[NHCOLL-L:5026] Re: Labeling frozen, ethanol and nitrogen tissue tubes

Sat Oct 23 17:05:56 EDT 2010

HI Kirsten and NH Coll (look, I am actually providing a summary Greg!):

We actually do put barcode labels on our tissues now, so once they get
cataloged or after we write on them in the field, we add a barcode sticker
that can stand up to liquid nitrogen temperatures and then associate that
barcode with the cataloged specimen in our database. So this is more
permanent. We could put a number inside, and some of our researchers do, but
yes, it is very inconvenient later when you are trying to identify tubes,
plus you have to be careful and use sterile techniques when pulling the
label out. And some use an engraving pen in the field, but not all of our
researchers, plus the b
We send tubes with subsamples out on loan, these are usually in 95% ethanol
but sometimes in dry ice, and these tubes are labeled with pens, thus why we
still need the ethanol-proof pens.

I did get a number of responses last time, to folks that use pens, labels,
or etch on the vials (some of our researchers also etch the vials, in
addition to marking them in the field). Here is a summary of the responses I
received:

I haven't found anything perfect yet, but did find something much better you
might want to check out. Diversified Biotech (divbio.com) has a solvent
resistant pen, cat. No. 122 Black, which appears to be much more resistant
to ethanol exposure than the VWR pens. I poured lots of ethanol (95%) over a
labeled tube, and while the VWR pen immediately bled badly, the DB pen ink
stayed almost completely intact. One caveat: neither can take a combination
of ethanol AND rubbing, which takes the ink right off. But I think we can
realistically avoid that combination of stresses in essentially all lab and
field conditions. If the ethanol dries, the ink again becomes very resistant
to rubbing, so there is no "permanent" effect of exposure to ethanol that I
can see right now.

On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 6:17 AM, Kirsten Nicholson <norops at gmail.com> wrote:

> Good info, I'm always looking for better instruments for this sort of
> thing; thanks for sharing, Carol!
>
> I'm coming late to this conversation, but I'm wondering about two things.
> One is, why not put labels inside the tubes instead of writing on the
> outside where there is the risk of rubbing off or coming off altogether? Its
> slightly more work, but the payoff is tremendous in terms of being sure of
> which tube has what inside.
>
> The other is, I find it incredible that somebody hasn't produced a better
> system for this given that so many of us are faced with this problem of
> labeling tubes *permanently*.  I've seen ads for label makers that print
> labels out for tubes, but have not tried them, and generally these are not
> practical in the field, but might be useful once back in the lab.  Do you or
> does anyone out there have experience with these labeling machines for the
> lab?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kirsten
> --
> Kirsten E. Nicholson, Ph.D
>
> Asst. Prof. Biology
> Dept. of Biology
> 217 Brooks Hall
> Central Michigan Univ.
> Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
> 989-774-3758
>
> and
>
> Curator of Natural History
> Museum of Cultural and Natural History
> 103 Rowe Hall
> Central Michigan University
> Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
> 989-774-3829
>
> On Fri, Oct 22, 2010 at 6:24 PM, Carol Spencer <atrox10 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi NH-Coll:
>>
>> Awhile ago I requested information from researchers about pens/markers to
>> be used for writing on cryotubes for ethanol, frozen, or liquid nitrogen
>> usage. Since that time we at MVZ have gone through a couple of marker types
>> and seem to have found one that works well in all types of fluid.
>>
>> This is the VWR Histology Chemical-Resistant Marker, see information
>> below.
>>
>> Previously VWR had changed their formula and their markers were not
>> working, so we switched to the Moist-Mark Cancer Diagnostics Pen (
>> http://www.labsafety.com/Moist-Mark-Plus-Pen_s_141667/Label-Accessories_24541186/).
>> This Moist-mark pen is very good with frozen or nitrogen tubes, BUT it will
>> run when used with ethanol or other chemicals, especially when used on tubes
>> that are very smooth and do not have a white area for writing. Since we keep
>> our tubes in -80C, switching to liquid nitrogen, and we also use them when
>> sending loans of tissue in 95% ethanol, we needed to mark with ink that will
>> not come off in all situations.
>>
>> When using the VWR marker, you should still allow the writing to dry
>> completely (several minutes) before put any ethanol or other liquid into the
>> tube.  If you rub the writing a lot, it will fade a bit, but overall this
>> pen seems to work the most consistently.
>> Thanks,
>> Carol
>>
>> VWR® Chemical-Resistant Marker *Supplier:* VWR International
>>     * *  [image: VWR® Chemical-Resistant Marker]<https://www.vwrsp.com/catjpg/081/081631.jpg>
>>
>> Precision ultrafine tip permanently marks slides and cassettes. Ink is
>> waterproof, smearproof, odorless, and resistant to most chemicals, including
>> alcohol, formalin, and xylene. Color: black.
>>   * *
>>   [image: View Shopping Basket]<https://www.vwrsp.com/myvwr/sb/index.cgi>
>> *Description*   *VWR Catalog#*   *Unit*   *Price*   *Quantity*    VWRHISTOLOGY
>> MARKER PK12   95042-566   Pack of 12   $55.70        Please verify that
>> you have logged in. This item is restricted for purchase to customers with
>> an established account and the proper documentation on file. If you are
>> logged in and believe you should have access to this item, please contact us
>> for additional help at 1-888-320-4357.    [image: View Shopping Basket]<https://www.vwrsp.com/myvwr/sb/index.cgi>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Carol L. Spencer, Ph.D.
>> Staff Curator of Herpetology & Researcher
>> Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
>> 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building
>> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA 94720-3160
>> atrox10 at gmail.com
>> atrox at berkeley.edu
>> TEL: 510-643-5778 /FAX: 510-643-8238
>>
>> http://www.herpnet.org
>> http://mvz.berkeley.edu/
>> http://www.vertnet.org
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>

-- 
Carol L. Spencer, Ph.D.
Staff Curator of Herpetology & Researcher
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
3101 Valley Life Sciences Building
University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA 94720-3160
atrox10 at gmail.com
atrox at berkeley.edu
TEL: 510-643-5778 /FAX: 510-643-8238

http://www.herpnet.org
http://mvz.berkeley.edu/
http://www.vertnet.org
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