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United States Government Work, uncopyrighted, public-domain,
DRAFT COPY ONLY. This document does not necessarily represent the views
or policies of any United States Government agency.
This document is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind,
express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties
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or in connection with the document or the use or other dealings
made with the document.
See also: Main objectives: 1.
Mercury removal: 21.
PRINCIPLE OF THE TEST.
Treatment of specimens received in a mercury-containing
fixative that were prepared off-site.
SPECIMEN REQUIRED.
All human tissue excised at surgery, outpatient clinics,
and postmortems, fresh or in fixative, along with a filled-out
Tissue Examination Form
(U. S. Standard Form 515, USSF515).
REAGENTS, INSTRUMENTATION.
13% Thioacetamide. Fluted filter paper.
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION.
1. Mercury-containing fixatives are not recommended
by the Department of Pathology, and are not distributed or prepared
by the Department of Pathology. Occasionally, a specimen comes
in a mercury-containing fixative that was prepared off-site.
In this case, the following protocol is used to recover mercury.
2. To each liter of B5 or Zenker's waste, add 20ml of a 13% solution
of thioacetamide. Mix thoroughly and allow to stand in hood.
3. Filter with fluted filter paper in hood.
4. Discard the clear filtrate in the sink
with copious amounts of water.
5. The residue containing mercuric salt can be stored
in a glass jar indefinitely.
REFERENCE.
1. Prophet EB, Mills B, Arrington JB, Sobin LH.
Laboratory Methods in Histotechnology, pp. 25-28.
1992: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC. 20306-6000.
ISBN: 1-881041-00-X 1992.