Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

What is applicable to paraffin processing?

1. Causes tissue shrinkage

2. Removes lipids from the tissue

3. Involves infiltration with paraffin wax

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

Paraffin processing is a critical method in histopathology for preparing tissue samples for microscopic examination. This process involves several steps, and it is essential to understand the implications of each step to comprehend the overall impact on tissue samples. The first point to note is that paraffin processing tends to cause tissue shrinkage. This phenomenon occurs during dehydration, where tissues lose water content, which can lead to a reduction in their size and potentially alter the morphology. Understanding this aspect is important for interpreting results and ensuring that comparisons between samples remain valid. Additionally, during paraffin processing, lipids are typically removed from the tissue. This is particularly relevant in the context of certain types of tissue, such as adipose tissue, which naturally contains a significant amount of fat. The removal of lipids is crucial as it aids in the infiltration of paraffin wax, ensuring that the tissue is adequately embedded for slicing into thin sections. Lastly, infiltration with paraffin wax is a core component of the paraffin processing technique. This step involves replacing the alcohol in the tissue with paraffin, allowing the tissue to be stabilized and cut into thin slices that can be mounted on slides for examination. Thus, selecting the answer that encompasses all these components provides a comprehensive understanding of paraffin