[Nhcoll-l] How to transfer specimens out of an unknown preservative?

[Luis Ceríaco]

Hi Nicole,
Check our recent paper. It seems to be a similar situation
https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=64607&journal_name=zookeys
Best!
Luis

A sexta, 20/08/2021, 21:37, Bentley, Andrew Charles <abentley at ku.edu>
escreveu:

> Nicole
>
>
>
> I would not rinse in water of any kind as this may pose a risk of osmotic
> changes in the specimens.  I would presume they are in some kind of alcohol
> unless a formalin test strip proves otherwise and would transfer into new
> preservative as is without any washing.
>
>
>
> Andy
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of *Nicole
> Seiden
> *Sent:* Friday, August 20, 2021 3:25 PM
> *To:* NHCOLL-new <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
> *Subject:* [Nhcoll-l] How to transfer specimens out of an unknown
> preservative?
>
>
>
> Hello and happy Friday!
>
> I was recently hired as a collections manager with the initial tasks of
> digitizing and re-opening the collections. The collections have been
> “ignored” for some time now and both the specimens and the database have
> numerous discrepancies that I’ve been addressing. Currently, I’m working
> with our wet-preserved specimens and want to ask the community for some
> advice.
>
> A large portion of our specimens (> 4,000) are preserved in an unknown
> fluid (listed as N/A), and many of which require topping up or rehousing to
> larger jars. Our most common preservative is ethanol, and it’s very likely
> that most are in ethanol or isopropyl, though I have had the unpleasant
> misfortune of opening a few preserved in formalin.
>
> Previous discussions indicated there is not a method to determine the
> fluid type, but is there a way to transfer the specimens into a known
> preservative? My initial thought is to rinse (or soak?) them in DI water
> and then transfer into ethanol. Does this pose any risk to the specimens
> (i.e., lead to damage)? Are there any precautions I should follow?
>
>
>
> Many thanks in advanced,
>
> Nicki
>
>
>
> *Nicki L. Seiden, M.Sc.*
>
> She/Her/Hers
>
> *Research Collection Manager*
>
> Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
>
> nseiden at fau.edu <hmcqueen at fau.edu>
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