Tissue should be placed in a suitable fixative immediately after removal from the body to:
a) prevent decomposition due to enzymatic activity
b) permit the dehydrant to function properly
c) inhibit cross-linking of tissue proteins
d) stabilize tissue carbohydrates - ANSWER a) prevent decomposition due to enzymatic
activity
A fixative containing potassium dichromate:
a) is suitable when histochemical techniques are planned
b) will result in excellent for subsequent silver staining
c) is preferred for the preservation of argentaffin cells
d) will make tissue more receptive to eosin staining - ANSWER d) will make tissue more
receptive to eosin staining
A specimen is submitted with the statement that it was fixed in formalin. Microscopic sec-
tions show marked lysis of erythrocytes. This indicates that the fixative most likely was:
a) prepared with too much formalin
b) buffered above neutrality
c) acetified with acetic acid
d) not formalin - ANSWER c) acetified with acetic acid
The only kidney biopsy tissue available has been fixed in phosphate buffered glutaraldehyde
for 2 hours and then placed in phosphate buffer solution. If a portion of this tissue is pro-
cessed for light microscopy, sections would most likely show:
a) very poor glomerular preservation
1
, b) decreased uptake of hematoxylin
c) lysis of cytoplasmic elements
d) nonspecific PAS staining - ANSWER d) nonspecific PAS staining
When cutting 30 um sections of fixed brain tissue at a -15 degrees C cryostat, the sections
fragment at the knife edge. This problem could most likely be prevented by:
a) lowering the cryostat temperature to -30
b) raising the cryostat temperature to -5
c) freezing the tissue in liquid nitrogen
d) using the anti-roll plate - ANSWER b) raising the cryostat temperature to -5
If asked to cut cryostat sections of tissue fixed in Zenker solution, the histotechnician should:
a) section the tissue as is
b) explain that frozen sections containing mercuric chloride cannot be made
c) treat the tissue with iodine, hypo, and water before freezing
d) use a solution of 30% sucrose to infiltrate the tissue before freezing - ANSWER c) treat
the tissue with iodine, hypo, and water before freezing
The subsequent demonstration of chromaffin granules requires which of the following fixa-
tives:
a) Orth
b) Bouin
c) B-5
d) formalin - ANSWER a) Orth
How much 95% alcohol must be used to prepare 1000 ml of 70% alcohol:
a) 271 ml
b) 316 ml
2
a) prevent decomposition due to enzymatic activity
b) permit the dehydrant to function properly
c) inhibit cross-linking of tissue proteins
d) stabilize tissue carbohydrates - ANSWER a) prevent decomposition due to enzymatic
activity
A fixative containing potassium dichromate:
a) is suitable when histochemical techniques are planned
b) will result in excellent for subsequent silver staining
c) is preferred for the preservation of argentaffin cells
d) will make tissue more receptive to eosin staining - ANSWER d) will make tissue more
receptive to eosin staining
A specimen is submitted with the statement that it was fixed in formalin. Microscopic sec-
tions show marked lysis of erythrocytes. This indicates that the fixative most likely was:
a) prepared with too much formalin
b) buffered above neutrality
c) acetified with acetic acid
d) not formalin - ANSWER c) acetified with acetic acid
The only kidney biopsy tissue available has been fixed in phosphate buffered glutaraldehyde
for 2 hours and then placed in phosphate buffer solution. If a portion of this tissue is pro-
cessed for light microscopy, sections would most likely show:
a) very poor glomerular preservation
1
, b) decreased uptake of hematoxylin
c) lysis of cytoplasmic elements
d) nonspecific PAS staining - ANSWER d) nonspecific PAS staining
When cutting 30 um sections of fixed brain tissue at a -15 degrees C cryostat, the sections
fragment at the knife edge. This problem could most likely be prevented by:
a) lowering the cryostat temperature to -30
b) raising the cryostat temperature to -5
c) freezing the tissue in liquid nitrogen
d) using the anti-roll plate - ANSWER b) raising the cryostat temperature to -5
If asked to cut cryostat sections of tissue fixed in Zenker solution, the histotechnician should:
a) section the tissue as is
b) explain that frozen sections containing mercuric chloride cannot be made
c) treat the tissue with iodine, hypo, and water before freezing
d) use a solution of 30% sucrose to infiltrate the tissue before freezing - ANSWER c) treat
the tissue with iodine, hypo, and water before freezing
The subsequent demonstration of chromaffin granules requires which of the following fixa-
tives:
a) Orth
b) Bouin
c) B-5
d) formalin - ANSWER a) Orth
How much 95% alcohol must be used to prepare 1000 ml of 70% alcohol:
a) 271 ml
b) 316 ml
2
