Customer Care, Preserved Materials, and Health Science FAQs

Customer Care & FAQs

How can we help you?

Call: 1-800-558-9595

Email: custserv@nascoeducation.com

What do I do if I forgot my username and password?

If you forgot your username, call Customer Care at 1-800-558-9595 or send an email to custserv@nascoeducation.com.

If you forgot your password, please click on the “Forgot Password” link on the Sign In screen. If the username entered (which must be an email address) is linked to an account, you will receive an email with instructions to reset the password. If you do not receive an email, you will need to click on the “Create New Account” button on the Sign In screen. Note: Passwords are case sensitive.

When I type in my username, I receive a message asking for a valid email address. Why?

Your username must now be a valid email address. If you previously had a username which was not an email address, please click the “Create New Account” button on the Sign In screen.

How do I request a catalog?

You can request a catalog or view and download a digital catalog on the Request a Catalog page.

Where can I find Safety Data Sheets (SDS)?

If an SDS exists for the product in question, a “Resources” tab will be displayed at the bottom of the product page. Click on the tab to reveal the SDS pdf. 

If I have other questions, who do I contact?

You can contact our Customer Care team by calling 1-800-558-9595, or you can send an email to custserv@nascoeducation.com. 

Shipping and Ordering Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my promotion/discount quote number is not accepted?

Please verify that you entered the promotion or discount quote number correctly. If you have further questions, call Customer Care at 1-800-558-9595 or send an email to custserv@nascoeducation.com. 

Where do I enter my purchase order number?

The Purchase Order option is only available if you are signed into your Nasco Education web account. It will then appear during Step 2 of the checkout process. NOTE: This feature is not available if you opt to checkout as a Guest. 

How do I redeem my Gift Card?

You can use your gift card on any Nasco order. Simply provide the card number and specify the dollar amount when placing the order. For web orders, include this information in the Comments section that is offered during Step 2 of the checkout process.

How can I check the status of my order?

Call Customer Care at 1-800-558-9595, or send an email to custserv@nascoeducation.com. 

How do I obtain a line of credit?

Net 30 terms are provided upon approval of a completed credit application: Nasco Credit Application.

Where do I enter my discount quote/contract number?

To apply your quote number to your online order, enter the number in the cart or follow these steps:

  • View the details page of the product you would like to order.
  • Find the "Discount Quote" field.
  • Enter your 5 digit quote number (example: 12345).
  • Click "Apply Quote" to see your discounted pricing.

Will I be charged sales tax?

See Sales Tax Disclaimer page. Tax exemption certificates can be emailed to salestax@nascoeducation.com or faxed to 1-920-568-5609.

What are my shipping charges?

View our Shipping & Delivery page for further details.

How long will it take to receive my order?

Orders for stocked items typically arrive in approximately 5–7 business days. Those placed during peak season (July–September) may experience slight delays.

How do I return an item or order?

Authorized returns are only permitted for stock items. Requests must be made within 30 days of the invoice date. Return Authorization forms will be provided for approved returns and must accompany any returned product.

If you need to contact Nasco Customer Care, have one or more of the following available: Nasco order number, invoice number, purchase order number, and/or billing and shipping addresses. Call 1-800-558-9595 or send an email to custserv@nascoeducation.com

Restocking fees may apply.

Is my credit card information safe?

Our website uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates from GeoTrust, the Internet standard for secure communications. All information that is passed is encrypted to assure your security and privacy. Click on the GeoTrust symbol on any page of our website for more information about our website security.

I did not receive an order number. Was the order placed?

After clicking the Place Order button at the end of Step 2, an order number will be displayed and an order confirmation will be sent to the email address provided. If this step is not performed, your order will not be complete.

Preserved Materials Frequently Asked Questions >

How should I store my preserved material?

Leave specimens in shipping bags/containers until use.

How long will they remain preserved?

As long as the original container seal is unbroken, specimens will remain usable indefinitely. If the seal on the specimen bag has been broken during transit, the shelf life is affected only slightly. Just close the bag with a rubber band or some other type of closure. Keep tightly sealed. Exposure to air will not cause decay, but specimens will gradually dry out. Between classroom sessions, return specimens to tightly closed plastic bag or airtight container.

What if specimens seem to dry out?

If specimens are to be dissected over an extended period of time, they can be remoistened with NASCO-Guard® Humectant Fluid (item numbers SB17218M, SB12631M, SB32395M, or SB32396M).

Can I use water to moisten the specimens?

No, do NOT add water. Do NOT add formaldehyde or any other preservative to NASCO-Guard® specimens. Your specimens are completely preserved and the addition of water or other preservatives might have undesirable effects on the specimens.

If specimens are to be dissected over an extended period of time, they can be remoistened with NASCO-Guard® Humectant Fluid (item numbers SB17218M, SB12631M, SB32395M, or SB32396M).

Do NASCO-Guard® specimens have a strong odor?

Specimens may occasionally have an odor common to the animal itself (i.e., fish). Since there is no chemical odor, large capacity ventilation systems are not necessary when using NASCO-Guard® preserved materials. However, because specimens may have been originally fixed with formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde by some of our collectors, a trace may remain. Individuals who are sensitive to these chemicals should take the usual precautions when handling specimens.

How do I dispose of used specimens?

NASCO-Guard® specimens are biodegradable. They are suited for burial in an approved sanitary landfill or for incineration. Ambient fluids may be safely disposed via city sewers.

How do I cut open preserved turtle shells?

Depending on the size of the shell, you can use a scalpel, hacksaw, or coping saw (item numbers SB15423M 5" bone-cutting shears or SB07832M 6" bone-cutting shears). A general classroom tool kit is also available from Nasco Education (item number 9703612).

Where do specimens come from?

Professional collectors provide some of the items (e.g., grasshoppers and earthworms). Some specimens are byproduct from stockyards (e.g., cow eyes, fetal pigs). Some are from the food industry (e.g., bullfrogs, perch). Cats are obtained from Humane Societies after euthanasia.

Nasco-Guard®

What is NASCO-Guard®?

This is a unique, patented process for preserving specimens. Most NASCO-Guard® specimens are originally fixed in a 3.7% formaldehyde solution, which is still the best animal tissue fixative known. In the NASCO-Guard® process, skilled technicians remove the formaldehyde fixative in a series of water baths, then perfuse the specimens with propylene glycol until tissue fluids contain at least 25% glycol; this inhibits the growth of decay organisms by raising the osmotic pressure of the specimens. Propylene glycol also acts as a humectant to ensure moist specimens, and it lowers the vapor pressure of residual formaldehyde, thus markedly reducing the concentration of formaldehyde fumes in the lab. Perfusion also washes away water-soluble carbohydrates and proteins, which could nourish decay organisms. Residual formaldehyde is further reduced as it reacts with propylene glycol to form hemiacetals and acetals, which have a very low order of toxicity. Large embalmed mammals may contain trace amounts of phenol.

How do I get the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for NASCO-Guard®?

What do the terms "single injection," "double injection," and "triple injection" mean?

  • Single injection: the arteries have been injected with red latex
  • Double injection: the arteries have been injected with red latex and the veins have been injected with blue latex
  • Triple injection: red latex in the arteries, blue latex in the veins, plus the hepatic portal system has been injected with yellow latex

Health Science Frequently Asked Questions

IV Arms

Do the IV arms need to be flushed and drained after each use?

No. But it is not a good idea to let the arm sit for multiple days without using it because the blood will dry up in the veins. If the arm is going to be used day after day, it is OK to keep the blood in the veins without flushing for a couple of weeks. 

How many times can you "stick" the IV arms?

It depends on the gauge of needle used (the smaller the better), how many different sites are used (the more the better), and how high you hang the synthetic blood bag (the lower the better). Eventually, the skin will show puncture marks and some teachers do not want to give students visual clues to finding a good injection site. Most of our IV Arms have replaceable skin and veins. 

Why can't I get blood to flow through my IV arm?

You can download a pdf file of our troubleshooting tips for the IV arm.

How do you know when it is time to replace the skin and veins?

When excessive leaking occurs even when the synthetic fluid bag is hung low, it is time to replace the skin and veins. Read how in this comprehensive manual.

Blood Pressure Arms

Why can't I feel a pulse?

You can download a pdf file of our troubleshooting tips for the blood pressure arm.

Why won't the electronic box calibrate?

If the gauge is not at zero, a needle-nose pliers can be used to calibrate it. Locate the two flat spots on the end of the gauge, and then slowly turn clockwise or counterclockwise until the needle is set at zero. You can download a pdf file of our troubleshooting tips for the blood pressure arm .

Why can't I hear Korotkoff sounds from the elbow?

You can download a pdf file of our troubleshooting tips for the blood pressure arm .

Miscellaneous

Do you have replacement parts for your manikins?

Yes. Most replacement parts can be found in your Instruction Manual or by contacting customer care at 1-800-558-9595 or custserv@nascoeducation.com. 

How do I know what arm or manikin I have?

There should be a metal serial tag somewhere on your product. It is often concealed. It may be in the shoulder of your IV arm under the shoulder skin, in the back of the neck underneath the head skin, or on the back or bottom of the product. Many suppliers will laser-etch the information directly on the skin in brown script. 

If I don't know what CPR manikin I have, how do I know which replacement face shields/lungs I need?

Call 1-800-558-9595 or email custserv@nascoeducation.com for assistance.

I am having trouble putting on the replacement skin. What am I doing wrong?

Replacing the skin can seem difficult at first, but once you learn how, it only takes about 1 minute to accomplish. The key is to heavily lubricate the inside and the OUTSIDE of the replacement skin.

How do I clean the simulators and manikins? Can I use soap and water?

Soap and water are fine if there are no exposed electronic parts. We recommend a mild dishwashing detergent — but not dishwasher detergent! Newsprint and most inks are hard to remove if they have been in place for any length of time. Nasco Cleaner (LF09919) is a specially formulated vinyl cleaner that works well.

If I have other questions, who do I contact?

Call us at 1-800-558-9595 or email custserv@nascoeducation.com. 

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Free shipping for online orders over $199! Some exclusions apply.

Free shipping for online orders over $199! Some exclusions apply.

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