26.  a:  How long can allograft be stored?
      b:  Can you get AIDS from it?
      c:  How long can extra STSG be stored and how do you do it?

Answer:
a::  At -80 deg C allograft skin can be stored for months and at liquid nitrogen temperature (-196 deg C) allograft skin can be stored for years.

b:  You can get AIDS for allograft skin. The first report was in England from unbanked skin.

c:  Extra STSG can be stored for years if prepared properly.  Skin strips are rinsed in phosphate buffered solution and placed in cryoprotective medium like LR, 15% glycerol, 40 mcg/cc gentamicin, 100 mcg/cc PCN, 100 mcg/cc streptomycin.  After equilibration at 4 deg C for 120 minutes, the skin is cooled at 1 deg C per minute to -196 deg C, the temperature of liquid nitrogen.
 

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