Biomedical Sciences

Anatomical embalming fluids neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus

A multi-centre study, involving members of the Anatomy@Edinburgh team, has just published their research findings in the Journal of Anatomy showing that 20 of the most common embalming fluids used to preserve donor material in the UK and Ireland can neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The findings, which incorporated all the major embalming fluids used at the University of Edinburgh, demonstrated that embalming of donor bodies is a safe and effective process to protect staff and students during the current COVID-19 pandemic. This facilitates the safe resumption of body donor programmes and cadaveric anatomy teaching. 

The study has just been published in the Journal of Anatomy, and can be freely accessed/downloaded here: 

Read about the study in the Journal of Anatomy

Further information

Anatomy@Edinburgh website

Prof Tom Gillingwater profile

Information about the body donation programme