OSMT (Ontario Society of Medical Technologists) Practice Exam

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What is the purpose of a fixative?

a. Remove water from tissue
b. Provide support while sectioning
c. Harden tissues for further processing
d. Remove unwanted calcium

The correct answer is: c. Harden tissues for further processing

The purpose of a fixative is to harden tissues for further processing. Fixatives are chemical agents used in histology and pathology to preserve biological samples. They work by stabilizing the cellular structure and preventing decay by cross-linking proteins and other macromolecules. This process effectively maintains the morphology of the tissue, allowing for accurate examination and analysis under a microscope. Other choices address important aspects of tissue processing but do not accurately define the primary role of a fixative. Removing water from tissue refers to dehydration steps in processing but is not the function of a fixative itself. Providing support while sectioning relates to embedding procedures that follow fixation, where the tissue is encased in a medium for easier slicing. Lastly, while some fixatives may aid in the removal of unwanted calcium deposits in special cases, this is not their main purpose. The primary and most crucial role fixatives play is in hardening tissues, as highlighted in the correct answer.