On Sat, 12 Jun 1999, Hendry, Chris I wrote:

> I was wondering if anyone had information on the shelf lives of commonly
> used histological chemicals, stock solutions, working solutions, stains,
> etc. I think it would be a good reference for most people if such a list
> existed.

  Try Charles J. Cherukian (1997) Manual of the Special Stains
  Laboratory. Rochester, NY: Univ. of Rochester Med. Ctr.  This is
  an excellent book, and can be ordered by way of the URMC web
  site (sorry, I don't have their address). In my opinion, nearly
  all Chuck's prescribed shelf lives are far too short. Times like
  6 months are given for solutions of inorganic compounds that
  should keep for ever. Moreover, the lifetimes do not take into
  account repeated uses of the same solution: we can reuse Ehrlich's
  haematoxylin for 5 years or more, but we usually throw out 1% acetic
  acid every day. These practices do not indicate the real stability
  of the reagents. 

  If you need shelf-lives to satisfy your safety inspector, Chuck
  Cherukian's book is the one to follow, or at least to say that you
  follow. The practical instructions for staining methods are this
  book's real treasure: all are set out in the manner of Lee Luna's 1968
  AFIP manual, but they are completely up to date.
                                                     John Kiernan
                                                     London, Canada