Which artifact appears as dark, needle-like brown crystals, often occurring when the pH of the fixative falls below 6.0?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Formalin pigment
Acid formaldehyde hematin forms when acidic formalin reacts with hemoglobin. It is a common artifact in blood-rich tissues and can be prevented by using 10% neutral buffered formalin.
Keep practicing
More Histological Artifacts questions
- A 'venetian blind' appearance in a tissue section, characterized by parallel cracks or splits, is most frequently associated with:
- Which of the following describes 'crush artifact' commonly seen in small biopsies?
- What is the likely cause of 'parched earth' or 'cracked' appearance in the tissue when viewed under the microscope?
- Which artifact is characterized by empty circular spaces within the cytoplasm of cells, often seen in frozen sections?
- The presence of a dark, opaque, granular precipitate throughout a section fixed in Zenker's or B-5 fixative is likely:
- If a tissue section appears 'cloudy' or 'milky' after clearing with xylene and before mounting, what is the most likely cause?