Specimen Handling & Processing Flashcards
7 cards from real CET practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Specimen Handling & Processing flashcards as text
Which fixative solution is most commonly used to preserve endoscopic biopsy specimens for histological examination?
Answer: 10% neutral buffered formalin
10% neutral buffered formalin is the standard fixative for routine histological processing because it preserves tissue architecture and is compatible with most staining techniques.
When labeling a biopsy specimen container, which information is MOST critical to include?
Answer: Patient name, date of birth, and anatomical site
Patient name, date of birth, and anatomical site are essential identifiers to ensure specimens are correctly matched to the patient and the pathologist knows where tissue was obtained.
A gastric biopsy specimen should be placed into formalin within how many minutes of collection to ensure adequate fixation?
Answer: Within 1 hour, ideally immediately
Specimens should ideally be placed in fixative immediately after collection; delayed fixation beyond 1 hour risks autolysis and tissue degradation that compromises pathology results.
Which type of specimen requires a dry container (no formalin) and must be kept at room temperature for microbiological culture?
Answer: Tissue for H. pylori culture
Tissue submitted for H. pylori or other microbiological culture must be placed in a sterile dry container without formalin, as formalin kills organisms and prevents culture growth.
When multiple biopsy specimens are collected from different sites during the same endoscopy, what is the safest handling practice?
Answer: Place each site's specimens in a separately labeled container
Each anatomical site must be placed in its own separately labeled container to ensure accurate pathologic correlation and prevent specimen mix-up.
What is the correct tissue-to-formalin volume ratio recommended for adequate fixation?
Answer: 1:10 (tissue to formalin)
A 1:10 ratio of tissue to formalin ensures complete penetration of the fixative into all parts of the specimen for proper preservation.
A technician notices a biopsy specimen container is cracked and leaking formalin. What is the FIRST action to take?
Answer: Don protective gloves and a mask, contain the spill, and transfer the specimen to a new container
Formalin is a hazardous chemical; the technician must don PPE immediately, contain the spill per OSHA guidelines, and safely transfer the specimen to prevent loss and exposure.