AW: [Histonet] Bone samples long-term storage in 10% formalin or 4% paraformaldehyde

[Gudrun Lang]

Paraformaldehyd is formaldehyd in solid form. Formalin is the aequous
solution of formaldehyd. 
So the main characteristics are the same.

Gudrun Lang

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] Im Auftrag von Orla M
Gallagher
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 05. Dezember 2013 19:31
An: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Betreff: [Histonet] Bone samples long-term storage in 10% formalin or 4%
paraformaldehyde

Dear Histonetters,

What is your opinion on storing bone samples long-term (more than a couple
of weeks) in 10% formalin? As I was taught, best practice has always been to
fix only as long as necessary, depending on the size of the sample, then
decalcify and process to wax, and I always stress this to everyone I advise.

However, research colleagues sometimes wish to do histology on bone samples
that have been stored for months ..or even years! As the formalin pH becomes
more acidic, there is formalin pigment and the immunoreactivity and TRAP
enzyme activity is diminished or destroyed during long fixation, is there
any way of minimising this e.g. has anyone tried regularly replacing the old
formalin with fresh buffered formalin, or storing formalin-fixed bones in
any other medium? I'm also interested in how best to fix in 4%
paraformaldehyde and whether the problems are the same with long-term
storage.

Thanks for your comments.

All the best,
Orla

--
**************************
Ms. Orla Gallagher
Bone Analysis Laboratory
Mellanby Centre for Bone Research
Department of Human Metabolism
D Floor Medical School
University of Sheffield
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
UK

Website: http://mellanbycentre.dept.shef.ac.uk

Tel:         0044114-2713337 (office)
              0044114-2713174 (lab)
E-Mail:    o.m.gallagher <@t> sheffield.ac.uk


*STOP*: Do you really need to print this e-mail?

*BE GREEN:* Keep it on the screen.


*Times Higher Education University of the Year*



Data protection and confidentiality:
The information contained in this message or any appended documents may be
privileged and confidential and is intended for the exclusive use of the
addressee(s). If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, reproduction,
distributions, other dissemination or use of this message is strictly
prohibited and may be unlawful. If you receive this correspondence in error
please contact the sender immediately and permanently delete/destroy what
you have received.
_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet