Re: [Histonet] formalin substitutes. HELP
Nieves: NO formalin substitute will work in the same way as formalin and the solution is not to start testing other "substitutes" that will make your life miserable and your sections and staining procedures of sub-standard quality. The solution is: 1- to use LESS amounts of formalin (a 5:1 volume is more than enough); 2- have a well ventilated area; 3- do NOT prepare your own buffered formalin; buy pre-filled sample bottles; and 4- never handle formalin more than absolutely necessary. Under separate cover I am sending you 2 articles I wrote on this subject René J. From: Nieves Gomez To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Sent: Friday, November 9, 2012 8:55 AM Subject: [Histonet] formalin substitutes. HELP Dear Histonetters, I'm new in the net. I work as Pathologist in a Vet Lab in Spain. Because formalin is toxic our Lab is for the practice of using alternative fixatives. I think the main viable alternative is glyoxal based formulas, but I have so many questions that Commercials don't know or don't want to answer me. For example, have a MSDS or is it accessible? Really is less hazardous than formalin or just is not checked? (the advantages and desadvantages of formalin are known for at least 100 years). Related to this, I think the glyoxal is suggested as a formalin substitute in an article in 1940's and now it is sold as a "new product" and most of the products are sold as "green", "no-toxic" or "non harmful". In my opinion, a fixative can not be "non-toxic" if you want it fixed tissues. Another question is the time needed to fix tissues or the ratio volume specimen/fixative. To the first point, I have read an article that mentions there is mould growth in specimens over time. Are we changing a "chemical risk" to a "biological risk"? In my lab we have a specifically workstation for the gross examination and sectioning of specimens, and we wear all the Personal Protective Equipment needed (formalin chemical filters, gloves, googles...) that minimizes the risk (the chemical risk not the biological risk). It is believed that formalin given time will kill any microorganisms (or spores) present in tissues, mycobacteria also.. what about these new products? Are they germicidal? I do not get to appreciate the morfological changes (nuclear changes, lysis of erithrocites, eosinophilia...) because they are well documented. My aim is to know if there is any Lab that works with any formalin substitute routinely to aks these questions. Please, help me. Thanks and have a nice weekend Nieves Gomez Veterinary Pathologist Animal Health Department NEIKER-Tecnalia Berreaga, 1. 48160 Derio. Bizkaia. Spain. ngo...@neiker.net ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] Formalin substitutes, anyone?
Hi Michael No we do not use formalin substitutes Regards Tony Henwood JP, MSc, BAppSc, GradDipSysAnalys, CT(ASC) Laboratory Manager & Senior Scientist Tel: 612 9845 3306 Fax: 612 9845 3318 the children's hospital at westmead Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, Westmead Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145, AUSTRALIA I am curious!! In a Histonet message last week, Tony Henwood mentioned the formalin substitutes "UMfix", "Kryofix" (now called Neo-fix I think) and "Spuitfix". 1) How many surgical pathology labs use formalin substitutes for routine work? 2) Which ones do they use? (which is the most popular?) 3) Do they use formalin substitutes just for initial fixation, or on their tissue processors as well? I would be interested in hearing. Yes, I know, curiosity killed the cat!! Thank you to anyone who replies. Histotechnology is endlessly fascinating. Michael Titford Pathology USA Mobile AL USA = ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet * This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify the sender. Views expressed in this message and any attachments are those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of The Children's Hospital at Westmead This note also confirms that this email message has been virus scanned and although no computer viruses were detected, The Childrens Hospital at Westmead accepts no liability for any consequential damage resulting from email containing computer viruses. * ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] Formalin substitutes
The following info might be useful: It is believed that formalin given time will kill any microorganisms that are present in tissue and that formalin will inactivate tuberculosis. Vardaxis et al (J Clin Pathol 1997;50:429-433) were quite rightly concerned with the disinfection of bacterial endospores. Endospores can survive the most adverse chemical and physical environments and can cause such diseases as tetanus, anthrax, gas gangrene and botulism. They used autoclave spore containing test strips and fixed them in various fixatives such as 10% neutral buffered formalin, ethanol in various concentrations (70% & 50%) and two commercial non-formalin fixatives (Kryofix & Spuitfix). Fixation times varied from 24 hours to 14 days. They found that 10% formalin killed all microbes within 24 hours, where as only one non-formalin fixative (Spuitfix) killed the spores and this was only after 7 days fixation. Microwave fixation also did not kill the spores. These workers did note that spore strips do not behave like tissue and that tissue may have a protective effect on pathogens. Cleary et al (J Clin Pathol 2005;58:22-25) studied the antimicrobial effects of UMFix, an alcohol based tissue fixative, on various microorganisms. The UMFix solution was compared with 10% neutral buffered formalin. After a short exposure, UMFix rapidly killed vegetative bacteria, yeasts, moulds, and viruses. Bacterial spores were resistant to killing by UMFix. All organisms were killed by the 10% neutral buffered formalin preparation. They concluded that UMFix was microbicidal for vegetative bacteria, yeasts, and aspergillus species after a short exposure, although it was not active against spore forming bacillus species. The methanol content of the fixative was responsible for the killing effect of this fixative. No killing was seen when polyethylene glycol was used alone. Kappel et al (HUM PATHOL 27:1361--1364, 1996) attempted to grow TB from formalin fixed lung tissue that had previously been shown to be positive by sputum culture. They were unable to culture TB from these tissues. Gerston et al (HUM PATHOL 35:571-575.2004) in South Africa analysed 138 formalin fixed lungs with histological evidence of AFB and were able to culture TB from 12 of these cases (one of these cases had been fixed for 80 days before being tested). Gerston et al suggest that there is a risk of contracting tuberculosis from tissue that has been fixed in formalin, if aerosols or accidental inoculation should occur. Trimming and sectioning wax blocks are of concern but no studies have been done yet. Of concern to histotechnolgists are: 1. Tissue with Inflammation-induced Encapsulation may protect bugs from formalin. 2. Formalin dilutes as it penetrates tissue. 3. Formalin substitutes may not be germicidal. Regards Tony Henwood JP, MSc, BAppSc, GradDipSysAnalys, CT(ASC) Laboratory Manager & Senior Scientist Tel: 612 9845 3306 Fax: 612 9845 3318 the children's hospital at westmead Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, Westmead Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145, AUSTRALIA -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Weaver, Colin Sent: Saturday, 24 July 2010 2:15 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Formalin substitutes Hi everyone - does anyone know how effective these formalin substitutes are at killing microorgansms9esp HG3) in the tissue fixed? I know that Finefix states that because of the alcohol content being over 70% that it is effective against many micro-organisms but info seems scarce on the others Thanks and have a nice weekend Colin Weaver Histology lab manager VLA Thirsk North Yorkshire UK Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA)This email and any attachments is intended for the namedrecipient only.If you have received it in error you have no authority to use,disclose, store or copy any of its contents and you should destroyit and inform the sender. Whilst this email and associated attachments will have beenchecked for known viruses whilst within VLA systems we canaccept no responsibility once it has left our systems.Communications on VLA's computer systems may be monitoredand/or recorded to secure the effective operation of the systemand for other lawful purposes. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet * This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify the sender. Views expressed in this message and any attachments are those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of The Children's Hospital at
