How concrete are reagent epiration dates?

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I didnt know that. I heard people claiming that keeping the reagent with the unit can cause issues? A

What does that mean? Like keeping it near the unit? I don't understand.

The vials should be clean and used in the same orientation every time. keeping them with water in them isn't needed or useful unless it keeps dust out.

 

[Miami Reef]

I never understood why people said you need to store the hanna vials filled with water. It will never make sense to me.

I rinse with RO/DI and store it with the cap closed. Theres only a trace of water from the rinsing.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

What does that mean? Like keeping it near the unit? I don't understand.

The vials should be clean and used in the same orientation every time. keeping them with water in them isn't needed or useful unless it keeps dust out.

I'm not exactly sure but I read somethingon here before I made this post and someone made the claim or something like it, that you should keep your reagents separate? It was a 1am rabbit hole so maybe I misread..? :thinking-face: maybe they were talking about but the liquid reagents? I'm not 100% sure.
When you say "same orientation" are you meaning don't alternate top up or top down? I didn't even know it would fit top down!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not exactly sure but I read somethingon here before I made this post and someone made the claim or something like it, that you should keep your reagents separate? It was a 1am rabbit hole so maybe I misread..? :thinking-face: maybe they were talking about but the liquid reagents? I'm not 100% sure.
When you say "same orientation" are you meaning don't alternate top up or top down? I didn't even know it would fit top down!

I meant the rotational orientation of round cuvettes. Maybe use a natural mark or scratch or make one with a marker near the top or bottom to do that.

I don’t think storing one reagent near any other room temp object is a concern.

 

[Dburr1014]

Picked these up for 75$ a week or so back. Just getting ready to try them out and verify they work properly, and I noticed the phosphate tester reagent expired 11/2023. What are the odds that the expiration date is similar to most things nowadays and it's probably fine? Quite a decent chunk of reagents to throw away and plus, i want to try it and see if it works :winking-face-with-tongue:

I put the liquid ones in the fridge and they last a lot longer, everything else is kept in my basement in a cool dry place. I have always gone past the dates on the packages without a problem.

Ears are well into a year and I have never gone that far but as others said test them against the new one and then you'll know.

The government likes to have manufacturers put dates on things even though some things may not need dates. I'm not saying that regions don't need a date I'm just pointing out this fact.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I put the liquid ones in the fridge and they last a lot longer, everything else is kept in my basement in a cool dry place. I have always gone past the dates on the packages without a problem.

Ears are well into a year and I have never gone that far but as others said test them against the new one and then you'll know.

The government likes to have manufacturers put dates on things even though some things may not need dates. I'm not saying that regions don't need a date I'm just pointing out this fact.

I got a shipped email on the 27th and still waiting one a delivery date :grinning-face-with-sweat: I'll do some testing when they arrive!

 

[Texasnano]

I got a shipped email on the 27th and still waiting one a delivery date :grinning-face-with-sweat: I'll do some testing when they arrive!

Update

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Update

I have been getting my phosphates under control as I went to do my tests and they were too high for the ULR tester to check.... BUT! The last mon and last night I got .04 consistently! Either tonight or tomorrow night (based on my busy schedule) I will have answers! I haven't forgotten! Just side tracked like the simple creature I am!

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I have forgotten about this no longer! I have double tested my phosphates to compare new reagents to old reagents 5 times since this post, and consistently, have gotten the same results. I would say that in my experience, if one wanted to use up old reagents, as long as I was getting expected results, and the tank looked happy, I wouldn't stress about it and would just send it!