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

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When viewing a slide under a phase contrast microscope, a lot of cytoplasm around the mets may indicate what issue?

Insufficient staining
Inappropriate slide drying time
Incorrect microscope settings
Improper sample preparation

The correct answer is: Inappropriate slide drying time

Cytoplasm around metastatic (mets) cells can indicate an issue with the drying time of the slide. When a slide is improperly dried, it can lead to the distortion or alteration of the cellular structure. In phase contrast microscopy, the presence of excessive cytoplasm may suggest that the cells have not been sufficiently fixed or dried, leading to a greater appearance of cytoplasmic details. Proper drying is crucial for maintaining the integrity of cellular architecture, which is essential for accurate observation and interpretation of cellular characteristics, particularly in the context of detecting metastases. In this case, the duration and conditions under which the slide is dried can critically impact the visibility and clarity of the cytoplasm and overall cellular morphology. It’s important for cytogenetic technologists to ensure that slides are appropriately prepared to avoid misleading interpretations of the samples.