Winter is coming and temperatures are dropping! Ever opened a shipment of formalin only to find it’s partially frozen? No need to panic! Here’s what you need to know about formalin (and other reagents like Schiff’s) freezing during transit.
If formalin shows up frosty or colder than recommended, don’t worry – it just needs a little warm-up! Let it sit and acclimate to room temperature before using (but not in an oven or water bath) and shake if you see any precipitate. No chemical changes have occurred, so it’s ready to perform like a champ once thawed.
Sending empty formalin prefills to another facility and worried about them getting too cold? Add some extra insulation and ship the fastest way possible. Let the facility know to allow prefills to come back to room temperature before using if they are received a little cooler than usual.
Shipping formalin containers with tissue during chilly weather? If tissue freezes, it can cause artifacts that can make a diagnosis nearly impossible for the pathologist. Here’s how to keep samples safe and secure, no matter how low the temps drop!
- 5% or 10% Alcoholic Formalin is your winter hero and will keep your tissue samples safe! The addition of alcohol helps the solution stay resistant to freezing during transport, preventing tissue artifacts.
- Pack your shipment in a styrofoam container and add extra insulation using everyday items like towels or newspaper, or even hand warmers.
- For the fastest delivery, opt for next-day shipping to cut down on time spent in cold trucks or sitting on a chilly dock.
Schiff’s works the same way. If it is colder than it should be, give it some time to warm to room temperature before use. A pink tint? No worries, it’s still ready to work its magic. Double-check your storage instructions – some need cooler temps while others are fine at room temp.
