We supply formalin concentrate to OR.  They come and pick up a gallon or two
at a time and mix it themselves, on-site.  This has not been an issue so
far.  They used to bring us heir empties and take a full one but there was
an awful spill when the cart wheel got caught going into the elevator.
Anyway, surgery personnel fills all containers from on-site 5 gallon carboys
that they mix themselves.

Tom Mc Nemar, HT(ASCP)
Pathology Supervisor
Licking Memorial Hospital
Newark, Ohio

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	George, Cheryl [SMTP:cgerorge@optima.org]
> Sent:	Wednesday, September 13, 2000 11:25 AM
> To:	'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
> Subject:	Formalin in the O.R.
>
> Hi out there,
>
> I could use some help.  Our laboratory is located in a hospital setting
> from
> where we service several other hospital sites.  The hospital safety
> committee is trying to remove formalin from the operating room area.
> Currently, we supply the OR with prefilled smaller containers but do not
> for
> the larger ones (such as a container for a colon, etc).  For those
> specimens, we provide an empty container and a 2.5 gallon carboy of
> formalin
> so that the staff can place the specimen in the container and then fill it
> with formalin.  I have always thought that this is safer than prefilling
> the
> large ones mainly because if someone 'plops' a large specimen in a
> prefilled
> one, it may splash.
>
> Can people please reply to me telling me how the situation is handled in
> your hospitals?  The first round of meetings about this begins Monday
> (9/18)
> and I would like to have some indication of what others are doing by then.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Cheryl George, HT (ASCP)
> Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
> NHML
> (603)663-2686
> cgerorge@optima.org