HISTOTECHNOLOGY EXAM STUDY GUIDE WITH VERIFIED
QUESTIONS CORRECT ANSWERS | 2026/2027 LATEST UPDATE |
ALREADY GRADED A+
An example of an additive fixative ingredient -
ANSWER
mercuric chloride
When compared with tissue fixed in formalin, tissue fixed in zinc-formalin will show: -
ANSWER
superior nuclear detail
Nuclear bubbling on an H&E-stained section fixed in formalin is often caused by: -
ANSWER
underfixation
Certain tissue needs to be fixed in a solution that contains acetic acid yet stabilizes erythrocyte
membranes; a fixative that can be used is: -
ANSWER
Hollande
Which fixative should be used when trying to remove calcium from a specimen with
microcalcification areas? -
ANSWER
Hollande
Of the following, which contains copper acetate?
- Hollande
- Bouin
- Gendre
- Zamboni -
ANSWER
,Hollande
Microscopic sections show marked lysis of erythrocytes. This indicates the fixative was most likely: -
ANSWER
acetified with acetic acid
Kidney tissue was fixed in phosphate-buffered glutaraldehyde, then placed in a phosphate buffer
solution for storage. Sections processed for light microscopy will show: -
ANSWER
non-specific PAS staining
Uric acid crystals are only preserved when fixed in: -
ANSWER
absolute alcohol
A good fixative will: -
ANSWER
- protect tissue against alteration by subsequent processing
- make tissue more permeable to fluids
What is the function of methanol in commercial formalin solutions? -
ANSWER
to retard the polymerization of formaldehyde
Which fixative will allow for subsequent demonstration of chromaffin granules? -
ANSWER
Orth
When would you NOT use Bouin solution? -
ANSWER
when tissue is to be stained by the Feulgen reaction
,Formalin pigment can be removed with 10%: -
ANSWER
ammonium hydroxide in 70% alcohol
What happens when stock neutralized formalin solution is withdrawn from the stock container? -
ANSWER
it will become acidic
One action of acetic acid is to: -
ANSWER
coagulate nucleoproteins
Why are aldehyde fixatives used for tissue to be viewed with electron microscopy? -
ANSWER
they preserve cell ultrastructure
A fixative containing potassium dichromate: -
ANSWER
will result in excellent subsequent silver staining
If mercuric chloride is used alone for fixation, it will: -
ANSWER
penetrate poorly and cause excessive shrinkage
How do you remove the brown, crystalline pigment that forms on sections stored in unbuffered
formalin or acetate-buffered formalin? -
ANSWER
treat section with saturated alcoholic picric acid
Why can tissue sections for electron microscopy not be embedded in wax? -
ANSWER
tissues prepared in wax cannot withstand an electron beam
, Tissue fixed in Bouin solution should be washed with: -
ANSWER
50% - 70% alcohol
Zenker fluid is the recommended fixative for subsequent: -
ANSWER
PTAH staining
The acetic acid present in some fixatives: -
ANSWER
dissolves some cytoplasmic organelles & deposits
Absolute ethanol is a poor choice for the fixation of: -
ANSWER
lipids
Which fixative will give false-positive results in carbohydrate demonstration? -
ANSWER
glutaraldehyde
Why is it necessary to adjust the pH of most formalin solutions? -
ANSWER
because of the presence of formic acid
Carnoy solution is recommended for the preservation of: -
ANSWER
nucleic acids
Orth solution contains all of the following EXCEPT:
- potassium dichromate
QUESTIONS CORRECT ANSWERS | 2026/2027 LATEST UPDATE |
ALREADY GRADED A+
An example of an additive fixative ingredient -
ANSWER
mercuric chloride
When compared with tissue fixed in formalin, tissue fixed in zinc-formalin will show: -
ANSWER
superior nuclear detail
Nuclear bubbling on an H&E-stained section fixed in formalin is often caused by: -
ANSWER
underfixation
Certain tissue needs to be fixed in a solution that contains acetic acid yet stabilizes erythrocyte
membranes; a fixative that can be used is: -
ANSWER
Hollande
Which fixative should be used when trying to remove calcium from a specimen with
microcalcification areas? -
ANSWER
Hollande
Of the following, which contains copper acetate?
- Hollande
- Bouin
- Gendre
- Zamboni -
ANSWER
,Hollande
Microscopic sections show marked lysis of erythrocytes. This indicates the fixative was most likely: -
ANSWER
acetified with acetic acid
Kidney tissue was fixed in phosphate-buffered glutaraldehyde, then placed in a phosphate buffer
solution for storage. Sections processed for light microscopy will show: -
ANSWER
non-specific PAS staining
Uric acid crystals are only preserved when fixed in: -
ANSWER
absolute alcohol
A good fixative will: -
ANSWER
- protect tissue against alteration by subsequent processing
- make tissue more permeable to fluids
What is the function of methanol in commercial formalin solutions? -
ANSWER
to retard the polymerization of formaldehyde
Which fixative will allow for subsequent demonstration of chromaffin granules? -
ANSWER
Orth
When would you NOT use Bouin solution? -
ANSWER
when tissue is to be stained by the Feulgen reaction
,Formalin pigment can be removed with 10%: -
ANSWER
ammonium hydroxide in 70% alcohol
What happens when stock neutralized formalin solution is withdrawn from the stock container? -
ANSWER
it will become acidic
One action of acetic acid is to: -
ANSWER
coagulate nucleoproteins
Why are aldehyde fixatives used for tissue to be viewed with electron microscopy? -
ANSWER
they preserve cell ultrastructure
A fixative containing potassium dichromate: -
ANSWER
will result in excellent subsequent silver staining
If mercuric chloride is used alone for fixation, it will: -
ANSWER
penetrate poorly and cause excessive shrinkage
How do you remove the brown, crystalline pigment that forms on sections stored in unbuffered
formalin or acetate-buffered formalin? -
ANSWER
treat section with saturated alcoholic picric acid
Why can tissue sections for electron microscopy not be embedded in wax? -
ANSWER
tissues prepared in wax cannot withstand an electron beam
, Tissue fixed in Bouin solution should be washed with: -
ANSWER
50% - 70% alcohol
Zenker fluid is the recommended fixative for subsequent: -
ANSWER
PTAH staining
The acetic acid present in some fixatives: -
ANSWER
dissolves some cytoplasmic organelles & deposits
Absolute ethanol is a poor choice for the fixation of: -
ANSWER
lipids
Which fixative will give false-positive results in carbohydrate demonstration? -
ANSWER
glutaraldehyde
Why is it necessary to adjust the pH of most formalin solutions? -
ANSWER
because of the presence of formic acid
Carnoy solution is recommended for the preservation of: -
ANSWER
nucleic acids
Orth solution contains all of the following EXCEPT:
- potassium dichromate
