HT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield HT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. The clearance angle on a microtome knife is defined as the angle between: → The bevel face and the vertical plane of the block
2. What is the common temperature used for paraffin embedding? → 60-65°C
3. What is the PRIMARY purpose of continuing education requirements in Specimen Handling & Fixation for HT professionals? → Maintaining current knowledge and competency as the field evolves
4. Chatter artifact in paraffin sections most commonly results from which of the following? → Loose knife or block clamp causing vibration
5. A tissue block stored at room temperature for several years shows poor ribbon formation during sectioning. What is the most likely cause? → Oxidation and hardening of paraffin over time
6. What is the standard method for transferring a frozen section from the cryostat stage to a glass slide? → Placing a room-temperature slide directly onto the section so it thaws and adheres
7. Which special consideration applies when handling a testicular biopsy for fertility evaluation? → Submit entirely fresh for sperm analysis and fix a small portion in Bouin's
8. Which instrument setting on a rotary microtome controls the thickness of each section? → Section thickness micrometer
9. When a skin punch biopsy for direct immunofluorescence (DIF) arrives, the CORRECT action is to: → Place in Zeus or Michel's transport medium
10. A cryostat section is BEST suited for which of the following applications? → Intraoperative frozen section diagnosis
11. Which processing artifact is characterized by empty, round spaces within tissue caused by fat dissolution? → Adipose ghost cells
12. When developing a laboratory's chemical hygiene plan, which element is MANDATORY under OSHA's Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450)? → Designation of a chemical hygiene officer
13. Which standard of practice is MOST important for ensuring quality in Routine & Special Staining Methods? → Following evidence-based protocols while adapting to specific circumstances
14. The oil red O stain requires frozen sections rather than paraffin sections because: → Organic solvents used in paraffin processing dissolve lipids
15. In H&E photomicrography, which white balance setting best reproduces the characteristic pink-purple staining accurately? → Calibration against a neutral gray card under the same light source
16. Which fixative is specifically recommended for tissue intended to demonstrate lipids in frozen sections? → Calcium-formalin (Baker's fixative)
17. What is the purpose of special staining techniques in histology? → To visualize specific tissue components or microorganisms.
18. The process of tissue shrinkage during fixation is MOST associated with which type of fixative? → Coagulative fixatives such as ethanol
19. What is the purpose of using immersion oil with a 100x objective lens? → To increase the refractive index and improve resolution
20. In IHC troubleshooting, absent or very weak staining despite a known positive control staining normally is most likely due to: → Loss or inadequate exposure of the target antigen in the test tissue
21. Which staining method is most commonly used for rapid staining of intraoperative frozen sections? → Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)
22. When a conflict arises between standard procedures and a unique situation in Specimen Handling & Fixation, what should a HT professional prioritize? → Safety and ethical obligations while seeking expert consultation
23. What effect does prolonged formalin fixation (>72 hours) have on immunohistochemistry (IHC) results? → Reduced or lost antigenicity requiring aggressive antigen retrieval
24. What type of objective lens corrects for both spherical and chromatic aberrations across the widest range of wavelengths? → Plan-apochromat
25. Holes or tears within a tissue section on the water bath most commonly result from: → Air bubbles trapped in the tissue during embedding
26. A 'venetian blind' artifact in paraffin sections (alternating light and dark lines parallel to the cut) is caused by: → A nick in the knife edge
27. A histotechnician is asked to dispose of used formalin fixative. Which regulation primarily governs proper disposal of this chemical? → Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) as a hazardous waste
28. Which dehydrating agent is considered most miscible with both water and paraffin, making it a common transitional fluid in processing? → Dioxane
29. A histotechnician notices tissue is crumbly and difficult to section after embedding. Which processing error is most likely? → Inadequate paraffin infiltration time
30. What is the recommended paraffin wax melting point range for routine histology embedding? → 56–58°C