BOC 2021 HT Pool Interactive Practice Exam

Question 1

All of the following are used for heat-induced antigen retrieval EXCEPT:
A. microwave oven
B. pressure cooker
C. 60° oven
D. 95-98° water bath

Answer 1

C. A 60°C oven is not used for heat-induced antigen retrieval.

Question 2

The agency which sets standards for and accredits laboratory education/ training programs is:
A. American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

B. Board of Certification (BOC)

C. National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)

D. National Coalition for Allied Health Leadership (NCAHL)

Answer 2

C. National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)

The NAACLS sets standards for, and accredits, histology laboratory training programs.

Question 3

An aqueous fixative MUST be chosen for sections that require:
A. the preservation of lipids
B. rapid sample fixation
C. maximum hardening
D. preservation of amyloid

Answer 3

A. the preservation of lipids

Review Aqueous Fixatives card in Fixative deck

Question 4

A section of skeletal muscle has been frozen in isopentane and liquid nitrogen, but numerous holes are seen in the H&E stained sections. This problem is most commonly caused by:
A. non-isometrically fixed muscle tissue
B. sectioning too soon after freezing
C. leaving in the isopentane too long
D. isopentane that is not cold enough

Answer 4

D. isopentane that is not fold enough

The isopentane should be at –150°C for the best freezing of skeletal muscle tissue; if it is not cold enough the freezing is slower and holes will be seen in the sections.

Review Frozen Section portion of Processing chapter

Question 5

A research project requires the demonstration of lysosomes on frozen sections of muscle tissue. The BEST procedure would be:
A. ATPase, pH 4.2
B. phosphorylase
C. acid phosphatase
D. succinic dehydrogenase

Answer 5

C. acid phosphatase

Acid phosphatase is considered a marker enzyme for lysosomes; the acid phosphatase stain indicates the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue.

See Enzyme Histochemistry chapter

Question 6

The final reaction product in the technique shown in the image is:
A. cobalt sulfide
B. azo dye
C. formazan
D. amylose

Answer 6

C. formazan

The final reaction product in the NADH diaphorase stain shown is a formazan.

See Enzyme Histochemistry chapter

Question 7

The activity of succinic dehydrogenase will be destroyed:
A. at 37C
B. at pH 7.6
C. by freezing
D. by fixation

Answer 7

D. by fixation

The activity of succinic dehydrogenase will be destroyed by fixation, as will the activity of many enzymes.

DUH

Question 8

While performing the daily temperature check of the embedding center paraffin reservoir, it is noted that the temperature is 12° above the melting point of paraffin. The most appropriate action is to:
A. drain and replace the paraffin
B. check the thermostat
C. recheck the temperature in 24hrs
D. do nothing, the temperature is acceptable

Answer 8

B. check the thermosat

The first step in investigating a temperature that is out of acceptable range is to check the instrument’s thermostat to assure that it is set properly.
Think: How easy is it for someone to accidently set the temp higher than needed or godforbid set it on a F read

Question 9

A Papanicolaou stained smear shows only blue-green cytoplasm in all cells. No pink cytoplasm is noted. The cytology preparatory technician should be cautioned about:
A. Fixing too long in 95% alcohol
B. decreasing the time in EA solution
C. over-rinsing the slides
D. acidifying the OG-6

Answer 9

C. over-rinsing the slides

Eosin Y rinses out of the cells faster than light green; therefore, rins

See Cytoprep flash cards & textbook chapter

Question 9

Which of the following solutions is considered hazardous and may NOT be disposed of in the sanitary sewer system?
A. sliver nitrate
B. copper sulfate
C. zinc sulfate
D. ferric chloride

Answer 9

A. silver nitrate

Solutions containing mercury, chromium, or silver may not be disposed of in the sanitary sewer system. The other chemicals listed may be disposed down the drain.

Our lab only has a haz waste container for metals like silver.

Question 10

Neuritic plaques of Alzheimer disease consist of abnormal cell processes, often in close proximity to deposits of:
A. amyloid
B. phospholipids
C. neuromelanin
D. astrocytes

Answer 10

A. amyloid

Alzheimer disease is characterized by neurofibrillary tangles, and deposits of amyloid surrounded radially by dilated and distorted neuronal processes to form senile plaques.

See Nerve chapter of textbook & Bielschowsky-PAS flash card

Question 11

The auxochrome is the group present in dyes that:
A. acts as an oxidizer
B. is associated with color
C. is responsible for forming ionic bonds
D. features double bonds involving carbon and/or nitrogen

Answer 11

C. is responsible for forming ionic bonds

The auxochrome is the chemical group present in dyes that is responsible for forming ionic bonds. The amino and carboxyl groups are frequently occurring auxochromes.

See Nuclear & Cytoplasmic Staining Flash cards

Question 12

What is the specific area of the CNS in the image?
A. cerebellum
B. cerebral cortex
C. pons
D. medulla

Answer 12

D. medulla
A section from the medulla is shown in the image.
Compare to spinal cord, cerebral cortex, pons, & cerebellum.

Question 13

Pure methyl green used at a slightly acid pH is considered a specific stain for:
A. aldehydes
B. polysaccharides
C. DNA
D. RNA

Answer 13

C. DNA
Acidified pure methyl green is considered a specific stain for DNA.

Question 14

In order to maintain the BEST tissue morphology in tissue samples to be decalcified, it is imperative that:
A. tissue is fixed prior to decalcification
B. staining times are shorted to counteract increased basophilia
C. tissue is treated with zinc salts after decalcifications
D. electrolytic method is performed on specimens

Answer 14

A. tissue is fixed prior to decalcification

If bone is not adequately fixed prior to exposure to decalcification acids, the tissue morphology will be adversely affected.

Question 15

Which of the following procedures will demonstrate Helicobacter pylori most rapidly in a laboratory without a microwave oven?
A. Steiner and Steiner
B. Diff-Quik
C. Truant
D. Dieterle

Answer 15

B. Diff-Quik

The Diff-Quik is the most rapid technique for Helicobacter pylori; the silver techniques require much more time.
Dieterle=pnemonia bacteria
Steiner& Steiner takes 30min for first steps

Question 16

The problem shown below most likely can be prevented in the future by:
A. cutting the specimen in small slices and placing in fixative immediatly
B. handling the sections more carefully during microtomy
C. decreasing the time that the tissue is in fixative
D. increase the paraffin infiltration time

Answer 16

A. cutting the specimen in small slices and placing in fixative immediately

Image is of sample of incomplete fixation (cracks & fuzzy nuclei), so only preventative options like increasing fixative time, decreasing penetration distance, ensuring 15-20x volume ratio, and not packing cassettes tightly in processor will help.

Question 17

Which of the following fixatives is stable at room temperature?
A. Karnovsky paraformaldehyde-glutaraldehyde
B. 2% to 3% glutaraldehyde
C. Zamboni PAF
D. 1% buffered osmium tetroxide

Answer 17

C. Zamboni PAF (buffered picric acid-formaldehyde)

Question 18

To maximize the resolving power of a light microscope, the substage condenser should be adjusted to sharply focus the light on the:
A. condenser front lens
B. lamp filament
C. specimen slide
D. iris diaphragm

Answer 18

C. specimen slide
The substage condenser functions primarily to concentrate light on the tissue section.

Question 19

If the tissue is fixed in formalin, postfixation is critical for a nonimmunohistochemical special stain used in the diagnosis of which of the following tumors?
A. liposarcoma
B. fibrosarcoma
C. neurosarcoma
D. rhabdomyosarcoma

Answer 19

D. rhabdomyosarcoma
The stain used in the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma is the PTAH, and this stain requires fixation in a solution other than formalin; therefore, tissue fixed in formalin requires mordanting in another fixative.

See PTAH flash card

Question 20

The succinic dehydrogenase technique will stain only:
A. sarcoplasmic reticulin
B. Z-band material
C. mitochondria
D. motor endplates

Answer 20

C. Mitochondria
Only mitochondria are stained with the succinic dehydrogenase technique.
Compard to the NADH diaphorase technique which will demonstrate mitochondria, Z-band material, and sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Question 21

All of the following microorganisms will stain with carbol-fuchsin solution EXCEPT:
A. Treponema pallidum
B. Mycobacterium leprae
C. Nocardia asteroides
D. Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Answer 21

A. Treponema pallidum
Treponema pallidumis a spirochete and will not stain with carbol-fuchsin solution.

Question 22

Give an examples of genera of spirochetes?

Answer 22

Genera of spirochetes:
Spirochaeta
Treponema
Borrelia
Leptospira

Question 23

What are spirochetes and what specail stain do they require for observation?

Answer 23

Spirochetes are gram-negative, motile, spiral bacteria, from 3 to 500 m long. Warthin-Starry silver stain.

Question 24

The proteins that form the thick and thin filaments of skeletal muscle fibers are:
A. fibrin and fibrinogen
B. collagen and tropocollagen
C. actin and myosin
D. thrombin and prothrombin

Answer 24

C. Actin and myosin
Actin and myosin form the thick and thin filaments of skeletal muscle fibers.

Question 25

The tissue shown in the technique below is:
A. cardiac muscle
B. skeletal muscle
C. pancreas
D. liver

Answer 25

B. skeletal muscle
The tissue is skeletal muscle.
Image is an ATPase stain.

Question 26

Immunoperoxidase stained tissues show a reaction of red blood cells and granulocytes with the chromogenic substrate. The most likely cause of this reaction is that:
A. the tissues contain antigen that reacted with the primary antiserum
B. the specimens were improperly counterstained
C. endogenous peroxidase was not blocked
D. the specimens were allowed to dry during the staining procedure

Answer 26

C. endogenous peroxidase was not blocked
Endogenous peroxidase was not blocked; if the tissue contains many red blood cells or leukocytes blocking is essential.

Question 27

The SOP for the following stain should indicate that the sections are to be cut at:
A. 2 - 4 µm
B. 5 - 8 µm
C. 10 - 15 µm
D. 16 - 20 µm

Answer 27

C. 10 - 15 µm
The image shown brain specimen. The image is also a Luxol fast blue stain, a stain for myelin, and sections should be cut at 10 – 15 µm.

Question 28

An enzyme technique that will demonstrate denervated muscle fibers and motor end plates is the:
A. NAD-diaphorase
B. acid phosphatase
C. phosphorylase
D. alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase

Answer 28

D. alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase
Alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase will demonstrate denervated muscle fibers and motor end plates.

Question 29

Sections for the stain shown in the image below will show yellow birefringence instead of apple green if the sections are cut at:
A. 2 microns
B. 5 microns
C. 8 microns
D. 15 microns

Answer 29

D. 15 microns
The stain shown is a polarized Congo red stain of amyloid. For the proper green birefringence as seen, sections should be 8 - 10 µm thick.
Thinner sections will show red birefringence
Thicker section will show yellow birefringence.

Question 30

Which of the following is required on chemical labels under the revised Hazard Communication Standard?
A. NFPA hazard label
B. signal words
C. disposal instructions
D. infection hazard

Answer 30

B. signal words
Signal words, along with pictograms, and a chemical hazard statement are required under the revised Hazard Communication Standard (Hazard Communication 2012).

Question 31

Nissl substance can be demonstrated by staining parallel sections before and after extraction with:
A. diastase
B. ribonuclease
C. hyaluronidase
D. deoxyribonuclease

Answer 31

B. Ribonuclease
Nissl substance is composed of large aggregates of granular endoplasmic reticulum with the RNA content providing the basis for demonstration by light microscopic techniques. Because of the RNA content, it can be demonstrated before and after extraction with ribonuclease.

Question 32

Protease is used in immunohistochemistry for:
A. the enzyme label for some antibodies
B. as the chromogen for alkaline phosphatase
C. as the blocking agent for avidin
D. for enzyme-induced retrieval

Answer 32

D. for enzyme-induced retrieval
Protease is used for some enzyme-induced retrieval methods.
Protease catalyze the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in proteins and polypeptides.

Question 33

A false-negative stain will most likely occur in the stain shown below if the tissue were fixed in:

A. B-5 solution
B. Bouin solution
C. Carnoy solution
D. neutral buffered formalin

Answer 33

C. Carnoy solution

A false-negative acid-fast stain will most likely result if the tissue is fixed in Carnoy solution.

Question 34

What does Acid-Fast stain do?

Answer 34

Acid-fast stain (AF or acid-fast bacterial AFB) is an important special staining technique using carbol-fuchsin. This is a differential stain used to identify acid-fast bacterial organisms, such as members of the genus Mycobacterium and Nocardia. Bacteria takes up carbolfuchsin and resists decolorization with a dilute acid rinse.
Fixation in Carnoy solution will make acid-fast organisms non-acid-fast.

Question 35

The enzyme technique shown below utilizes:
A. self-colored substrate
B. metallic impregnation
C. metallic precipitation
D. molecular rearrangement

Answer 35

C. metallic precipitation
The ATPase stain shown is a metallic precipitation technique. Cobalt sulfide.

Question 36

Which of the following cells are found predominantly in the central nervous system?
A. Schwann
B. Golgi
C. ganglion
D. astrocytes

Answer 36

D. astrocytes
Astrocytes are found predominately in the central nervous system.

Question 37

A fungal disease characterized by narrow-based budding and carminophilia of yeast organisms is:
A. blastomycosis
B. cryptococcosis
C. histoplasmosis
D. candidiasis

Answer 37

B. cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis is a disease characterized by narrow-based budding, carminophilic yeast cells.

Question 38

A method of decalcification is needed for research bone specimens on which subsequent oxidative enzyme stains are essential. Which of the following decalcifying methods should be selected?
A. electrolytic
B. ion exchange
C. chelating agents
D. simple acid

Answer 38

Oxidative enzyme stains can be done on bone that has been decalcified with a chelation agent such as EDTA.