American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Histotechnician Certification Practice Exam

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Prepare for the ASCP Histotechnician Certification Exam with practice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your knowledge and skills to excel in the exam.

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What is a critical consequence of not immediately processing a urine sample for cytology?

Increased sedimentation
Decreased cell integrity
Urine dilution
Change in pH

The correct answer is: Decreased cell integrity

The critical consequence of not immediately processing a urine sample for cytology is decreased cell integrity. When urine samples are left unprocessed for an extended period, the cells within the sample can undergo degradation due to factors such as bacterial growth, changes in the chemical composition of the urine, and environmental conditions. This degradation leads to the disruption of cellular morphology and viability, making it difficult to accurately assess the presence of abnormal cells or other pathological changes when the sample is finally analyzed. Maintaining cell integrity is crucial in cytological evaluations because it ensures that the sample accurately represents the cellular characteristics at the time of collection. If the cells are compromised, it can lead to misinterpretation of results, affecting diagnosis and subsequent management decisions. In contrast, while increased sedimentation, urine dilution, and changes in pH can occur over time, their effects do not critically compromise the cellular structure in the same way that prolonged exposure to degrading conditions does. Thus, immediate processing is essential for the preservation of cellular integrity for effective cytological analysis.