I remember working on an exhumation case in which an embalmed young child
was buried for 3 or 4 years and then examined for fractured bones (child
abuse).  The bones decalcified and cut quite nicely and the marrow, bone and
soft tissue was beautifully preserved!  I know this is off the original
topic but I'll always remember how well the embalming process preserved the
histology.

Perhaps someone wants to investigate the possible use of embalming fluids
for IHC?  Who knows...

Jim
____________________________
James E. Staruk, HT(ASCP)
Mass Histology/DVMLabs, Inc.
www.masshistology.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Featherstone, Annette [mailto:AFeatherstone@KaleidaHealth.Org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 10:43 AM
To: 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: OldBones


does anyone know what I can expect from processing a bone specimen that has
been in formalin for over 5 years?  Will it even be worth decaling it and
processing and staining?

Annette R. Featherstone