BIOELECTRONICS
d. For sanitation purposes (wiping table tops, slides, micro-
scope and your hands) a 50% to 70% alcohol solution (not
rubbing alcohol!) is best. Dilute 95% grain alcohol 7 parts
alcohol plus 3 parts water. Vodka or 76% grain alcohol
can be used undiluted.
e. Formaldehyde, 20%. Formaldehyde 37% is commonly
available at pharmacies. Dilute this with equal parts of
filtered water to get 18½%, which is close enough to 20%,
for the purpose of “fixing” (killing) the specimens. Store in
a glass bottle in the garage, away from sunlight. Label.
Specimens that are fixed properly do not lose their life-like
appearance.
f Iodine solution. This is only useful for the urine specimens.
Lugol’s iodine and tincture of iodine are both useful. Ask a
pharmacist to prepare Lugol’s Iodine Solution for you, as
follows:
- 44 grams (1½ oz) iodine crystals
- 88 grams (3 oz) potassium iodide crystals
Dissolve both in 1 liter (quart) filtered water. This may
take a day of frequent shaking.
Method for saliva:- Pour the 20% formaldehyde into a small amber bottle or
other receptacle to a depth of about 1/8 inch. Keep tightly
closed. - The person to be tested is asked to salivate into the bottle
so the organisms are immediately “fixed” without under-
going cooling first. The total volume should be about
double the original amount of formaldehyde used. Make a
mark on the container so the subject knows how much to
produce. The resultant concentration of formaldehyde will
be about 10%. - Shake the bottle a few times. Set it aside for 24 hours to
settle (less if testing is urgent).