Study for the CAMLPR Histology Practice Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

In Acid-Fast Wade-Fites staining, blotchy staining occurs when which issue happens?

Blotchy staining in acid-fast Wade-Fite procedures shows up when you handle the section in a way that unevenly removes or distributes stain. Blotting the section and then rinsing in warm water causes the stain to be removed more quickly in some areas than others and the warmth speeds decolorization, so you end up with patches of stain and patches that look pale. In this technique, keeping washes gentle and at a cooler temperature helps maintain a uniform uptake and retention of stain across the tissue. Heating or cooling the stain repeatedly, leaving oil residues, or using old chromic acid would produce different artifacts and don’t specifically explain patchy staining the way uneven, warm washes with blotting do.

Blotchy staining in acid-fast Wade-Fite procedures shows up when you handle the section in a way that unevenly removes or distributes stain. Blotting the section and then rinsing in warm water causes the stain to be removed more quickly in some areas than others and the warmth speeds decolorization, so you end up with patches of stain and patches that look pale. In this technique, keeping washes gentle and at a cooler temperature helps maintain a uniform uptake and retention of stain across the tissue. Heating or cooling the stain repeatedly, leaving oil residues, or using old chromic acid would produce different artifacts and don’t specifically explain patchy staining the way uneven, warm washes with blotting do.