Michelle,
I've had the same situation. This usually occurs when clinics would fill
their own specimen containers, a specimen is received from outside sites,or
formalin was not available to the clinician.  How often this occurs is
dependent on the type of service you are providing.  We had a lot sent from
outside sites.  I have received specimens with the formalin label on the
container not fixed in formalin.  Nothing is an impossibility.

If this is occuring often, my suggestion would be to start using pre-filled
containers.

Also, Schiff's can be used to  test for aldehydes in tissue processor
containers.

Rande Kline
EM Science




"Skelton, Michelle" <mskelton@anthc.org> on 09/15/99 12:55:50 PM

To:   "'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'" <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
cc:
Subject:  formalin detection




Thanks to all of you who responded to my query about formalin detection.
The PAS idea is great.  Showed it to the pathologist, he was very
impressed.
For those of you who answered to  simply label the containers, they ARE
labelled.  He just doesn't always believe that what the label says is what
is in the container!  What can ya do!? Just go along.

Michelle Skelton
Alaska Native Medical Center