California Histology Technician
Certification Exam Practice Exam
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which fixative is most commonly used in routine histopathology?
A. Carnoy's solution
B. Bouin's solution
C. 10% neutral buffered formalin
D. Glutaraldehyde
Formalin preserves tissue morphology well and is compatible with
most staining techniques.
2. What is the purpose of dehydration during tissue processing?
A. To fix the tissue
B. To remove water from tissue before embedding
C. To stain cellular components
D. To cut the tissue into sections
Dehydration removes water to allow tissue infiltration with
embedding media like paraffin.
3. Which embedding medium is commonly used for light microscopy?
A. Celloidin
, B. Agar
C. Paraffin wax
D. Gelatin
Paraffin wax is the most commonly used medium for embedding in
histology labs.
4. What temperature should paraffin embedding centers typically be
maintained at?
A. 25°C
B. 37°C
C. 60°C
D. 90°C
Paraffin melts and is maintained at about 60°C for optimal
infiltration and embedding.
5. What is the function of a microtome?
A. Dehydrates tissue
B. Embeds tissue in wax
C. Fixes tissue
D. Cuts thin tissue sections
Microtomes are designed to section tissue blocks into thin slices for
microscopic examination.
6. Hematoxylin stains which part of the cell?
A. Nucleus
B. Cytoplasm
C. Mitochondria
D. Golgi bodies
Hematoxylin stains nuclei blue or purple due to its affinity for nucleic
acids.
7. Eosin stains what cellular components?
A. Nucleic acids
, B. Cytoplasmic proteins
C. Lipids
D. Glycogen
Eosin is an acidic dye that binds to basic structures, especially
cytoplasmic proteins, staining them pink.
8. What magnification is typically used to examine tissue sections under
light microscopy?
A. 10x
B. 40x
C. 2x
D. 100x oil immersion
40x is commonly used for detailed examination of tissue architecture
and cellular morphology.
9. Which stain is best for detecting mucins?
A. Masson's Trichrome
B. PAS
C. Alcian Blue
D. Giemsa
Alcian Blue is a basic dye that binds to acidic mucopolysaccharides
like mucins.
10. The PAS stain highlights which of the following?
A. Collagen
B. Glycogen and basement membranes
C. Lipids
D. Iron deposits
Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stains carbohydrates and basement
membranes a magenta color.
Certification Exam Practice Exam
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which fixative is most commonly used in routine histopathology?
A. Carnoy's solution
B. Bouin's solution
C. 10% neutral buffered formalin
D. Glutaraldehyde
Formalin preserves tissue morphology well and is compatible with
most staining techniques.
2. What is the purpose of dehydration during tissue processing?
A. To fix the tissue
B. To remove water from tissue before embedding
C. To stain cellular components
D. To cut the tissue into sections
Dehydration removes water to allow tissue infiltration with
embedding media like paraffin.
3. Which embedding medium is commonly used for light microscopy?
A. Celloidin
, B. Agar
C. Paraffin wax
D. Gelatin
Paraffin wax is the most commonly used medium for embedding in
histology labs.
4. What temperature should paraffin embedding centers typically be
maintained at?
A. 25°C
B. 37°C
C. 60°C
D. 90°C
Paraffin melts and is maintained at about 60°C for optimal
infiltration and embedding.
5. What is the function of a microtome?
A. Dehydrates tissue
B. Embeds tissue in wax
C. Fixes tissue
D. Cuts thin tissue sections
Microtomes are designed to section tissue blocks into thin slices for
microscopic examination.
6. Hematoxylin stains which part of the cell?
A. Nucleus
B. Cytoplasm
C. Mitochondria
D. Golgi bodies
Hematoxylin stains nuclei blue or purple due to its affinity for nucleic
acids.
7. Eosin stains what cellular components?
A. Nucleic acids
, B. Cytoplasmic proteins
C. Lipids
D. Glycogen
Eosin is an acidic dye that binds to basic structures, especially
cytoplasmic proteins, staining them pink.
8. What magnification is typically used to examine tissue sections under
light microscopy?
A. 10x
B. 40x
C. 2x
D. 100x oil immersion
40x is commonly used for detailed examination of tissue architecture
and cellular morphology.
9. Which stain is best for detecting mucins?
A. Masson's Trichrome
B. PAS
C. Alcian Blue
D. Giemsa
Alcian Blue is a basic dye that binds to acidic mucopolysaccharides
like mucins.
10. The PAS stain highlights which of the following?
A. Collagen
B. Glycogen and basement membranes
C. Lipids
D. Iron deposits
Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stains carbohydrates and basement
membranes a magenta color.
