Fixative Safety

Regular size specimen containers (15 ml or 20 ml) are filled with 10% neutral buffered formalin. Large specimen containers (60 ml) are filled with 10% Formalin with added alcohols which result in improved fixation of large and/or fatty specimens. Both formalin and alcohols are potentially dangerous substances.

OSHA regulations require that any laboratory which supplies you with formalin-containing fixatives also provide you with information about the possible health effects of these fixatives and how to deal with spills and exposure. We include relevant MSDS sheets in our "Getting Started Packet". Please contact us for additional copies. If you follow our recommended packing and shipping instructions, significant formalin exposure should not occur.