Histology Certification Quality Control and Quality Assurance 3

Question 1

When selecting tissue for use as an IHC positive control, the most important criterion is that the tissue:

Accepted Answer

Must contain a known, confirmed concentration of the target antigen

Answer

Must be freshly collected on the day of testing to ensure antigen integrity

Answer

Must be obtained from the same patient as the diagnostic specimen

Answer

Must be processed in a separate instrument run from patient samples

Question 2

In H&E quality control assessment, 'eosin intensity' is evaluated by examining:

Accepted Answer

The pink-to-red coloration of cytoplasm and extracellular matrix components

Answer

The depth of blue-purple color in cell nuclei

Answer

The presence of brown DAB precipitate around target antigens

Answer

The sharpness and clarity of nuclear membrane outlines

Question 3

Which instrument must be regularly calibrated and verified in histology QC to ensure consistent tissue section thickness?

Accepted Answer

Microtome used for cutting paraffin-embedded tissue

Answer

Centrifuge used for cell block preparation

Answer

Floatation water bath used for section mounting

Answer

pH meter used for buffer preparation

Question 4

A 'delta check' in laboratory quality control is used to:

Accepted Answer

Compare a patient's current result with their previous result to detect unexpected discrepancies

Answer

Compare results from two different staining methods applied to the same tissue section

Answer

Compare QC performance metrics between two different accredited laboratories

Answer

Compare the sensitivity of two different antibody clones for the same target

Question 5

According to best QC practices, internal control slides in a histology laboratory should be stained:

Accepted Answer

With each staining run or batch of patient slides processed

Answer

Only when a new reagent lot is received and needs lot-to-lot verification

Answer

Once per week as part of scheduled routine QC monitoring

Answer

Only when a technologist suspects a problem with a specific reagent

Question 6

What is the purpose of 'method validation' when a new staining procedure is introduced in a histology laboratory?

Accepted Answer

To confirm the procedure performs as expected and meets defined criteria before use on patient specimens

Answer

To document the purchase cost and cost-per-test of the new procedure

Answer

To train all laboratory staff members on the new staining technique before go-live

Answer

To obtain written approval from the laboratory medical director for billing purposes

Question 7

When an 'out-of-control' QC result is identified in histology, the laboratory must:

Accepted Answer

Hold or repeat affected patient results until the problem is identified and corrected

Answer

Immediately contact the CAP inspector to report the out-of-control event

Answer

Proceed with reporting patient results while documenting the deviation in the QC log

Answer

Discard all reagents used in the failed run and order new replacements before continuing