Salifert Alk Test and leftover reagent, reuse or throw away?

[FrugalReefer]

What does everybody do with the leftover reagent in the syringe after performing a Salifert Alk Test? The instruction manual doesn't specifically say whether to reuse or throw away. All this time I've been dumping the leftover reagent back into the bottle for reuse. Have I been doing something I shouldn't be doing all this time?

 

[wizard261]

What does everybody do with the leftover reagent in the syringe after performing a Salifert Alk Test? The instruction manual doesn't specifically say whether to reuse or throw away. All this time I've been dumping the leftover reagent back into the bottle for reuse. Have I been doing something I shouldn't be doing all this time?

Why ru drawing more then u need into the syringe

 

[Tcook]

Why ru drawing more then u need into the syringe

Because that is how it works. It is a titration test. I dump the rest.

 

[FrugalReefer]

Why ru drawing more then u need into the syringe

I'm confused, my head hurts and now you really got me thinking. The instructions say to draw reagent until the lower end of the black part of the piston is exactly at the 1.00 mL mark. If a lesser amount was drawn wouldn't it throw off the result some? If my thinking is correct.

 

[wizard261]

Because that is how it works. It is a titration test. I dump the rest.

Got it

 

[Tcook]

Got it

Didn’t mean to sound snotty. You fill the syringe, titrate drop by drop until you get the color change. Usually not much remaining so I discard.

 

[FrugalReefer]

Why ru drawing more then u need into the syringe

I suppose it is possible to draw less but adjustment factors would have to be taken into the test to still get a correct reading.

 

[DMG Reef]

I put the unused reagent back into the bottle. I can’t think of any reason it would be tainted. Been doing it this way for over 9 years with no problems.

 

[Tcook]

I put the unused reagent back into the bottle. I can’t think of any reason it would be tainted. Been doing it this way for over 9 years with no problems.

Probably good. No exposure to air in the syringe

 

[gbroadbridge]

What does everybody do with the leftover reagent in the syringe after performing a Salifert Alk Test? The instruction manual doesn't specifically say whether to reuse or throw away. All this time I've been dumping the leftover reagent back into the bottle for reuse. Have I been doing something I shouldn't be doing all this time?

It is simply Hydrochloric acid.

It does not go off or expire, so there is no reason to toss it unless it has been contaminated by dipping the syringe into the dyed water sample.

 

[EricR]

Old thread but just found this and have wondered the same thing.

I've been tossing the leftover reagent just out of concern for somehow contaminating the bottle. (Will probably start saving it from now on based on the thoughts posted here).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Old thread but just found this and have wondered the same thing.

I've been tossing the leftover reagent just out of concern for somehow contaminating the bottle. (Will probably start saving it from now on based on the thoughts posted here).

That discarding is required in a lab under some sort of quality control, but reefers can be more flexible.