Microfilm and microfiche require immediate attention for successful recovery. Film separation and drying must commence within 48 hours of becoming wet to achieve the best results.

Once again, time is of the essence! In particular, chemical coatings and labels must be preserved, yet decomposition and film degradation must be prevented. This means special procedures must be followed.

The most important question to ask is: Can you ship the same day the film gets wet? The answer to this question determines the procedures to follow:

If you can ship the same day the film gets wet, do the following:

• Put rubber bands around 35mm film boxes to keep the film reel and its box together to preserve labeling information.
• Do not attempt to separate wet fiche.
• Place wet film or fiche in a plastic bag, seal tightly and keep cold.
• Put the bag in a sturdy cardboard box, label with your name and contents,and ship overnight express to our Rushville, NY, location.
• Call our office to advise us on quantity, shipping and arrival time so we can be prepared to receive your materials.

If you cannot ship the same day the film gets wet, do the following:

• Perform the same initial processing steps as listed above.
• Handle and transport wet materials very carefully to avoid additional damage.
• Place wet film or fiche in a plastic bag, seal tightly and freeze.
• Low temperature blast freezers produce smaller ice crystals and better end results.
• Call our office for help with shipping and scheduling.