Michelle:

This is a rude and flip answer, so please don't get upset, but the solution
is a label.  It is required in our lab that anything containing chemicals,
including water, is labeled with the name of the contents.  I return
unlabelled jars to the submitter and required them to do the sniff test, not
me.  After getting a snootful of formalin, ethanol, or acetic acid, they
usually get the message.

Regards -
Carol
*****************
Carol B. McCollough, HT(ASCP)
Diagnostics & Histology Laboratory Manager
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Service
Cooperative Oxford Laboratory
904 S. Morris Street
Oxford, MD 21654


-----Original Message-----
From: Skelton, Michelle [mailto:mskelton@anthc.org]
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 1:15 PM
To: 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: formalin detection


Is there anything out there (aside from noses and eyes) to detect the
presence of formalin in a specimen container.  One of our pathologist has a
difficult time determining whether something was submitted in formalin or
saline.

Thanks in advance,
Michelle Skelton
Alaska Native Medical Center