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Erroneous aluminum and cobalt tissue concentrations from using formalin.

R D Meldrum1

  • 1Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Indiana University, 541 Clinical Drive, Room 600, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA. rmeldrum@iupui.edu

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
|June 21, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Formalin, used in processing orthopedic tissues, contains cobalt and aluminum. This chemical can leach metal ions from tissue samples, potentially affecting safety assessments of orthopedic implants.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Orthopedic implants can release metal particles, raising concerns about long-term patient safety.
  • Analysis of periprosthetic tissues often involves formalin fixation, but its metal content is uncharacterized.
  • Potential formalin contamination could skew results of metal ion analysis in tissue samples.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the concentration of cobalt and aluminum in medical-grade formalin.
  • To evaluate formalin's role in the removal of metal ions from orthopedic tissue samples.
  • To assess the impact of formalin on metal ion concentrations in tissue analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Tissues with known cobalt and aluminum concentrations were prepared.

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  • Samples were mixed with formalin and analyzed for metal content at multiple time points.
  • Control samples of unmixed tissue and formalin were tested to rule out contamination.

    • Main Results:

    • Off-the-shelf formalin was found to contain both cobalt and aluminum.
    • A decrease in tissue metal concentration and a corresponding increase in formalin metal concentration were observed.
    • These findings indicate formalin actively leaches metal ions from tissue samples.

    Conclusions:

    • Formalin used in orthopedic tissue processing contains detectable levels of cobalt and aluminum.
    • Formalin can act as a contaminant by removing metal ions from tissue samples.
    • This leaching effect may compromise the accuracy of metal ion quantification in periprosthetic tissues.