The tube goes into a bath of alcohol.

Why?  I could see him putting in the fridge or freezer, but the
tube itself probably doesn't need *disinfection*, and if the
alcohol gets inside the sample will be damaged if not ruined.

well, when doctors seal tubes, they seal 'em good.  a test tube is
not like a ziplock bag.

and, well, considering the mess of blood and other stuff that the
tube is taking in, if some of it got on the outside, it'd need to be
dis- infected, at least in my opinion.

The tube and the sample jar are separate items.

The tube in question is (basically) a glass straw, and functions in 
much the same way. I assume that all of you have done the experiment 
where one pulls some liquid into a straw, and plugs the end with 
a finger to hold it there? This is the practical application of that 
experiment.

Think about it, and then get back to me.



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Andrew Stodden <eos@ghost.cc.cmu.edu>
"But mostly, you learn to close your eyes and tell youself,
'This just isn't happening.'"
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