HISTOTECHNOLOGY EXAM STUDY GUIDE WITH VERIFIED
QUESTIONS CORRECT ANSWERS | 2026/2027 LATEST UPDATE |
ALREADY GRADED A+
1. The purpose of processing is: -
ANSWER
remove the water from the tissue to prepare it for paraffin infiltration and embedding
2. The three steps of processing are: -
ANSWER
dehydration, clearing, infiltration
3. List four of the factors that affect the effectiveness of tissue processing: -
ANSWER
size of tissue, temperature, penetrability, agitation
4. Define viscosity as it relates to the size of molecules in a liquid: -
ANSWER
a low viscosity will penetrate quicker due to molecules being smaller
5. List four advantages of alcohol as a dehydrating fluid: -
ANSWER
miscible with water, acts rapidly, most reagents are soluble with it, more cost effective
6. What are two advantages and disadvantages of using acetone as a dehydrating fluid? -
ANSWER
Advantages: penetrates rapidly, less expensive
Disadvantages: flammable, shrinks and makes tissue brittle
7. Why was dioxane discontinued as a dehydrating fluid in tissue processing? -
ANSWER
highly toxic
, 8. Two purposes of the clearing step in processing is to: -
ANSWER
removing alcohol, preparing tissue for infiltration
9. Define universal solvent: -
ANSWER
acts as dehydrate and clearing agent
10. Two universal solvents are: -
ANSWER
THF and butanol
11. Why are universal solvents not recommended for common usage in tissue processing? -
ANSWER
are too toxic and harsh on biopsy
12. List three factors that could be used when considering which processing reagents to use: -
ANSWER
tissue size and type, toxicity, and cost
13. The purpose of the infiltration step of processing is: -
ANSWER
penetrate tissue with support medium to prepare for embedding
14. Define miscible: -
ANSWER
able to mix or combine
15. Why is it important that clearing agents are miscible with the infiltration medium? -
ANSWER
QUESTIONS CORRECT ANSWERS | 2026/2027 LATEST UPDATE |
ALREADY GRADED A+
1. The purpose of processing is: -
ANSWER
remove the water from the tissue to prepare it for paraffin infiltration and embedding
2. The three steps of processing are: -
ANSWER
dehydration, clearing, infiltration
3. List four of the factors that affect the effectiveness of tissue processing: -
ANSWER
size of tissue, temperature, penetrability, agitation
4. Define viscosity as it relates to the size of molecules in a liquid: -
ANSWER
a low viscosity will penetrate quicker due to molecules being smaller
5. List four advantages of alcohol as a dehydrating fluid: -
ANSWER
miscible with water, acts rapidly, most reagents are soluble with it, more cost effective
6. What are two advantages and disadvantages of using acetone as a dehydrating fluid? -
ANSWER
Advantages: penetrates rapidly, less expensive
Disadvantages: flammable, shrinks and makes tissue brittle
7. Why was dioxane discontinued as a dehydrating fluid in tissue processing? -
ANSWER
highly toxic
, 8. Two purposes of the clearing step in processing is to: -
ANSWER
removing alcohol, preparing tissue for infiltration
9. Define universal solvent: -
ANSWER
acts as dehydrate and clearing agent
10. Two universal solvents are: -
ANSWER
THF and butanol
11. Why are universal solvents not recommended for common usage in tissue processing? -
ANSWER
are too toxic and harsh on biopsy
12. List three factors that could be used when considering which processing reagents to use: -
ANSWER
tissue size and type, toxicity, and cost
13. The purpose of the infiltration step of processing is: -
ANSWER
penetrate tissue with support medium to prepare for embedding
14. Define miscible: -
ANSWER
able to mix or combine
15. Why is it important that clearing agents are miscible with the infiltration medium? -
ANSWER
