HT Histology Laboratory Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 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 (Correct answer)
- Clean Air Act as a volatile organic compound
- Safe Drinking Water Act via municipal sewer permit only
- Toxic Substances Control Act via EPA manufacturer reporting
Correct answer: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) as a hazardous waste
Formalin is regulated as a hazardous waste under RCRA, requiring proper manifesting and disposal through licensed hazardous waste contractors.
Question 2: Under CAP accreditation standards, how frequently must a histology laboratory perform and document calibration of its microtome blade-thickness settings?
- According to manufacturer recommendations and laboratory policy, with documentation (Correct answer)
- Daily before each use
- Monthly regardless of usage
- Only when a new blade is installed
Correct answer: According to manufacturer recommendations and laboratory policy, with documentation
CAP requires calibration per manufacturer recommendations and laboratory-defined policy, with records maintained; there is no universal mandated daily requirement.
Question 3: Which type of quality control material is MOST appropriate for monitoring day-to-day staining consistency in an H&E protocol?
- Multi-tissue control block containing a variety of tissue types (Correct answer)
- Single-tissue control of a known reactive tissue
- External PT sample from a proficiency program
- Previously stained patient slide used as a visual reference
Correct answer: Multi-tissue control block containing a variety of tissue types
A multi-tissue control block allows simultaneous assessment of staining characteristics across multiple tissue types, providing the broadest quality check for H&E.
Question 4: 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 (Correct answer)
- Installation of a dedicated eyewash in every room
- Annual third-party safety audit
- Posting the SDS binder at the laboratory entrance
Correct answer: Designation of a chemical hygiene officer
OSHA's Laboratory Standard requires that laboratories designate a chemical hygiene officer responsible for implementing and overseeing the chemical hygiene plan.
Question 5: A laboratory is adopting a new immunohistochemistry antibody clone. Which validation step determines the optimal antibody dilution?
- Titration across multiple dilutions on known positive and negative tissues (Correct answer)
- Comparison of staining results with a competing antibody clone only
- Single dilution test on a multi-tissue block
- Direct comparison with the manufacturer's published dilution without adjustment
Correct answer: Titration across multiple dilutions on known positive and negative tissues
Titration using serial dilutions on known positive and negative tissues identifies the dilution that provides optimal signal-to-noise ratio for the specific lab's conditions.
Question 6: In lean laboratory management, what is the term for any step in a process that consumes resources but adds no value from the customer's perspective?
- Waste (muda) (Correct answer)
- Kaizen event
- Value stream
- Poka-yoke
Correct answer: Waste (muda)
In lean methodology, waste (muda) refers to any activity that consumes time, materials, or labor without adding value to the final product or service.
Question 7: A technician reports that the automated slide stainer produces inconsistent eosin intensity across a batch. Which factor should be investigated FIRST?
- Eosin solution concentration and time of last reagent change (Correct answer)
- Hematoxylin staining time
- Cover-slipping adhesive quality
- Dehydration alcohol series concentration
Correct answer: Eosin solution concentration and time of last reagent change
Inconsistent eosin intensity is most commonly caused by depleted or diluted eosin solution, making reagent concentration and change date the first variable to investigate.
HT Histology Laboratory Management 3
A histotechnician is asked to dispose of used formalin fixative.
Which regulation primarily governs proper disposal of this chemical?