Products

Decalcifying Solution, Formic/Formate

Newcomer Supply Beaker

  • Shelf Life is 2 years from date of manufacture.

 

 

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Part # 10491C 1 gal $120.00 H

SOLUTION:                                           

1 Gallon
Decalcifying Solution, Formic/Formate Part 10491C

                          

Additionally Needed:

Decalcification End Point Set Part 1051

 

For storage requirements and expiration date refer to individual bottle labels.

 

APPLICATION:

Newcomer Supply Decalcifying Solution, Formic/Formate (also known as Kristensen’s Decal) uses formic acid decalcifying agent along with an added formate buffer to help prevent cellular swelling and distortion during the decalcification process.  This combination of reagents provides slow decalcification while maintaining excellent cellular morphology and is good for all bone specimen types and especially suitable for delicate bone samples.

 

METHOD:

Fixation: Formalin 10%, Phosphate Buffered (Part 1090)

      1. See Procedure Note #1.

Technique:  Paraffin sections cut at 4 microns on adhesive slides
Solutions: All solutions are manufactured by Newcomer Supply, Inc.

 

PROCEDURE:

    1. Fix bone for a length of time sufficient for specimen size and type.
        1. See Procedure Note #2.
    2. Adequate bone fixation is essential before decal solution exposure.
    3. Wash fixed specimen in running tap water for 10 minutes.
    4. Submerge fixed bone segment in Decalcifying Solution, Formic/Formate, covering specimen at a 20:1 ratio.
        1. See Procedure Notes #3 and #4.
    5. Check the specimen regularly for sufficient solution coverage. Change solution daily and do not add or mix fresh solution with old.
    6. Decalcification with Decalcifying Solution, Formic/Formate can take 24 to 72 hours, dependent on specimen type, thickness and weight.  Larger bones may require longer decal exposure.
    7. Check decal completion at regular intervals with Decalcification End Point Set (Part 1051) to deter over-decalcification.
        1. See Procedure Note #5.
    8. Wash in running tap water when decalcification is complete.
        1. Wash small samples 30-60 minutes.
        2. Wash larger bones 1-4 hours.
        3. Additional trimming of decalcified bone can occur at this point to size and thickness suitable for tissue processing.
    9. Proceed with tissue processing procedure for bone specimens.
    10. Trim block and section bone. If trimming or sectioning is impaired due to bone hardness, surface decalcification is recommended.
    11. Perform surface decalcification: Soak exposed bone surface side down in Decalcifying Solution, Formic/Formate for 15-60 minutes. Rinse block with distilled water to remove corrosive acids and re-section.
        1. See Procedure Note #6.

 

PROCEDURE NOTES:

    1. Other fixatives suitable for bone specimens include: AZF Fixative (Part 1009), B-5 Fixative Modified, Zinc Chloride (Part 1015), Bouin Fluid (Part 1020), Zamboni Fixative (Part 1459) and Zinc Formalin Fixative (Part 1482).
    2. Reduce size of a large bone by bisecting bone into smaller pieces, removing excess soft tissue for faster fixation. Maximum bone thickness of 3-5 mm is recommended.
    3. Decal solution should be in contact with all specimen surfaces. For multiple pieces, ensure pieces are separated or suspended and not in direct contact or stacked on each other.
    4. Enhance decal with low-speed agitation shaker, rotator or stir plate.
    5. Decalcification end-point testing can also be done with specimen radiography. Physical probing of bone is not recommended.
    6. Only a few calcium-free sections will be obtained after surface decalcification. Repeat the process for additional sections.

 

REFERENCES:

    1. Bancroft, John D. and Marilyn Gamble. Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques. 6th ed. Oxford: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2008. 338-343.
    2. Luna, Lee G. Manual of Histologic Staining Methods of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. 3rd ed. New York: Blakiston Division, McGraw-Hill, 1968. 6-11.
    3. Ratcliffe, Norman A. “Some Useful Hints and Recipes for the Preparation and Examination of Stained Histological Sections.” In Practical Illustrated Histology. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 1982. 24-36.
    4. Urban, Ken. “Routine Decalcification of Bone.” Laboratory Medicine 12.4 (1981): 207-212.
    5. Villanueva, Anthony. “Experimental Studies in Demineralization and Its Effects on Cytology and Staining of Bone Marrow Cells.” The Journal of Histotechnology 9.3 (1986): 155-161.
    6. Modifications developed by Newcomer Supply Laboratory.