Jim,
   A technician I worked with 20 years ago tried just that. A brain that
had been embalmed then processed was more specifically and intensely
stained for ACTH as well as another antibody that I have forgotten. She
obtained embalming fluid from a local funeral home and tried fixing
brain specimens in it with poor results for IHC. 

Rena Fail


-----Original Message-----
From: Mass Histology Service [mailto:jstaruk@masshistology.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 5:40 PM
To: Featherstone Annette; histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: RE: OldBones

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