[Histonet] Re: Banana smelling chemical in our formalin

[Patrick Laurie]

> Histonet,
>
> We get a number of our specimens from outreach clients.  We received back
> from one of our sites a jug of "Formalin" to be recycled.  However when it
> was opened up it had a strong odor of bananas.  I know we shouldn't smell
> the chemicals, but luckily this was caught before it was put through our
> recycler.  I was wondering if anyone might have an idea what this could be?
> Is there a manufacturer that adds an odor (like bananas) to their formalin?
> Is it a strange solvent?  The idea of it being amyl acetate has been bounced
> around, but I cannot see a histologic use for such a chemical.
>
> Thanks for your input.
>
> --
> Patrick Laurie HT(ASCP)QIHC
> CellNetix Pathology & Laboratories
> 1124 Columbia Street, Suite 200
> Seattle, WA 98104
> plaurie <@t> cellnetix.com
>