Which of the following is a common 'contaminant artifact' seen as refractile, jagged crystals?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Talcum powder from surgical gloves
Talc or starch powder from gloves can contaminate specimens during grossing. Under polarized light, these particles often show a characteristic 'Maltese cross' appearance.
Keep practicing
More Histological Artifacts questions
- The 'hole' seen in the middle of a tissue section after it is placed on a slide is often caused by:
- During H&E staining, if the nuclei appear brown instead of blue, the most likely cause is:
- Which of the following artifacts is most likely caused by improper dehydration or incomplete infiltration of paraffin during tissue process…
- What is the primary cause of 'chatter' or microscopic vibrations seen in a histological section?
- Which artifact appears as dark, needle-like brown crystals, often occurring when the pH of the fixative falls below 6.0?
- A 'venetian blind' appearance in a tissue section, characterized by parallel cracks or splits, is most frequently associated with: