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Table 1 Zn-leaching by common labware items. Items were tested by immersion in 2 ml of Hepes saline containing 500 nM FluoZin-3 and 25 μM Ca-EDTA in Hepes saline for 5 s and were scored as 'Zn-leaching' if the increase in fluorescence was greater than that induced by the introduction of 0.5 nM ZnSO4.

From: Detecting and minimizing zinc contamination in physiological solutions

Zn-leaching

Non-Zn leaching

Glass cover slips

Cell culture dishes (Becton Dickinson, 35 mm)2

Hamilton syringes

Cylinders (polymethylpentene, Nalgene)

Latex gloves (Fisher examination gloves powder free)

Metal-free pipette tips (Fisher Scientific)

 

Methacrylate cuvettes (Fisher Scientific)1

Quartz Cuvettes

MicroFil syringe needle (WPI)

Sintered glass bubblers (Fisher Scientific)

Saran Wrapâ„¢ (S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.).

Tuberculin syringe (Becton Dickinson)

Plastic bubblers (Discard-a-stone, Lee's aquarium and pet products)1

 

Plastic cover slips (Ted Pella)2

 

Plexiglass1

 

Parafilm

 

Sylgard (Dow Corning)

 

Teflon bottles

 

Transfer pipettes (Fisher Scientific)2

 

Tygon tubing1

  1. 1 Soaking in 2 mM EDTA overnight eliminates contamination. 2 Soaking overnight in 10 % nitric acid eliminates contamination.