[Nhcoll-l] Test for formalin

Thu Aug 31 12:14:00 EDT 2017

My bit now!

The formaldehyde test strips are a lovely idea but they seem to have a short shelf life (?) and (in the UK) they’re expensive, not very encouraging.  I have always used either Schiff or Feulgen solutions as these will indicate the presence of formaldehyde.  Knowing whether it’s residual formaldehyde from fixation as opposed to 5% or 10% formalin is tricker and requires experience seeing how long the reaction takes to show a positive (magenta) dye lake and how intense the dye is.
I have tried making my own strips using filter paper dunked in Schiff (no good as they stain magenta anyway!) versus Feulgen - these do work but will only last about 6 months before they end up a dull purple and won’t work any more, even if stored in a brown glass and airtight bottle.
Useful for detection but rather iffy for gauging ppm! 

With all good wishes, Simon.

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,
www.natural-history-conservation.com 

> On 31 Aug 2017, at 15:06, Dirk Neumann <dirk.neumann at zsm.mwn.de> wrote:
> 
> Interesting idea, John!
> 
> Combining the test strips (presence or absence or formaldehyde) with a table of calibrated readings of the different densities of e.g. full strength, 10 % and 4% formalin solution compared to normal alcohol readings of traditional alcohol- or hydrometre should probably offer a reasonable proxy!
> 
> All the best
> Dirk 
> 
> 
> Am 31.08.2017 um 15:47 schrieb John E Simmons:
>> I agree with Andy and Steve, Rob Waller's test strips work very well. 
>> 
>> There are commercial formaldehyde test strips available, but they are designed to detect very minute traces of formaldehyde and thus are likely to be triggered by trace amounts of formaldehyde remaining from fixation in specimens stored in alcohol (I know, I have tried this in the lab). In order to test for "10% formalin" (eliminating the positive for trace amounts of formaldehyde) you have to dilute the solution to be tested substantially and do the math. Its really not worth it.
>> 
>> I have not tried Sadie's hack before but that is a very clever idea--the drawback, of course, is that you are not testing for the presence of formaldehyde with it, just the presence of alcohol. If the alcohol concentration is too low, the Sharpie ink would not run but it would not indicate formaldehyde.
>> 
>> Another hack you can use (which has the same limitation as Sadie's idea) is check the concentration of the fluid. A "10% formalin" solution is about 96% water; a 70% alcohol solution is 30% water.
>> 
>> --John
>> 
>> 
>> John E. Simmons
>> Museologica
>> 128 E. Burnside Street
>> Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010
>> simmons.johne at gmail.com <mailto:simmons.johne at gmail.com>
>> 303-681-5708
>> www.museologica.com <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.museologica.com&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=PWsL2qNgBwvzjmQHQSwAFKh1bpJDSxI6Ws64D4nRQOo&s=1E-I9Od-Mm1cinVzUOuNiZyBkinlBtY6OFHxGoHfQ7Y&e=>
>> and
>> Adjunct Curator of Collections
>> Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery
>> Penn State University
>> University Park, Pennsylvania
>> and
>> Instructor, Museum Studies
>> School of Library and Information Science
>> Kent State University
>> 
>> On Wed, Aug 30, 2017 at 7:43 PM, Steve Halford <halford at sfu.ca <mailto:halford at sfu.ca>> wrote:
>> I routinely made up and used Rob's test strips and supplied them to OHS too.  They worked well except for a rather short shelf life.  I believe they were commercially available at one time -- possibly through University Products?
>> Steve.
>> 
>> Steve Halford (halford at sfu.ca <mailto:halford at sfu.ca>)
>> Museum Technician (Retired)            
>> Department of Biological Sciences
>> Simon Fraser University
>> 
>> 
>> On Wed, Aug 30, 2017 at 1:23 PM, Sadie Mills <Sadie.Mills at niwa.co.nz <mailto:Sadie.Mills at niwa.co.nz>> wrote:
>> Hi Erling and NHColl list,
>> 
>>  
>> A very simple hack for this that we have been using in the NIWA Invertebrate Collection is to cut up some scrap Resistall label paper strips and put a simple stripe of sharpie permanent marker on it. Dip the strip into the solution, and if it runs you’ve got alcohol, if it doesn’t run you’ve got formalin.
>> 
>>  
>> Simple, but very cheap and effective!
>> 
>>  
>> Cheers,
>> 
>> Sadie
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Sadie Mills
>> Marine Biology Technician
>> Collections Manager
>> +64-4-386-0464 <tel:+64%204-386%200464> | 301 Evans Bay Parade, Greta Point, Wellington | www.niwa.co.nz <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.niwa.co.nz&d=DwMGaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=UdU560RgcSyRskQwp78CQedm9r-7FD-BKKtN5dJSPFc&s=Pu6wCi6FALUdBWisihi40D9_wEgbdcNoAdl-ELIelPI&e=>
>> <imaged90804.JPG> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.niwa.co.nz&d=DwMGaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=UdU560RgcSyRskQwp78CQedm9r-7FD-BKKtN5dJSPFc&s=Pu6wCi6FALUdBWisihi40D9_wEgbdcNoAdl-ELIelPI&e=>
>> To ensure compliance with legal requirements and to maintain cyber security standards, NIWA's IT systems are subject to ongoing monitoring, activity logging and auditing. This monitoring and auditing service may be provided by third parties. Such third parties can access information transmitted to, processed by and stored on NIWA's IT systems.
>> From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>] On Behalf Of Erling Holm
>> Sent: Thursday, 31 August 2017 7:51 AM
>> To: NHCOLL <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>>
>> Cc: Mary Burridge <maryb at rom.on.ca <mailto:maryb at rom.on.ca>>; Sarah Steele <sarah.steele at mail.utoronto.ca <mailto:sarah.steele at mail.utoronto.ca>>; Brenna Wells <brennaw at rom.on.ca <mailto:brennaw at rom.on.ca>>
>> Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Test for formalin
>> 
>>  
>> Is there a quick test to determine if a fluid is formalin vs. ethanol other than the "sniff" test? Are the QUANTOFIX® Formaldehyde strips, which test for formalin up to 200 ppm, useful for determining solutions of 5-10%  formalin?
>> 
>>  
>> Erling Holm
>> 
>> Department of Natural History (Ichthyology)
>> 
>> Royal Ontario Museum
>> 
>> 100 Queens Park
>> 
>> Toronto, ON
>> 
>> M5S 2C6
>> 
>> Landlines: 416-586-5760 <tel:%28416%29%20586-5760> or 905-826-3215 <tel:%28905%29%20826-3215>
>> Mobile: 416-219-4152 <tel:%28416%29%20219-4152>
>> Email: erlingh at rom.on.ca <mailto:erlingh at rom.on.ca>
>>  
>>  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.rom.on.ca_blue-2Dwhale&d=DwMFAw&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=XyO387sagd4lkpOTfQRGakTPYcSuS9mlrRRre4TlWgg&s=6JEhXlaqeyKT58Kd7uP6JIwQI3DeMBxxmvTz-Vzaufg&e=>
>> The ROM gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Ontario Government for this Ontario150 initiative.
>> 
>> Le ROM tient à remercier le gouvernement de l’Ontario du soutien financier qu’il apporte à cette initiative du Musée à l’occasion d’Ontario150.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nhcoll-l mailing list
>> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
>> http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l <http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l>
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
>> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
>> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
>> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
>> society. See https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org&d=DwIFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=kVclpPJezP8SVRBtwhJxPWecy_jGBneug_gF2KUr37s&s=8jQP-pR6007Vizvw27MuKUECAeMkdcqz8qR1m-TNFD4&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=lzAtzBGClqPvQgjyHN2X-BGveqkKSSbiCExx5tf-Lwk&s=hZPbaHOx1Ba-HyLrIAdGYPN46gUs7rtvdpLj3yibRnI&e=> for membership information.
>> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nhcoll-l mailing list
>> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
>> http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l <http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l>
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
>> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
>> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
>> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
>> society. See https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org&d=DwIFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=kVclpPJezP8SVRBtwhJxPWecy_jGBneug_gF2KUr37s&s=8jQP-pR6007Vizvw27MuKUECAeMkdcqz8qR1m-TNFD4&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=PWsL2qNgBwvzjmQHQSwAFKh1bpJDSxI6Ws64D4nRQOo&s=yxmwcLJ3kfF_6CVZ5k0E-fFJViTZSaGc_rnppEG390U&e=> for membership information.
>> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nhcoll-l mailing list
>> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
>> http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l <http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l>
>> 
>> _______________________________________________ 
>> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
>> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
>> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
>> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
>> society. See https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org&d=DwIFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=kVclpPJezP8SVRBtwhJxPWecy_jGBneug_gF2KUr37s&s=8jQP-pR6007Vizvw27MuKUECAeMkdcqz8qR1m-TNFD4&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org&d=DwMDaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=RNT6FHqTwnK-0OVfzxHh4C-hBHmKuzCmCLyKvRCEF4U&s=LkJutOuPOyBHyhIzQ1UYjyPYII1y3_0HugKZte7EW3E&e=> for membership information.
>> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
> 
> -- 
> Dirk Neumann
> 
> Tel: 089 / 8107-111
> Fax: 089 / 8107-300
> email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
> 
> Postanschrift:
> 
> Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
> Zoologische Staatssammlung München
> Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Storage
> Münchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 München
> 
> Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.zsm.mwn.de_ich_&d=DwIFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=kVclpPJezP8SVRBtwhJxPWecy_jGBneug_gF2KUr37s&s=x5HVQGI74Wdg1w-QI90tfZZ3NFOnQlWqGpXpyWaiRqg&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.zsm.mwn.de_ich_&d=DwMDaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=RNT6FHqTwnK-0OVfzxHh4C-hBHmKuzCmCLyKvRCEF4U&s=IDm0rZBUO_HqWNw8rytTSi6GFTzq_y26JYT5vlmOzpM&e=>
> 
> ---------
> 
> Dirk Neumann
> 
> Tel: +49-89-8107-111
> Fax: +49-89-8107-300
> email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
> 
> postal address:
> 
> Bavarian Natural History Collections
> The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
> Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Storage
> Muenchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 Munich (Germany)
> 
> Visit our section at:
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.zsm.mwn.de_ich_&d=DwIFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=kVclpPJezP8SVRBtwhJxPWecy_jGBneug_gF2KUr37s&s=x5HVQGI74Wdg1w-QI90tfZZ3NFOnQlWqGpXpyWaiRqg&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.zsm.mwn.de_ich_&d=DwMDaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=RNT6FHqTwnK-0OVfzxHh4C-hBHmKuzCmCLyKvRCEF4U&s=IDm0rZBUO_HqWNw8rytTSi6GFTzq_y26JYT5vlmOzpM&e=>
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nhcoll-l mailing list
> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
> 
> _______________________________________________ 
> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
> society. See https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org&d=DwIFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=kVclpPJezP8SVRBtwhJxPWecy_jGBneug_gF2KUr37s&s=8jQP-pR6007Vizvw27MuKUECAeMkdcqz8qR1m-TNFD4&e=  for membership information.
> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20170831/8746119b/attachment.html 