[NHCOLL-L:4608] Formalin test strips

[Andrew Hope]

Hi,
I'm new to the list-serv so apologies if this has been 
approached before/recently:

I'm interested in testing tissue sub-samples (mammal 
muscle/organs/skin; fluid preserved) for formalin fixation 
and was wondering if anyone can suggest a reliable and 
cost-effective source that they have had good success 
with.  Specifically, I wish to test for historic formalin 
fixation that precluded archiving of specimens in ethanol, 
potentially many years ago. The test therefore needs to be 
fairly sensitive to residual formalin.  I realize that 
there has been a protocol developed by Waller and 
McAllister (Proceedings of the 1985 Workshop on Care and 
Maintenance of Natural History Collections:93-99) but this 
was purported to only be sensitive enough for all-formalin 
OR all-ethanol.  I've checked VWR and Fisher and both 
quote formalin test strips at roughly $70 per 100 strips.

Any other suggestions and/or advice about the 
effectiveness of VWR/Fisher tests would be much 
appreciated.

Thanks!
Andrew Hope

PhD Candidate
Division of Mammals
Museum of Southwestern Biology
Department of Biology
MSC03 2020
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131.