The patient has given you the trade name of the paint stripper he uses, but does not know its chemical composition. How can you go about getting this information?



  • Ask the supervisor or manufacturer for a copy of the material safety data sheet (MSDS)

  • Obtain the MSDS online (internet) using the manufacturer / trade name of the product

  • Look up the generic product type (i.e., "paint stripper") in a reference text

  • Have the patient obtain a sample of the stripping solution and send it to an analytical lab