HISTOPATHOLOGIC TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES (RECALLS)

Question 1

In histopathology laboratory, what is the primary application of frozen sections?

A. For specialized silver stains, particularly in neuropathology
B. Rapid pathologic diagnosis during surgery
C. Diagnostic and research enzyme histochemistry for immediate diagnosis
D. Demonstration of fat cells and carbohydrate

Answer 1

B. Rapid pathologic diagnosis during surgery (TAT 5-15 MINUTES)

Question 2

What is the MOST RAPID and MOST WIDELY USED agent in the preparation of frozen sections?

A. Isopentane
B. Liquid nitrogen
C. Carbon dioxide gas
D. Aerosol sprays

Answer 2

B. Liquid nitrogen

A. Isopentane - FOR MUSCLE TISSUES
C. Carbon dioxide gas - FOR COLD KNIFE PROCEDURE
D. Aerosol sprays - FOR SMALL PIECES OF TISSUE

Question 3

In cold knife procedure, what is the optimum temperature of the knife?

A. -40 to -60C
B. -5 to -10C
C. 0 to -10C
D. -18 to -20

Answer 3

A. -40 to -60

B. -5 to -10C - TISSUE
C. 0 to -10C - ENVIRONMENT
D. -18 to -20 - CRYOSTAT

Question 4

What is the transition step between dehydration and infiltration?

A. Impregnation
B. Clearing
C. Embedding
C. Decalcification

Answer 4

B. Clearing

Question 5

Maria, an intern assigned at histopathology section received a brain sample labeled C24-1012 in the laboratory. Based on standard labeling protocols, what does the “C” in the label most likely indicate?

A. Surgical specimen
B. Autopsy specimen
C. Cytology specimen
D. Cytochemistry specimen

Answer 5

C. Cytology specimen

C24-1012
C - For Cytology
24 - Year specimen received, 2024
1012 - Accession Number

Question 6

What is the primary aim of fixation?

A. Preserve the morphologic and chemical integrity of the cell
B. Harden and protect the tissue from trauma of further handling
C. Act as mordant or accentuators
D. Inhibit bacterial decomposition

Answer 6

A. Preserve the morphologic and chemical integrity of the cell

B. Harden and protect the tissue from trauma of further handling - SCEONDARY AIM

Question 7

All are factors that ensure complete surface penetration by the fixative, EXCEPT:

A. Pressure
B. Volume
C. Temperature
D. pH

Answer 7

A. Pressure

B. Volume - 20x THE VOLUME OF TISSUE
C. Temperature - ROOM TEMPERATURE
D. pH - NEUTRAL (BETWEEN pH 6-8)

Question 8

All are factors that retard the fixation process, EXCEPT:

A. Presence of fats, mucus and blood
B. Cold temperature
C. Thick tissue sections
D. Agitation

Answer 8

D. Agitation - HASTENS/ENHANCES/ACCELERATES

Question 9

All of the following are good characteristics of a fixing fluid, EXCEPT:

A. It must be cheap, stable and safe to handle
B. It must inhibit bacterial decomposition and autolysis
C. It must be isotonic, causing minimal physical and chemical alteration of the cells
D. It must make cellular components sensitive subsequent processing

Answer 9

D. It must make cellular components sensitive subsequent processing - INSENSITIVE

Question 10

All of the following are physical preservation of tissue, EXCEPT:

A. heat
B. Cryopreservation
C. Vapor
D. Microwave

Answer 10

C. Vapor

Question 11

To prepare a 10% solution of formalin, which of the following amounts of water should be added to 100 mL of stock formaldehyde?

A. 100 mL
B. 900 mL
C. 450 mL
D. 9,000 mL

Answer 11

B. 900 mL

10% BUFFERED FORMALIN =
100 mL 37-40% formaldehyde +
900 mL water

Question 12

What is the actual concentration of a formaldehyde in a “10% formalin solution”?

A. 2%
B. 4%
C. 6%
D. 8%

Answer 12

B. 4%

Question 13

All of the following are composition of Bouin’s fluid, EXCEPT:

A. Ethanol
B. Picric acid
C. Formaldehyde
D. Glacial acetic acid

Answer 13

A. Ethanol

Question 14

All of the following are tissue softeners, EXCEPT:

A. HCL
B. Molliflex
C. Formalin
D. Perenyi’s

Answer 14

C. Formalin - HARDENS TISSUE, FIXATIVE

Question 15

What is the MOST COMMON and the FASTEST DECALCIFYING AGENT used?

A. Nitric acid
B. Hydrochloric acid
C. Von Ebner’s
D. Phloroglucin

Answer 15

A. Nitric acid

D. Phloroglucin - MOST RAPID DECALCIFYING AGENT

Question 16

Which measure the completeness of decalcification by touching or bending resistance to finger or by PROBING the tissue with needle?

A. Physical Method
B. Radiological method
C. Chemical method
D. Electro-chemical Method

Answer 16

A. Physical Method - MOST UNRELIABLE METHOD

B. Radiological Method - MOST RELIABLE METHOD

Question 17

Dehydration is accomplished through the use of :

A. Increasing grades of alcohol
B. Decreasing grades of alcohol
C. Increasing grades of xylene
D. Decreasing grades of xylene

Answer 17

A. Increasing grades of alcohol - STARTS WITH 70% TO AVOID CELL DISTORTION

Question 18

What is the MOST COMMONLY USED DEHYDRATING agent?

A. Xylene
B. Formalin
C. Ethanol
D. Nitric acid

Answer 18

C. Ethanol

A. Xylene - MOST COMMON CLEARING AGENT
B. Formalin - MOST COMMON FIXATIVE
D. Nitric acid - MOST COMMON DECALCIFYING AGENT

Question 19

Which of the following compounds is used to ensure that there is complete dehydration?

A. Copper Sulfate
B. Silver Nitrate
C. Calcium oxalate
D. Hydrogen Peroxide

Answer 19

A. Copper sulfate - IN THE PRESCENE OF WATER, WILL TURN TO BLUE

C. Calcium oxalate - COMPLETE DECALCIFICATION

Question 20

All of the following are processed at wet celloidin, EXCEPT:

A. Eyes
B. Bones
C. Large brain sections
D. Whole organs

Answer 20

A. Eyes - DRY CELLOIDIN

Question 21

When trimming tissue block, they must be surrounded by at least __________ of wax:

A. 1 mm
B. 2 mm
C. 3 mm
D. 4 mm

Answer 21

B. 2 mm

Question 22

What is the usual tissue thickness of a paraffin section in micra?

A. 10 to 15
B. 4 to 6
C. 10 to 20
D. 50 to 120

Answer 22

B. 4 to 6 - ROUTINE

A. 10 to 15 - CELLOIDIN SECTIONS
C. 10 to 20 - FROZEN SECTIONS

Question 23

What is the purpose of floating the ribbon in the water bath from paraffin section?

A. For easy staining
B. To flatten the ribbon
C. To remove the excess paraffin
D. To prevent the spread of diseases

Answer 23

B. To flatten the ribbon

Question 24

What is the most common cutting engine in the laboratory?

A. Sliding
B. Freezing
C. Rocking
D. Rotary

Answer 24

D. Rotary - FOR PARAFFIN SECTIONS, USES BICONCAVE KNIFE

A. Sliding - MST DANGEROUS, FOR CELLOIDIN SECTIONS
C. Rocking - SIMPLEST

Question 25

Which of the following involves the removal GROSS NICKS with heel to toe direction on the knife edge, to remove blemishes, and grinding the cutting edge of the knife on a stone? A. Honing B. Stropping C. Sectioning D. Microtomy

Answer 25

A. Honing B. Stropping - REMOVAL OF BURR, TOE TO HEEL

Question 26

What is the normal bevel angle when cutting tissue sections? A. 15 B. 0 to 15 C. 27 to 32 D. 14 to 15

Answer 26

C. 27 to 32 A. 15 - PERFECT AND OPTIMUM CUTTING ANGLE B. 0 to 15 - CLEARANCE ANGLE d. 14 to 15 - WEDGE KNIVES

Question 27

What is the purpose of Egg Albumin? A. For sectioning B. For adhesion or sticking C. For staining D. For mounting

Answer 27

B. For adhesion or sticking

Question 28

All of the following are supravital stain, EXCEPT: A. India ink B. Janus green C. Neutral red D. Trypan blue

Answer 28

A. India ink - INTRAVITAL STAIN

Question 29

What staining teachnique uses a mordant? A. Direct B. Indirect C. Progressive D. Regressive

Answer 29

B. Indirect A. Direct - DOES NOT USE A MORDANT

Question 30

Routine H and E staining is the most common method utilized for micro-anatomical studies of tissues, uses: A. Direct B. Indirect C. Progressive D. Regressive

Answer 30

D. Regressive - WITH DECOLORIZATION/WASHING-OUT C. Progressive - WITHOUT DECOLORIZATION/WASHING-OUT

Question 31

All are considered to be a natural dye, EXCEPT: A. Cochineal dyes B. Hematoxylin C. Aniline D. Orcein

Answer 31

C. Aniline A. Cochineal dyes - COCHINIEAL BUG, Coccus cacti B. Hematoxylin - MEXICAN LOGOWOOD TREE D. Orcien - LICHENS

Question 32

Ripening of hematoxylin is a process of: A. Oxidation B. Reduction C. Oxidation then reduction D. Reduction then oxidation

Answer 32

A. Oxidation - OXIDIZE THE HEMATEIN, ACTIVE COLORING AGENT

Question 33

Glacial acetic acid added to hematoxylin will: A. Inactivate stain B. Enhance cytoplasmic staining C. Decrease nuclear staining D. Enhance nuclear staining

Answer 33

D. Enhance nuclear staining

Question 34

A sheen of oxidized dye on the surface of hematoxylin solution indicates: A. Stain is concentrated B. Stain is contaminated by bacteria C. Stain has to be filtered D. Stain has to be discarded

Answer 34

C. Stain has to be filtered

Question 35

All fixatives can be used for H and E staining, EXCEPT: A. Formalin B. Flemming's fluid C. Helly's fluid D. Zenker's fluid

Answer 35

B. Flemming's fluid - OSMIUM TETROXIDE FIXATIVES

Question 36

What organelle does the hematoxylin stains? A. Nucleus B. Cytoskeleton C. Cytoplasm D. Mitochondria

Answer 36

A. Nucleus C. Cytoplasm - EOSIN

Question 37

Acid alcohol used in routine H and E staining acts as: A. Mordant B. Stain C. Blueing agent D. Differentiator or decolorizer

Answer 37

D. Differentiator or decolorizer

Question 38

All are considered to be a Romanowsky stains, EXCEPT: A. Wright's B. May-Grunwald C. Hematoxylin D. Leishman

Answer 38

C. Hematoxylin

Question 39

Which of the following is a stain for CARBOHYDRATES particularly glycogen and mucopolysaccharides, and GLOMERULAR BASEMENT MEMBRANE? A. Gram stain B. Periodic acid Schiff C. Perl's Prussian blue stain D. Bielschowsly's technique

Answer 39

B. Periodic acid Schiff - +RED/MAGENTA

Question 40

What is the OLDEST stain? A. Iodine B. Malachite green C. Orcein D. Neutral red

Answer 40

A. Iodine - 1839, STAIN FOR GLYCOGEN

Question 41

What is the most sensitive and speicific reagent for LIPIDS or FATS STAINING? A. Osmic acid B. Sudan IV C. Sudan Black B D. Oil Red O

Answer 41

C. Sudan Black B - STAIN FOR ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUE

Question 42

The Feulgen's reaction is the most reliable and speicific histochemical staining for: A. DNA B. RNA C. DNA and RNA D. Mitochondria

Answer 42

A. DNA +RED-PURPLE

Question 43

What stain is used for NEURONS, AXONS AND NEUROFIBRILS? A. Bielschowsky's techniqye B. Lindquist's modified rhodanine technique C. Masson Fontana Technique D. Perl's Prussian Blue method

Answer 43

A. Bielschowsky's technique +BLACK

Question 44

In the Masson Fontana technique, melanin is stained: A. Red B. Yellow C. Green D. Black

Answer 44

D. Black

Question 45

In the von Kossa's silver nitrate method, calcium salts are stained: A? Red B. Yellow C. Green D. Black

Answer 45

D. Black

Question 46

Toluidine blue is used to stain what microorganism? A. Mycobacterium leprae and Nocardia B. Legionella pneumophila C. Fungi D. Helicobacter pylori

Answer 46

D. Helicobacter pylori A. Mycobacterium leprae and Nocardia - WADE-FITE B. Legionella pneumophila - DIETERLE C. Fungi - GROCOTT and PAS

Question 47

What is the staining reaction of Spirichete in Levaditi's? A. Bright red B. Blue C. Black on yellowish background D. Green

Answer 47

C. Black on yellowish background Stains used to demonstrate SPIROCHETES: 1. Levaditi 2. Warthin-Starry 3. Modified Steiner

Question 48

To avoid distortion of the image, the REFRACTIVE INDEX of the mountant should be as near as possible to that of the glass which is: A. 1.180 B. 1.053 C. 1.581 D. 1.518

Answer 48

D. 1.518

Question 49

Which of the following is NOT an aqueous mountant? A. Water B. Apathy's C. Canada balsam D. Farrant's

Answer 49

C. Canada Balsam - RESINOUS

Question 50

What is the RI of Canada balsam mounting medium? A. 1.518 B. 1.524 C. 1.532 D. 1.520

Answer 50

B. 1.524 "Maraming pumupunta sa Canada, eded 15-24"

Question 51

What is the most likely cause of the "VENETIAN BLINDS" appearance in tissue sections? A. Insufficient fixation B. Insufficient dehydration C. Nicked blade D. Incorrrect microtome settings

Answer 51

C. Nicked blade

Question 52

What system of labelling is commonly used in tissue processing to ensure accurate identification of specimens? A. Fool-proof system B. Manual labelling system C. Randomized system D. Sequential system

Answer 52

A. Fool-proof system

Question 53

All are commonly found equipment in histopathology, EXCEPT: A. Microtome B. Water bath C. Shaker D. Centrifuge

Answer 53

C. Shaker

Question 54

Which of the following steps in tissue processing automatic tissue processor handles? A. Fixation, Dehydration B. Fixation, Dehydration, and Infiltration C. Fixation, Dehydration, Clearing, Infiltration D. Fixation, Decalcification, and Dehydration

Answer 54

C. Fixation, Dehydration, Clearing, Infiltration

Question 55

The autotechnicon is an automatic tissue processor. The last container in the series of sections pass through contains: A. Formnalin B. Alcohol C. Paraffin D. Acetone

Answer 55

C. Paraffin

Question 56

In automatic tissue processors, ____________ of the tissue into reagent containers, provides the agitation needed for the processing of the tissue: A. vertical oscillation B. horizontal oscillation C. diagonal oscillation D. rotational oscillation

Answer 56

A. vertical oscillation

Question 57

What antibody class most frequently demonstrated in immunofluorescent, immunoenzyme and IHC staining? A. IgA B. IgE C. IgG D. IgM

Answer 57

C. IgG

Question 58

Polyclonal antibodies are produced by injection of antigen into: A. mammalian cell cultures B. bacterial cultures C. animals D. plastic vials

Answer 58

C. animals MONOCLONAL AB - MICE POLYCLONAL AB - RABBIT

Question 59

Many tissues used in IHC are routinely fixed in: A. Mercury chloride fixative B. Ethanol C. Glutaraldehyde D. 10% Neutral buffered formalin

Answer 59

D. 10% Neutral buffered formalin NOTE: Routine tissue processing - 4 to 6 micra For IHC - 3 to 5 micra

Question 60

What is the most commonly used counterstain in immunohistochemistry (IHC)? A. Eosin B. Congo Red C. Hematoxylin D. Orange G

Answer 60

C. Hematoxylin NOTE: Counterstain for routine tissue processing - EOSIN Counterstain for IHC - HEMATOXYLIN

Question 61

AMINOETHYLCARBAZOLE (AEC), which is _________ in color, is common chromogen for peroxidases A. Brown B. Orange C. Pink D. Red

Answer 61

D. Red DAB - BROWN AEC - RED

Question 62

What is the fixative of choice for routine cytologic smears? A. 100% methanol B. Carnoy's C. 95% ethyl alcohol D. Ether-Alcohol

Answer 62

C. 95% ethyl alcohol A. 100% methanol - REC. SUBSTITUTE FOR 95% ETHANOL B. Carnoy's - FOR BLOODY SPECIMENS D. Ether-Alcohol - BEST FIXATIVE

Question 63

All are used as substitute for 95% ethyl alcohol in routine cytologic smears, EXCEPT: A. Hair Spray fixative B. Methanol C. Corn syrup D. Distilled water

Answer 63

D. Distilled water

Question 64

Which of the following can be used as an alternative for 95% ethyl alcohol in routine cytologic smears? A. Hair spray fixatives B. Spray fixative C. Formaldehyde D. Glutaraldehyde

Answer 64

A. Hair spray fixatives

Question 65

All are true about autopsy, EXCEPT: A. A special type of surgical surgery B. Ultimate aim is to determine malpractice where the autopsy in the lab is performed by a medical technologis C. Other name is necropsy D. Used as an investigative tool

Answer 65

B. Ultimate aim is to determine malpractice where the autopsy in the lab is performed by a medical technologist