isopentane aka 2 methyl butane storage RE: [Histonet] freezing of specimens in surgery center

[NIDAL E MUVARAK]

We have stored isopentane at RT under the fume hood for an entire year. 
Then when the department got an explosion-proof frig, that's where I 
started storing it. As for freezing, I personally found that freezing 
on the petri dish without isopentane is not as good... blocks tended to 
crack if frozen too quickly without isopentane, but it may work for 
others.

Nidal E Muvarak
Associate Research Specialist
Vascular Tissue Biomechanics Laboratory
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1550 Engineering Dr.; Rm. 2158
Madison, WI 53706-1609

----- Original Message -----
From: Gayle Callis <gcallis <@t> montana.edu>
Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 1:22 pm
Subject: isopentane aka 2 methyl butane storage RE: [Histonet] freezing
	of specimens in surgery center

> Dear Jean,
> 
> Not an ignorant question, and that is exactly what we do, RT 
> storage 
> isopentane and hexane.  The room is well ventilated, and the 1 
> liter bottle 
> size is all we have around at any one time is placed inside a 
> plastic 
> container to cushion the bottle from bumping into another bottle 
> or hard 
> surface.
> 
> No one here is about to invest in an explosion proof freezer, 
> refrigerator, 
> or expensive freezing devices (although that would be nice!) and 
> storage in 
> a regular freezer/refrigerator is out of the question.   Amazing, 
> and with 
> pure blind luck, I stored isopentane for years in a regular 
> refrigerator/freezer without blowing up the lab.  I would not take 
> that 
> chance now.
> 
> What we are trying to do is eliminate isopentane completely as a 
> snap 
> freezing method and going to a petri dish floating in Liquid 
> nitrogen (with 
> dish supported by a metal block or rack).  Ventilation is still 
> important, 
> snap freezing is excellent, without freezing artifact and we can 
> do many 
> blocks at a dissection session.  This is a cheap, easy setup as 
> long as one 
> has liquid nitrogen in the lab - we always have it around - 
> fortunately.
> 
> At 08:34 AM 5/25/2005, you wrote:
> >"Storage: Keep away from sources of ignition. Keep container 
> closed when
> >not in use. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from
> >incompatible substances. Refrigeration has been recommended."
> >
> >The above is directly from a well known company's current MSDS on
> >storage of isopentane.  And I know sorting through MSDS's 
> attempting to
> >get a straight answer on on chemical health issues, shelf life, 
> storage>can be extremely frustrating.
> >
> >It may be an ignorant question to ask but; Is it not possibly 
> safer to
> >store isopentane (2-Methylbutane) at room temperature vs 
> refrigeration?>
> >Jean Mitchell, BS, HT (ASCP)
> >University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics
> >Neuromuscular Laboratory
> >Madison, WI
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> >[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of
> >Elizabeth Chlipala
> >Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 11:59 AM
> >To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> >Subject: [Histonet] freezing of specimens in surgery center
> >
> >Hello Histonetters
> >
> >I have a unique question.  We are currently starting to set up 
> procedure>for collecting samples from a clinical trial.  The 
> clinical trial
> >involves taking multiple synovial biopsies at a surgery center.  
> Since>portions of the samples need to be processed for frozen 
> sections we
> >wanted to be able to freeze the specimens at the surgery center via
> >isopentane cooled liquid nitrogen.  We really do not want to have to
> >transport the multiple specimens back to the main lab prior to 
> freezing>due to the time involved it would probably be 1-2 hours 
> post biopsy
> >before we could freeze the samples.  The surgery center is 
> questioning>the flammability of the isopentane.  Has anyone 
> encountered anything
> >like this?  Any suggestions would be helpful.  Thanks in advance.
> >
> >Liz
> >
> >Elizabeth A. Chlipala, BS, HTL(ASCP)QIHC Manager Premier 
> Laboratory, LLC
> >P.O. Box 18592 Boulder, Colorado 80308
> >Office: (303) 735-5001
> >Fax: (303) 735-3540
> >liz <@t> premierlab.com
> >www.premierlab.com
> >
> >Ship to Address:
> >Premier Laboratory
> >University of Colorado
> >MCDB, Room A3B40
> >Boulder, Colorado 80309
> >
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> 
> Gayle Callis
> MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
> Research Histopathology Supervisor
> Veterinary Molecular Biology
> Montana State University - Bozeman
> PO Box 173610
> Bozeman MT 59717-3610
> 406 994-6367 (lab with voice mail)
> 406 994-4303 (FAX)
> 
> 
> 
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