We recommend you keep your dissection specimens in a cool and dark place that is away from direct sunlight and out of reach from children and pets. This can be a closet, cabinet or anywhere else that does not get warmer than room temperature. Specimens DO NOT need to be refrigerated!
How do you preserve a dissected animal specimen?
Seal the dissected specimen in a Ziploc bag to keep it from drying out. Finish the dissection within a week for best results. If you want the specimen to stay fresh longer, use a heavy-duty plastic Ziploc bag, and add a bit of water or glycerin to keep it moist.
What is the best way to store vacuum packed specimens?
After opening, vacuum-packed specimens can be stored by returning them to the original shipping bag, folding the top down and securing with binder clips, and then placing the bag in a separate resealable bag.
How do you dispose of a dissection tray?
Seal the dissected specimen in a Ziploc bag and place it and the dissection tray in your regular outdoor trash container. Use disinfectant soap and water to thoroughly clean your dissection tools and the area where you worked. Q: What if I can’t finish my dissection during one class period?
How long do your preserved specimens stay preserved?
Our preserved specimens come in sealed, original packaging and are guaranteed to remain fully preserved and free of decay for six months from the date of purchase. Using the information and images inside the included dissection guides, you can easily and confidently make your way through a wide variety of animal dissections.
How do you store specimens?
All specimens should be transported in the relevant fixative. All specimen pots should be tightly sealed and transported using specimen bags, where appropriate. The request card should be placed in the pocket of the specimen bag, and the pot inside the sealed bag to ensure the safety of all staff.
Do preserved specimens need to be refrigerated?
Do I need to refrigerate my specimens for long-term storage? No. Specimens can be kept at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, and in their original packaging. If the original packaging has been opened or discarded, repackage the specimens in a sealable bag or pail.
How long do preserved dissection specimens last?
6 months - 1 yearHow should I store preserved specimens once they arrive? Most of our preserved specimens should be good for 6 months - 1 year. These specimens should be stored at room temperature, out of the heat and direct sunlight. It is OK to refrigerate the specimens but do not freeze them.
What is used to preserve dissection animals?
Animals used for classroom dissection are preserved and shipped using various chemicals, such as formaldehyde, Carosafe, Biofresh, and formalin. Formaldehyde is a chemical used as a preservative and also found in cigarette smoke—it's classified as a human carcinogen, and even short-term exposure to it can be fatal.
How long do wet specimens last?
11:2418:10Wet Specimen Tutorial | Preserving a Large Mammal | Calf SpecimenYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou will have to soak the specimen for at least 24 hours in fresh.MoreYou will have to soak the specimen for at least 24 hours in fresh.
Where should we put animal remains after a dissection lab?
Q: How do I dispose of a dissected specimen? Seal the dissected specimen in a Ziploc bag and place it and the dissection tray in your regular outdoor trash container. Use disinfectant soap and water to thoroughly clean your dissection tools and the area where you worked.
How do you preserve a specimen in a jar?
Shake the jar gently every few days and then transfer the specimen to a jar of secondary solution (either isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or denatured alcohol) and repeat the process for two to three weeks.
Can you preserve specimens in isopropyl alcohol?
You can use the standard 40% Isopropyl; however, a better choice, also to be found in most drugstores is ethyl alcohol. Additives keep it from being drinkable, so it is not ethanol [that is, it is] not white lightening. If available as stock (c.a. 95% or so strength) then dilute to about 70-75% and you're good to go!
How do you store preserved animals?
They should be loose and completely covered with plenty of liquid. Specimens which have been hardened in trays should also be allowed to soak in preservative for a day or two before being shipped or placed in plastic bags for storage. If space is no problem, preserved specimens are best kept in glass containers.
How long do preserved animals last?
How long will freeze-dried specimens last? Again, indefinitely in the freeze-dried state (though conditions of high humidity must be avoided). Once rehydrated in alcohol, they should be used within a week or ten days.
How do you store dissecting frogs?
We recommend you keep your dissection specimens in a cool and dark place that is away from direct sunlight and out of reach from children and pets. This can be a closet, cabinet or anywhere else that does not get warmer than room temperature. Specimens DO NOT need to be refrigerated!
How do you store preserved animals?
They should be loose and completely covered with plenty of liquid. Specimens which have been hardened in trays should also be allowed to soak in preservative for a day or two before being shipped or placed in plastic bags for storage. If space is no problem, preserved specimens are best kept in glass containers.
How long do preserved animals last?
How long will freeze-dried specimens last? Again, indefinitely in the freeze-dried state (though conditions of high humidity must be avoided). Once rehydrated in alcohol, they should be used within a week or ten days.
How do you preserve a specimen in a jar?
Shake the jar gently every few days and then transfer the specimen to a jar of secondary solution (either isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or denatured alcohol) and repeat the process for two to three weeks.
How long do specimens last in formaldehyde?
The formaldehyde has a greater chance for oxidation in this concentration of tissue fixative and eventually the solution will start to drop in pH, in spite of the buffer. We recommend that 10% buffered formalin solutions be used no longer than 3 months after they were initially mixed.
How long can you keep a specimen?
Many specimens can be stored for years under the right conditions. If you plan to store yours for more than a year or to use them over an extended period of time after opening, we recommend that you purchase pail-packed specimens. Because they are immersed in preservative fluid, they remain in good condition longer.
Why do we need to keep specimens in pails?
Pail-packed specimens. Pails are ideal for long-term storage because the specimens are kept immersed in preservation fluid. These specimens are available in 1- to 5-gal pails sealed with leak-proof, reusable lids. For long-term storage, return the specimens to the pail after use. Make sure the pail contains enough preservation fluid to cover ...
Can you keep a lab specimen in a sealed bag?
No. Specimens can be kept at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, and in their original packaging. If the original packaging has been opened or discarded, re package the specimens in a sealable bag or pail.
Do we offer quantity discounts on specimens packaged in bulk bags and pails?
We do offer quantity discounts on specimens packaged in bulk bags and pails.
Can you discharge carosafe into a sewer?
Often with preserved specimens in pails of Carosafe ® or Carolina's Perfect Solution ®, the fluids can be safely discharged into a sanitary sewer system. Neither fluid is classified as a federal hazardous waste, and the quantities are generally small. However, you should check with the local wastewater authority (local governmental authority in charge of wastewater treatment or the supervisor of the wastewater treatment plant) to make sure that this is acceptable practice. If it is, simply pour the fluids into a sink and flush them down the drain with running water. Carolina’s Perfect Solution ® is a proprietary product whose formulation is a protected trade secret, and we are unable to provide component information for disposal decisions; however, we can work with local authorities to verify that materials of special concern to them are not present in the solution.#N#Caution: If your school is equipped with its own septic system or aerobic waste treatment system, seek advice from a supervisor or administrator before discharging Carosafe® or Carolina's Perfect Solution® into it. Even these safe chemicals may upset the microbiological balance important to the proper functioning of these systems.
Is dissection a substitute for learning?
Many educators strongly feel there is no substitute for the hands-on learning derived from dissection. Carolina offers several options that provide your students with an engaging and safe dissection experience.
Is ventilation necessary for dissection?
Ventilation is not needed for safety but does help keep biological and chemical smells to a minimum. In addition to their advantages in safety and odor, Carolina's Perfect Solution ® dissection specimens are superior in quality, with tissues and organs retaining better color and texture than with any other preparation.
What to wear when dissecting specimens?
Specimens contain trace amounts of preservation chemicals. To eliminate skin contact with these chemicals, wear nitrile or latex disposable gloves. Also, wear safety glasses or goggles, as liquids containing trace amounts of chemicals can occasionally squirt out during dissection. Find safety equipment here.
How to clean dissection tools?
Use disinfectant soap and water to thoroughly clean your dissection tools and the area where you worked.
How many cow eyes are in a vacuum pack?
Therefore, if you order 14 cow eyes, you’ll get a vacuum pack of 10, plus four individually packaged ones. If you don’t want to use all the specimens at once, you can repack each one in a heavy-duty Ziploc plastic bag and use a little water or glycerin to keep the specimens moist.
How long does it take for a specimen to be used?
Specimens used within one year will have the best outcomes. Occasionally, a specimen will appear normal, but the internal tissue is not fully preserved.
How long does it take to finish a dissection?
Finish the dissection within a week for best results.
What do students learn from dissecting cow eyes?
For example, by dissecting and examining the anatomy of a cow eye, students learn the components of human eyes, including the cornea, iris, pupil, connecting muscles, and veins. Other animal specimens, such as a dogfish shark or crayfish, show the anatomy of simpler species. Hands-on science projects, like dissection, ...
Is a fetal pig dissection appropriate?
For more advanced students, a fetal pig dissection is appropriate.
Dissection safety explained (with videos)
In this blog, you’ll learn how to prep your lab and instruct your students to ensure that everyone stays safe and the focus stays on learning.
Stock up on lab safety essentials
Equip everyone in the lab with personal protective equipment, including chemical-resistant safety glasses or goggles, gloves, and aprons.
Why is it important to remember dissection details?
As students activate many of their senses while dissecting an animal, their memory (or recall) increases, which helps boost their overall academic performance. Students who pursue careers in biology (including researchers, medical doctors, and teachers) will benefit from remembering dissection details.
What is a Dissecting Kit Used For?
Our dissection kits conveniently bundle preserved specimens with the needed tools and supplies to conduct dissections in educational, eye-opening, and engaging ways.
What are the Tools Used for Dissection?
The resusable dissection tools inside our dissection kits may include forceps, scalpel blades and handles, scissors, curved and straight teasing needles, rulers, and medicine droppers or pipets. To reuse these dissection tools, clean them with boiling water swabs or another sterilizer.
What is included in a dissecting kit?
Save time and money with a complete dissecting kit. Kits include the high-quality specimen, tools, and a dissection guide.
How long does HST keep specimens?
Our preserved specimens come in sealed, original packaging and are guaranteed to remain fully preserved and free of decay for six months from the date of purchase.
Why do students dissect cow eyes?
Because the functionalities and parts of a cow eye are similar to that of a human eye, students dissecting a cow eye can learn so much about the very eyes they are observing and exploring with. Not only do animal dissections support and enhance student comprehension, but they are also memorable learning experiences.
What are the senses used in dissecting animals?
When students dissect an animal, they are using many of their senses, including sight, touch, smell, and hearing. A multi-sensory activity, such as dissection, is much more memorable than a single-sense one (which far too many learning experiences happen to be).
Carolina's Perfect Solution®
Carosafe®
Preserved Specimen Packaging and Storage
Pail-Packed Specimens
Vacuum-Packed Specimens
Frequently Asked Questions About Specimen Storage
- Do I need to refrigerate my specimens for long-term storage? No. Specimens can be kept at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, and in their original packaging. If the original packaging has been opened or discarded, repackage the specimens in a sealable bag or pail. If I do not open the packaging, how long will my specimens remain in good cond...
Preserved Specimen Disposal
Specimens
Preservative Fluids