Chapter 2 - Histotechnology Self-Assessment Workbook, 5th Edition

The ability of the microscope to separate small details is defined as what?

resolution

Sections that are approximately 1 cell layer in thickness must be cut at what thickness?

3-4 um (microns)

Microscope lens of x90 to x100 magnification are considered:

intermediate

high dry

oil immersion

polarizing

oil immersion

When cutting sections from paraffin blocks, the most common cause of unsatisfactory sections is what?

a poor blade edge

The regular laboratory incubator maintains a temperature of about how many degrees?

37*C (degrees Celsius)

When the magnification can be changed without the need to refocus, the microscope objectives are said to be:

parfocal

binocular

achromatic

apochromatic

parfocal

If a ribbon splits when cutting paraffin sections, the trouble is most likely due to what?

nicks in the blade edge

Care must be taken when using automatic coverslippers to ensure that:

only No. 1 coverslips are applied

only full baskets of slides are loaded on the coverslipper

the mounting medium applied is correct for long-term storage

the mounting medium reservoir is cleaned daily

the mounting medium applied is correct for long-term storage

The temperature of the oven used to maintain a supply of melted paraffin for embedding tissue is most commonly about how many degrees?

60*C (degrees Celsius)

Doubly refractile particles are examined using:

polarized light

ultraviolet light

electron microscopy

dark field illumination

polarized light

Crooked paraffin ribbons may be caused by what?

nonparallel block horizontal edges

When using a microscope with a x10 ocular and a x40 objective, the total magnification is approximately what?

400

The clearance angle of the microtome blade is routinely within what range?

3* - 8* (degrees)

The ordinary refrigerator, when operating normally, has a temperature that approaches:

0*C

0*F

4*C

40*F

4*C (degrees Celsius)

When a lens for a light microscope has been corrected for 2 colors, it is said to be what?

achromatic

When using paraffin with a melting point of 55* - 57*C, the most common temperature for floating sections on a flotation bath is approximately between what range?

45* - 50*C (degrees Celsius)

Compressed or wrinkled sections may be caused by:

overchilled paraffin blocks

defects in the blade edge

the wrong blade tilt

static electricity

the wrong blade tilt

The scanning objective on the light microscope is found:

above the oculars

at the lower end of the body tube

below the substage condenser

below the iris diaphragm

at the lower end of the body tube

Various size holes are noted in sections of paraffin embedded liver on the flotation bath. With further ribboning, these holes decrease in size and disappear. The most likely cause of the holes is what?

facing the block too aggressively

Birefringent substances are best examined with which of the following microscopes?

fluorescence

electron

light

polarizing

polarizing

(used for substances that are birefringent, doubly refractile, or exhibit anisotropism)

Which microscope is used to view substances that are birefringent, doubly refractile, or exhibit anisotropism?

polarizing microscope

During microtomy, the sections lift from the blade as the block is raised. The most likely, or possible, causes are:

a dull blade

too little blade tilt

too much blade tilt

an overchilled block

defects in the blade edge

a dull blade (more likely)

too little blade tilt

Microscopic examination of an H&E-stained section reveals marked chatter, especially at the edges of the tissue. This was most likely caused by:

a dull blade

too little blade tilt

an overheated flotation bath

overdehydration of the tissue

overdehydration of the tissue

During cryotomy, sections of varying thickness are obtained. This can most likely be corrected by what?

increasing the blade tilt

When checking the pH of a staining solution, the pH meter should be calibrated using a standard solution with a pH value:

closest to that of the staining solution

approximating that of water

in any range

close to 7.0

closest to that of the staining solution

The microwave oven creates heat in staining solutions by:

convection

conduction

nonionizing radiation

electrolytic action

nonionizing radiation

Tissue components can be measured with the light microscope in a process known as what?

micrometry

A microscope that has 2 eyepieces is:

parfocal

achromatic

binocular

orthochromatic

binocular

When a lens for a light microscope has been corrected for 3 colors, it is said to be:

orthochromatic

achromatic

apochromatic

parfocal

apochromatic

The high dry objective on most microscopes has a magnification of approximately:

x45

Tissues are subjected to a series of different reagents in a closed processor by:

tissue transfer

fluid transfer

heat transfer

linear transport

fluid transfer

When processed on a short cycle, tissue must be:

cut thin during grossing

washed after fixation

fixed in neutral-buffered formalin

started in 95% alcohol on the processor

cut thin during grossing

List 3 types of microscopy most associated with histotechnology:

light microscope

polarizing microscope

fluorescence microscope

List 3 types of microtomes:

rotary microtome

clinical freezing microtome

sliding microtome (not used in routine histopathology - cuts large paraffin sections in research)

Living cells are usually examined with the dark-field microscope. True or False?

False

A 3-dimensional image is obtained with the transmission electron microscope. True or False?

False

Another name for the ocular of a microscope is the eyepiece. True or False?

True

The analyzer of the polarizing microscope is placed between the specimen and the eye. True or False?

True

Steel blades are commonly used to section glycol methacrylate. True or False?

False

The angle formed by the block face and the cutting facet of the blade is known as the bevel angle. True or False?

False

When examined microscopically, 8-um sections will show all nuclei in the same plane of focus. True or False?

False

Slow freezing of tissue leads to the formation of ice crystals. True or False?

True

An overheated cryostat motor is frequently caused by ice buildup in the cryostat chamber. True or False?

False

Commonly, an overheated cryostat motor is actually caused by dusty coils. Coils should be cleaned regularly (text pg 26)

If the histotechnologist is skilled, then the most critical factor in the laboratory becomes the care and maintenance of laboratory instrumentation. True or False?

True

Routine care of the microtome requires a thorough cleaning and oiling every 2 weeks. True or False?

False

Dust collecting on the cooling coils of the crystat may cause the motor to run more slowly. True or False?

False

The temperature of the room is very important when cutting frozen sections. True or False?

False

This used to be more important before the new designs of cryostats, which do a great job at maintaining their temperatures inside the chamber while the operator has the door open. The new cryostat design allows for the door of the cryostat to be open for longer periods of time, giving the operator more time to obtain a good frozen section.

Paraffin sections will not adhere well to clean untreated and uncharged glass slides. True or False?

TrueP

Poly-L-lysine is a common additive to the flotation bath. True or false?

False

Poly-L-lysine actually coats certain types of slides

Water in the flotation bath is a possible source of contamination on sections to be stained for microorganisms. True or False?

True

New instruments are validated by the manufacturer and may be put into use immediately. True or False?

False

Silver stains done in a microwave oven will show increased background staining. True or False?

False

Automated embedding can be done using regular cassettes. True or False?

False

Special cassettes are used for automated embedding.

Most tissue contamination from floaters occurs in the deparaffinization steps. True or False?

True

Side-by-side comparisons are the best form of instrument validation. True or False?

True

Some staining kits may have the problem of disproportionate solution volumes. True or False?

True

Match the instrument with the closest correct temperature listed. Some answers may be used more than once or not at all.

laboratory incubator

infiltrating paraffin container

flotation bath

cryostat

refrigerator

freezer

60*C

45*C

37*C

22*C

4*C

-20*C

-50*C

-70*C

laboratory incubator 37*C

infiltrating paraffin container 60*C

flotation bath 45*C

cryostat -20*C

refrigerator 4*C

freezer -20*C and -70*C

Typically used to examine Congo red stained sections

A. fluorescence microscopy

B. polarizing microscope

C. both

D. neither

B. polarizing microscope

Used to examine auramine-rhodamine stained sections

A. fluorescence microscopy

B. polarizing microscope

C. both

D. neither

A fluorescence microscopy

Requires the use of a mercury or halogen lamp

A. fluorescence microscopy

B. polarizing microscope

C. both

D. neither

A. fluorescence microscopy

Aids in the identification of crystals

A. fluorescence microscopy

B. polarizing microscope

C. both

D. neither

B. polarizing microscopy

Used to examine unstained cells

A. fluorescence microscopy

B. polarizing microscope

C. both

D. neither

D. neither

Sections may be compressed, wrinkled, or jammed

A. too little blade tilt

B. too much blade tilt

C. both

D. neither

A. too little blade tilt

Sections may have lengthwise splits

A. too little blade tilt

B. too much blade tilt

C. both

D. neither

D. neither

Sections may show microscopic chatter

A. too little blade tilt

B. too much blade tilt

C. both

D. neither

B. too much blade tilt

Ribbons may be crooked

A. too little blade tilt

B. too much blade tilt

C. both

D. neither

D. neither

Ribbons may not form

A. too little blade tilt

B. too much blade tilt

C. both

D. neither

C. both

May result from improper processing (under and over processing)

A. mushy sections

B. chatter in section

C. both

D. neither

C. both

May result from a dull blade

A. mushy sections

B. chatter in section

C. both

D. neither

B. chatter in section

May result from a nick in the blade edge

A. mushy sections

B. chatter in section

C. both

D. neither

D. neither

May result from cutting too rapidly

A. mushy sections

B. chatter in section

C. both

D. neither

B. chatter in sections

May be corrected by soaking faced blocks

A. mushy sections

B. chatter in section

C. both

D. neither

B. Chatter in sections

Usually maintained at 37*C

A. cryostat

B. flotation bath

C. both

D. neither

D. neither

The device usually maintained at 37*C is the lab incubator.

Usually maintained at -20*C

A. cryostat

B. flotation bath

C. both

D. neither

A. cryostat

Required for sectioning for immunofluorescence

A. cryostat

B. flotation bath

C. both

D. neither

A. cryostat

May cause parched earth artifact in section

A. cryostat

B. flotation bath

C. both

D. neither

B. flotation bath

A too-hot flotation bath is a cause of parched earth artifact in section

Must be kept free of debris

A. cryostat

B. flotation bath

C. both

D. neither

C. both

Cryostat kept free of debris to minimize biohazard exposure risk to operator.

Flotation bath kept free of debris to avoid tissue-to-slide cross-contamination and incorrect patient diagnosis.

Uses a barrier filter

A. fluorescence microscope

B. light microscope

C. both

D. neither

A. fluorescence microscope

Focused by varying the strength of magnetic fields

A. fluorescence microscope

B. light microscope

C. both

D. neither

D. neither

Maximum useful magnification of x1,000

A. fluorescence microscope

B. light microscope

C. both

D. neither

B. light micrioscope

Requires a halogen or mercury lamp

A. fluorescence microscope

B. light microscope

C. both

D. neither

A. fluorescence microscope

Resolution of ~0.2 um

A. fluorescence microscope

B. light microscope

C. both

D. neither

B. light microscope

Is considered an acid solution

A. pH 7.0 buffer solution

B. pH 4.0 buffer solution

C. both

D. neither

B. pH 4.0 buffer solution

Is considered a basic solution

A. pH 7.0 buffer solution

B. pH 4.0 buffer solution

C. both

D. neither

D. neither

Should be used to calibrate pH meter for adjusting the pH of the Warthin Starry staining solution

A. pH 7.0 buffer solution

B. pH 4.0 buffer solution

C. both

D. neither

B. pH 4.0 buffer solution

Should be used to calibrate pH meter for measuring the pH of neutral buffered formalin

A. pH 7.0 buffer solution

B. pH 4.0 buffer solution

C. both

D. neither

A. pH 7.0 buffer solution

Is equivalent to the pH of pure water

A. pH 7.0 buffer solution

B. pH 4.0 buffer solution

C. both

D. neither

A. pH 7.0 buffer solution

(pg w19) The type of microscope used to examine the section shown in image A was a/an:

fluorescence microscope

phase contrast microscope

light microscope

electron microscope

fluorescence microscope

(pg w19) Tissue for the procedure shown in image A must be:

fixed in formalin

fixed in acetone

fixed in B-5

frozen unfixed

frozen unfixed

(pg w19) The technique shown in image A:

uses metallic impregnation

uses a fluorescent tagged antibody

demonstrates birefringent material

demonstrates scanning electron microscopy

uses a fluorescent tagged antibody

(pg w19) The microscope used for the technique shown in image A most likely uses a/an:

electron gun

polarizer

halogen lamp

fluorescent screen

halogen lamp

(pg w19) The section shown in image A is a section of:

skin

liver

pancreas

kidney

kidney

(pg w20) The problem shown in image B could most likely be corrected by:

increasing blade tilt

increasing the clearance angle

tightening the block and blade clamps

moving the blade

tightening the block and blade clamps

(also, decreasing blade tilt)

(pg w20) One cause of the problem shown in image B is:

clamping the block too tightly

too small a clearance angle

a defect in the blade edge

too much blade tilt

too much blade tilt

(pg w20) The problem shown in image B most often occurs when sectioning:

brain

uterus

kidney

lymph node

uterus

(hard tissues)

(pg w20) The problem shown in image C is the result of:

poorly dissolved eosin

overdrying the section

mechanical damage to the section

air trapped under the section

air trapped under the section

(see how the artifact is both round and cracked - likely because extra air underneath the tissue allows both sides to dry quickly, which overdehydrates the tissue to create a parched-earth-type artifact)

(pg w20) The problem shown in image C could most likely be prevented in the future by:

allowing the flotation bath water to stand overnight

avoiding mechanical damage to the section

making certain that the eosin is completely dissolved

drying the section in a convection oven

allowing the flotation bath water to stand overnight

(pg w20) The problem shown in image C occurs during:

fixation

processing

microtomy

flotation

flotation

(pf w21) The problem shown in image D is most frequently the result of:

poor fixation

overdehydration

incomplete clearing

inadequate infiltration

overdehydration

(pg w21) The problem shown in image D could have been helped by:

soaking the faced block

increasing the clearance angle

cutting slightly faster

decreasing the flotation bath temperature

soaking the faced block