Stabilized powdered formaldehyde

A kit for producing one liter of a stabilized solution of formaldehyde when combined with an aqueous solvent, the kit comprising:

• a first packet including:
• approximately 37.0 grams of paraformaldehyde;
• approximately 4.0 grams of sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous;
• approximately 1.0 gram of sodium hydroxide;
• and,
• approximately 0.01 grams of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose;
• and
• a second packet including approximately 6.5 grams of sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate.

A method for producing a solution of aldehyde, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first amount of an aqueous solvent;
• combining a second amount of a polymerized aldehyde and a third amount of a first basic buffer with said aqueous solvent;
• and,
• combining a fourth amount of a second basic buffer with said aqueous solvent.

A composition of matter comprising:

• an aqueous solvent;
• a depolymerized aldehyde;
• and,
• a stabilizer.

A kit, comprising:

• a first packet containing powdered formaldehyde and a stablizer;
• a second packet containing a buffer material;
• and
• instructions for reconstituting an aqueous formaldehyde solution.

A kit, comprising:

• a first packet containing a powdered fixative and a stabilizer;
• a second packet containing a buffer material;
• and
• instructions for reconstituting a solution of said fixative.

A method for using powdered formaldehyde as a histological fixative, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a first material comprising powdered formaldehyde and a basic component of a buffer pair;
• (b) providing a second material comprising an acidic component of a buffer pair;
• (c) making a first aqueous solution of said first material;
• (d) making a second aqueous solution of said second material;
• (e) mixing said first and said second solutions;
• and
• (f) applying said solution obtained in step (c) to a piece of tissue until said tissue has become fixed.

A method for producing a non-liquid composition of an aldehyde, comprising the steps of:

• (a) selecting a non-liquid aldehyde;
• (b) selecting a non-liquid buffer pair having an acidic member and a basic member of said pair;
• and
• (c) mixing said aldehyde and said basic member of said buffer pair together to form a mixture.