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ASCP HT Exam: Practice Questions

Number of questions: 250

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About the ASCP HT exam

The ASCP Histotechnician (HT) certification exam assesses the knowledge and skills required for entry-level histology positions. The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) administers the exam.

The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and has a 2.5 hour time limit. The exam covers essential histotechnology topics including tissue fixation, processing, embedding, microtomy, and staining. It also assesses proficiency in laboratory procedures, equipment operation, and safety procedures.

The exam fee is $225.

About these practice questions

These practice questions will help prepare you for the ASCP HT exam.

This page contains 250 practice questions divided into the five sections of the exam: 1. Fixation, 2. Processing, 3. Embedding/Microtomy, 4. Staining, and 5. Laboratory operations.

All questions have been carefully designed to mimic the questions on the real exam, to help you prepare and get a passing grade.

Sections

  1. Fixation
  2. Processing
  3. Embedding/Microtomy
  4. Staining
  5. Laboratory operations

Section 1: Fixation

1.1) Which fixative is used for electron microscopy?
  1. 10% neutral buffered formalin
  2. Glutaraldehyde
  3. Paraformaldehyde
  4. Zinc formalin
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.2) Why are bacterial smears heat-fixed before staining?
  1. To ensure the smears can be cut into thin slices
  2. To make the cell walls permeable so the stain can penetrate
  3. To prevent cells from being washed off during staining
  4. To provide a warm temperature for the bacteria to grow
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.3) What is the term for formaldehyde dissolved in water?
  1. Acetone
  2. Cytospray
  3. Ethyl acetate
  4. Formalin
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.4) Smears for cytology must be fixed:
  1. immediately
  2. within 2 hours
  3. within 8 hours
  4. within 16 hours
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.5) Which of these is a fixative?
  1. EDTA
  2. Formalin
  3. Hydrochloric acid
  4. Xylene
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.6) Which of these is a compound fixative?
  1. Acetic acid
  2. Bouin's fluid
  3. Formaldehyde
  4. Picric acid
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.7) Which of these actions will prevent the formation of acid formaldehyde hematin in formaldehyde solutions?
  1. Adding drops of cytochrome b5 reductase
  2. Keeping the solutions refrigerated
  3. Using buffered formalin
  4. Washing excess fixative overnight with water
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.8) Which chemical is added to formalin as a stabilizer?
  1. Half-normal saline
  2. Iodine
  3. Methanol
  4. Sodium phosphate
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.9) What percent of pure formalin is formaldehyde?
  1. 7–10%
  2. 17–20%
  3. 27–30%
  4. 37–40%
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.10) Specimens should be placed in a fixative that is ______ times greater than the volume of the tissue.
  1. 10–20
  2. 20–30
  3. 30–40
  4. 40–50
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.11) Which chemical is added to formalin as a buffer?
  1. Half-normal saline
  2. Iodine
  3. Methanol
  4. Sodium phosphate
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.12) How is a 10% solution of stock formalin made?
  1. 1 part stock formalin with 10 parts water
  2. 1 part stock formalin with 9 parts water
  3. 9 parts stock formalin with 1 part water
  4. 10 parts stock formalin with 1 part water
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.13) During fixation, why is buffered formalin used instead of normal formalin?
  1. To inactivate cellular enzymes
  2. To keep the tissue dehydrated
  3. To maintain a neutral pH
  4. To prevent cells from bursting
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.14) Generally, at what pH are fixatives most effective?
  1. 3
  2. 5
  3. 7
  4. 9
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.15) Which of these fixatives is alcohol-based?
  1. B-5 fixative
  2. Carnoy’s fixative
  3. Formalin
  4. Helly’s fixative
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.16) What color do picric acid fixatives give to tissues?
  1. Blue
  2. Green
  3. Orange
  4. Yellow
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.17) In fixation, which molecule is most commonly associated with streaming artifacts?
  1. Cholesterol
  2. Glycogen
  3. Myosin
  4. Phosphatidylglycerol
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.18) What color is formalin pigment?
  1. Brown
  2. Gray
  3. Red
  4. Yellow
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them. 1.19) What is the preferred fixative for Masson Trichrome?
  1. Acetone
  2. Bouin's solution
  3. Formalin
  4. Zenker's fixative
Answers are locked. Please click here to buy them.

Section 2: Processing

Section 3: Embedding/Microtomy

Section 4: Staining

Section 5: Laboratory operations

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