What thickness are paraffin sections routinely cut? - ANSWER 4-6 um
Why should the temperature of the flotation bath be set specifically at 5-10 °C below the
melting point of the paraffin wax? - ANSWER water bath that is too hot may distort tissue
morphology
Warm enough to relieve compression
Cool enough so the wax does not melt
What thickness are paraffin sections cut for the Luxol Fast Blue procedure? - ANSWER 10
- 15 um
Why are paraffin blocks put on ice prior to cutting? - ANSWER to soften the tissue;
harden the wax
What thickness are paraffin sections cut for the Congo Red procedure? - ANSWER 8-10
um
What epithelium occurs only in the female reproductive tract? - ANSWER Simple colum-
nar ciliated
n the gross room, what is the maximum thickness to which a tissue should be dissected? -
ANSWER 3mm
1
, What is the primary fixative used for electron microscopy? - ANSWER Glutaraldehyde
What will happen when there is too much gelatin in the floatation bath? - ANSWER The
whole slide will turn pink
List (3) things that a satisfactory decalcifying agent should ensure. - ANSWER Complete
removal of calcium without damaging tissue, Rapid removal of calcium, No effect on staining
Name (2) strong and (1) weak acid decalcifying agents. - ANSWER Strong: HCl, Nitric acid,
Weak: Formic, Picric, Acetic
State (4) factors that affect the rate of decalcification. - ANSWER Size of tissue, Density of
tissue, Volume of fluid, Type of fluid., Agitation can speed up the rate of decalcification
ist (6) situations in which coated slides are particularly useful. - ANSWER any hard or
tough tissue (ex. Prostate with calcification), brain, blood clot, silver impregnation stains, im-
munohistochemistry, frozen sections
List two causes for each of the following problems which may be encountered when paraffin
sectioning. State the way to alleviate each problem.
Washboard
Alternate thick & thin sections
Scoring
Sections will not ribbon
Compression
Sections disintegrate on flotation bath
Curved ribbon - ANSWER a. Washboard:
Cause: Solution:
2
Why should the temperature of the flotation bath be set specifically at 5-10 °C below the
melting point of the paraffin wax? - ANSWER water bath that is too hot may distort tissue
morphology
Warm enough to relieve compression
Cool enough so the wax does not melt
What thickness are paraffin sections cut for the Luxol Fast Blue procedure? - ANSWER 10
- 15 um
Why are paraffin blocks put on ice prior to cutting? - ANSWER to soften the tissue;
harden the wax
What thickness are paraffin sections cut for the Congo Red procedure? - ANSWER 8-10
um
What epithelium occurs only in the female reproductive tract? - ANSWER Simple colum-
nar ciliated
n the gross room, what is the maximum thickness to which a tissue should be dissected? -
ANSWER 3mm
1
, What is the primary fixative used for electron microscopy? - ANSWER Glutaraldehyde
What will happen when there is too much gelatin in the floatation bath? - ANSWER The
whole slide will turn pink
List (3) things that a satisfactory decalcifying agent should ensure. - ANSWER Complete
removal of calcium without damaging tissue, Rapid removal of calcium, No effect on staining
Name (2) strong and (1) weak acid decalcifying agents. - ANSWER Strong: HCl, Nitric acid,
Weak: Formic, Picric, Acetic
State (4) factors that affect the rate of decalcification. - ANSWER Size of tissue, Density of
tissue, Volume of fluid, Type of fluid., Agitation can speed up the rate of decalcification
ist (6) situations in which coated slides are particularly useful. - ANSWER any hard or
tough tissue (ex. Prostate with calcification), brain, blood clot, silver impregnation stains, im-
munohistochemistry, frozen sections
List two causes for each of the following problems which may be encountered when paraffin
sectioning. State the way to alleviate each problem.
Washboard
Alternate thick & thin sections
Scoring
Sections will not ribbon
Compression
Sections disintegrate on flotation bath
Curved ribbon - ANSWER a. Washboard:
Cause: Solution:
2
