[Histonet] Expiration date checks

[Rande Kline]

Patty,

Chemicals really don't last forever.  Changes take place everytime you open
the bottle and some just from age even unopened.  Salts used in buffers are
hygroscopic.  They may appear to look okay but they may not be for your
application.  How long you can use a chemical is dependent on it's
application.  I think everyone has experienced a solution not working even
though you have followed the correct procedure and a repeat has the same
outcome.

I have wrote a couple of articles a few years back that appeared in
Laboratory Medicine Q&A and Microscopy Today on expiration dating of
chemicals.  The article in Microscopy Today is a little more indepth. I
would not mind faxing you a copy.  You may want to dig into   more than the
dot system.  I would also suggest disposing chemicals that you may not know
the actual age of, if they exist.


On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 8:48 AM, Weber, Susan (VHACLE)
<Susan.Weber2 <@t> va.gov>wrote:

> Color coding with sticker "dots" helps a bit. I designate a color for
> each year (5 yrs/5 colors max) On the top of that years color I put a
> date (usually 6/08 whatever) and make them easier to spot. (Pardon the
> pun!)You can find color dots in the office supply catalog, Office Max
> (or similar) or the craft stores. Happy Holidays To All!
>
> Sue Weber
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Patti
> Loykasek
> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 6:49 PM
> To: histonet
> Subject: [Histonet] Expiration date checks
>
>  Hi all. I am hoping for some clever ideas on the best method to check
> for
> expired reagents. We all know that we shouldn't use them, I'm sure we
> all
> actively monitor this (right)! I must admit we occasionally have expired
> reagents - a stain or buffer we haven't used in a while is in a cupboard
> or
> fridge & it has expired. What do others do to monitor & prevent this
> from
> happening? We have a weekly safety check that spot checks a certain # of
> reagents for expiration, but we probably have thousands of reagents &
> don't
> check every single bottle every week. Thanks for the input.
>
> Patti Loykasek
>
>
>
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-- 
Rande Kline, HT (ASCP)
Histopathology Lab Concepts
P-609-744-0803
F-609-939-0270
randek <@t> histopathconcepts.com