I would think the whole world
would be eager to get rid of formalin...it makes me feel like I am coming
down with the plague.  I suggest you look into these, ask the Netters
which they like best and make formalin a non-problem.  

Where are you in Nebr.  I am an Ogallalan/N. Platter myself.  Go Big Red!
Trisha Emry
U of WA, Seattle


On Thu, 11 Mar 1999, greg tesdall wrote:

> Hi folks.   Background:  Here in central Nebraska we have numerous 
> satellite clinics in small surrounding communities that are affiliated
> with our Hospital.  Each clinic keeps two 15ml. prefilled containers
> of 10% formalin in a drawer for that occasional specimen that is sent
> to our Lab.  This happens maybe once a month and the clinics are open
> about 3 days a week.  Our Hospital Safety Officer, while visiting
> these clinics informed the staff that they would need respirators and
> spill kits because they have formaldehyde on site.  The staff thinks
> this is ridicules since 3 or 4 people assist there and would need
> fitting at a significant cost. After all, as they tell me,  about once
> a month they are just twisting off the lid of this 15ml.  container,
> dropping in the bx.  replacing the lid and sending it off  to the Lab.  
> Question:  What is the rule.  What can they do and what guidelines in
> writing can they produce that will cover them concerning this usage of
> formalin without going to extremes so lacking in common sense.  They
> do have copied MSDS sheets.  Thanks.
> 
> 
> 
> 
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