American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Technologist in Cytogenetics certification (ASCP CG) Practice Test

What advantage does culturing living cells provide over direct harvest for chromosome analysis?

1. Lower cost of materials

2. More accurate results

3. Better morphology of chromosomes

4. Faster processing time

The correct answer is: Better morphology of chromosomes

Culturing living cells before conducting chromosome analysis offers the advantage of better morphology of chromosomes. When cells are cultured, they can progress through the cell cycle, particularly to the metaphase stage, where chromosomes are most condensed and well-defined. This enhanced condensation improves the visibility and distinctness of chromosome structure, making it easier to analyze for genetic abnormalities or karyotyping. The morphology of chromosomes is crucial for accurate analysis because well-defined chromosomes can help identify structural abnormalities, such as translocations, deletions, and duplications. Adequate chromosome morphology is essential for a thorough examination, ensuring that any potential anomalies can be detected reliably. Without culture, direct harvest may result in chromosomes that are less distinct, potentially leading to misinterpretation or failure to identify problematic areas of the genome. Other options, such as lower cost of materials, more accurate results, and faster processing time, do not specifically stem from the advantage offered by cell culturing. While these factors might be important, they do not directly relate to the enhancement in chromosome morphology that comes from culturing cells before analysis.