ASCP Histology Exam
Prep | HT & HTL
Certification Study Guide
1. What is the main purpose of tissue fixation in histology?
A. To dehydrate tissue
B. To preserve tissue morphology and prevent autolysis
C. To enhance staining
D. To remove lipids
✅ Answer: B. To preserve tissue morphology and prevent autolysis
2. Which fixative is most commonly used in routine histology?
A. Bouin’s solution
B. Zenker’s solution
C. 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF)
D. Carnoy’s solution
✅ Answer: C. 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF)
3. What is the active ingredient in 10% neutral buffered formalin?
A. Paraformaldehyde
B. Methanol
C. Formaldehyde gas dissolved in water
D. Acetic acid
✅ Answer: C. Formaldehyde gas dissolved in water
4. Which fixative is best for preserving glycogen?
,A. Alcohol-based fixative
B. Formalin
C. Bouin’s solution
D. Zenker’s solution
✅ Answer: A. Alcohol-based fixative
5. What is the recommended ratio of fixative to tissue volume?
A. 1:1
B. 5:1
C. 10:1
D. 20:1
✅ Answer: C. 10:1
Section 2: Tissue Processing
6. The first step in tissue processing after fixation is:
A. Clearing
B. Embedding
C. Dehydration
D. Sectioning
✅ Answer: C. Dehydration
7. What reagent is commonly used as a clearing agent?
A. Xylene
B. Alcohol
C. Water
D. Paraffin
✅ Answer: A. Xylene
8. What is the purpose of dehydration in tissue processing?
A. To remove water from tissue before infiltration
B. To harden the tissue
,C. To remove fat
D. To fix tissue
✅ Answer: A. To remove water from tissue before infiltration
9. What embedding medium is used in routine histology?
A. Paraffin wax
B. Plastic resin
C. Agar
D. Gelatin
✅ Answer: A. Paraffin wax
10. What temperature should paraffin embedding typically be performed at?
A. 30–35°C
B. 45–50°C
C. 55–60°C
D. 65–70°C
✅ Answer: C. 55–60°C
Section 3: Microtomy and Sectioning
11. The optimal thickness for paraffin sections in routine histology is:
A. 1 µm
B. 3–5 µm
C. 8–10 µm
D. 15 µm
✅ Answer: B. 3–5 µm
12. What is the main cause of “chatter” or “venetian blind” effect in tissue sections?
A. Overheated paraffin
B. Loose microtome knife
C. Hard tissue or dull blade
D. Excessive dehydration
, ✅ Answer: C. Hard tissue or dull blade
13. Which microtome is most commonly used in routine histology?
A. Sliding microtome
B. Cryostat
C. Rotary microtome
D. Vibratome
✅ Answer: C. Rotary microtome
14. What is the main purpose of a flotation bath?
A. To stretch paraffin ribbons for mounting
B. To dry the slides
C. To fix the tissue
D. To stain tissue sections
✅ Answer: A. To stretch paraffin ribbons for mounting
15. What is the ideal temperature of a flotation bath?
A. 25°C below melting point of paraffin
B. 5–10°C below melting point of paraffin
C. Equal to melting point
D. 10°C above melting point
✅ Answer: B. 5–10°C below melting point of paraffin
Section 4: Staining Techniques
16. The purpose of the hematoxylin in H&E staining is to stain:
A. Cytoplasm pink
B. Nuclei blue-purple
C. Collagen red
D. Fat black
✅ Answer: B. Nuclei blue-purple
Prep | HT & HTL
Certification Study Guide
1. What is the main purpose of tissue fixation in histology?
A. To dehydrate tissue
B. To preserve tissue morphology and prevent autolysis
C. To enhance staining
D. To remove lipids
✅ Answer: B. To preserve tissue morphology and prevent autolysis
2. Which fixative is most commonly used in routine histology?
A. Bouin’s solution
B. Zenker’s solution
C. 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF)
D. Carnoy’s solution
✅ Answer: C. 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF)
3. What is the active ingredient in 10% neutral buffered formalin?
A. Paraformaldehyde
B. Methanol
C. Formaldehyde gas dissolved in water
D. Acetic acid
✅ Answer: C. Formaldehyde gas dissolved in water
4. Which fixative is best for preserving glycogen?
,A. Alcohol-based fixative
B. Formalin
C. Bouin’s solution
D. Zenker’s solution
✅ Answer: A. Alcohol-based fixative
5. What is the recommended ratio of fixative to tissue volume?
A. 1:1
B. 5:1
C. 10:1
D. 20:1
✅ Answer: C. 10:1
Section 2: Tissue Processing
6. The first step in tissue processing after fixation is:
A. Clearing
B. Embedding
C. Dehydration
D. Sectioning
✅ Answer: C. Dehydration
7. What reagent is commonly used as a clearing agent?
A. Xylene
B. Alcohol
C. Water
D. Paraffin
✅ Answer: A. Xylene
8. What is the purpose of dehydration in tissue processing?
A. To remove water from tissue before infiltration
B. To harden the tissue
,C. To remove fat
D. To fix tissue
✅ Answer: A. To remove water from tissue before infiltration
9. What embedding medium is used in routine histology?
A. Paraffin wax
B. Plastic resin
C. Agar
D. Gelatin
✅ Answer: A. Paraffin wax
10. What temperature should paraffin embedding typically be performed at?
A. 30–35°C
B. 45–50°C
C. 55–60°C
D. 65–70°C
✅ Answer: C. 55–60°C
Section 3: Microtomy and Sectioning
11. The optimal thickness for paraffin sections in routine histology is:
A. 1 µm
B. 3–5 µm
C. 8–10 µm
D. 15 µm
✅ Answer: B. 3–5 µm
12. What is the main cause of “chatter” or “venetian blind” effect in tissue sections?
A. Overheated paraffin
B. Loose microtome knife
C. Hard tissue or dull blade
D. Excessive dehydration
, ✅ Answer: C. Hard tissue or dull blade
13. Which microtome is most commonly used in routine histology?
A. Sliding microtome
B. Cryostat
C. Rotary microtome
D. Vibratome
✅ Answer: C. Rotary microtome
14. What is the main purpose of a flotation bath?
A. To stretch paraffin ribbons for mounting
B. To dry the slides
C. To fix the tissue
D. To stain tissue sections
✅ Answer: A. To stretch paraffin ribbons for mounting
15. What is the ideal temperature of a flotation bath?
A. 25°C below melting point of paraffin
B. 5–10°C below melting point of paraffin
C. Equal to melting point
D. 10°C above melting point
✅ Answer: B. 5–10°C below melting point of paraffin
Section 4: Staining Techniques
16. The purpose of the hematoxylin in H&E staining is to stain:
A. Cytoplasm pink
B. Nuclei blue-purple
C. Collagen red
D. Fat black
✅ Answer: B. Nuclei blue-purple
