Free CT Cytopreparation Techniques Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which fixative is most commonly used for preparing Pap smears?
- Formalin
- 95% Ethanol (Correct answer)
- Saline
- Distilled water
Correct answer: 95% Ethanol
95% Ethanol is the most commonly used and recommended fixative for preparing Pap smears. Its primary function is to rapidly penetrate and preserve cellular morphology by coagulating proteins, preventing air-drying artifacts, and maintaining nuclear and cytoplasmic detail. Proper fixation is crucial for accurate cytological interpretation and diagnostic reliability.
Question 2: What is the advantage of liquid-based cytology over conventional smear techniques?
- More air-drying artifacts
- Cleaner background with better cell preservation (Correct answer)
- Lower diagnostic accuracy
- Higher rate of unsatisfactory slides
Correct answer: Cleaner background with better cell preservation
The main advantage of liquid-based cytology (LBC) over conventional smear techniques is its ability to produce slides with a cleaner background and superior cell preservation. LBC methods remove obscuring elements like blood, mucus, and inflammation, and evenly distribute cells in a monolayer. This significantly improves visualization of cellular details, reduces artifacts, and enhances diagnostic accuracy.
Question 3: Which stain is typically used for non-gynecological cytology specimens like fine needle aspirations (FNAs)?
- Diff-Quik (Correct answer)
- Silver stain
- Prussian blue
- Gram stain
Correct answer: Diff-Quik
Diff-Quik is a rapid stain commonly used for FNAs and other non-gynecological cytology samples.
Question 4: Why is rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) performed during fine needle aspirations (FNA)?
- To avoid staining slides
- To confirm specimen adequacy on-site (Correct answer)
- To delay diagnosis intentionally
- To use random sampling methods
Correct answer: To confirm specimen adequacy on-site
ROSE allows immediate assessment of sample adequacy, reducing repeat procedures.
Question 5: Which of the following is a cytocentrifugation technique primarily used for?
- Diluting specimen concentrations
- Concentrating cells onto a slide (Correct answer)
- Preparing tissue sections
- Removing cellular components
Correct answer: Concentrating cells onto a slide
Cytocentrifugation concentrates cellular material onto a small slide area for improved microscopic examination.
Question 6: What is a key reason for ensuring rapid fixation of cytologic samples?
- To increase artifacts for interest
- To preserve cell morphology and prevent artifacts (Correct answer)
- To allow longer storage before staining
- To eliminate background material
Correct answer: To preserve cell morphology and prevent artifacts
Immediate fixation prevents air-drying artifacts, preserving cellular detail for accurate diagnosis.
Question 7: Which technique is best for preparing samples from body cavity fluids for cytology?
- Cell block technique (Correct answer)
- Standard blood smear
- Gram stain alone
- Wet mount
Correct answer: Cell block technique
Cell block preparation allows for histologic processing and additional stains on cytologic material.
Question 8: What is a potential drawback of air-dried smears in cytology?
- Enhances nuclear detail
- May cause artifacts and obscure cellular detail (Correct answer)
- Improves background clarity
- Prevents contamination
Correct answer: May cause artifacts and obscure cellular detail
Air-drying can cause nuclear distortion and loss of cytoplasmic detail unless appropriately stained for dry prep.
Question 9: What is the function of coverslipping a cytology slide?
- To obscure cellular details
- To protect the specimen and improve viewing (Correct answer)
- To thicken the smear
- To dissolve fixatives
Correct answer: To protect the specimen and improve viewing
Coverslipping protects the stained preparation and enhances microscopic viewing quality.
Free CT Cytopreparation Techniques Questions and Answers
Which fixative is most commonly used for preparing Pap smears?