To Ask a Question or Make a Comment
Some SPI-Chem™ and certain other SPI Supplies products can have their shelf lives extended, sometimes substantially (e.g. orders of magnitude) by storing under refrigeration. Is this absolutely necessary? In many instances it is not. But certain chemical and other items, if stored under refrigerated conditions will maintain their properties and characteristics far longer than if held at room temperature. When we say "refrigerated storage" we are talking about storage at roughly 4° C/39° F but under no conditions, should storage be under 4° C/39° F.
In some instances, such as SPI-Mark™ immunogold products, such refrigerated storage is absolutely necessary and in fact, such products are also shipped to the customer under refrigerated conditions. This is also true of such embedding resin kits like L. R. White products.
Other products, such as SPI Transfer Symbol Sheets are formulated with a plasticizer which, with time, diffuses out of the sheets, resulting in an eventual embrittlement of the sheets. This would be an example of a product that one would not normally view as being one for cold storage, and normally , the sheets are consumed within a several year period and do not exhibit this problem. However, if it is contemplated that transfer symbol sheets are going to be used at distant times into the future, then we would recommend refrigerated storage.
When removing from cold storage: Common sense should be used in order to prevent moisture from forming on the cold item taken out of the refrigerated area in order to prevent moisture damage. Hence, in the case of a liquid, be sure to allow the bottle to warm to or nearly to room temperature before opening. Immediately after use, the bottle should be tightly stoppered and replaced into the refrigerator.
For items like SPI Transfer Symbol Sheets or Kodak photographic printing papers, the same philosophy should be employed, that is, the items should be stored either in a photographic film box (or in the case of the transfer symbol sheets, in some kind of a sealed polybag) and once removed from the refrigerated environment, should be allowed to warm to or nearly to room temperature before opening.
These simple easy-to-follow steps should give our customers the longest possible shelf life without sacrificing product activity or effectiveness. Of course nothing is "forever" and hence even with cold storage, one can not ever assume an infinitely long useful lifetime. The only thing that can be counted on for sure is a longer lifetime than if storage was done at room temperature.
To Ask a Question or Make a Comment
To Place an Order or Request a Quote
