Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) Staining MCQs
- What is the primary purpose of H&E staining?
- A. To visualize lipid content
- B. To highlight specific proteins
- C. To differentiate cell nuclei and cytoplasm ✅
- D. To stain carbohydrates
- What type of dye is hematoxylin?
- A. Acidic dye
- B. Basic dye ✅
- C. Neutral dye
- D. Lipophilic dye
- What color does hematoxylin impart to cell nuclei?
- A. Pink
- B. Blue/purple ✅
- C. Yellow
- D. Red
- What does eosin specifically stain in the cell?
- A. DNA
- B. Proteins in the cytoplasm ✅
- C. Lipids
- D. Polysaccharides
- What is the pH range of eosin used in H&E staining?
- A. Neutral (pH 7)
- B. Acidic (pH 4-6) ✅
- C. Alkaline (pH 8-9)
- D. Basic (pH 10-12)
- Why is hematoxylin often combined with a mordant?
- A. To stabilize eosin
- B. To enhance nuclear staining ✅
- C. To act as a dehydrating agent
- D. To remove background staining
- What is the role of differentiation in H&E staining?
- A. To fix the tissue sections
- B. To remove excess hematoxylin ✅
- C. To hydrate the tissues
- D. To enhance eosin staining
- What color does eosin stain the cytoplasm?
- A. Purple
- B. Pink ✅
- C. Yellow
- D. Red
- Which of the following is a common artifact in H&E staining?
- A. Ice crystal formation
- B. Tissue folding ✅
- C. Tissue shrinkage
- D. Uneven staining
- Which step follows eosin staining in the H&E process?
- A. Hydration
- B. Dehydration ✅
- C. Clearing
- D. Mounting
- Which reagent is used as a clearing agent in H&E staining?
- A. Xylene ✅
- B. Ethanol
- C. Methanol
- D. Acetone
- What is the main purpose of dehydration in the H&E process?
- A. To remove excess hematoxylin
- B. To prepare the tissue for mounting ✅
- C. To enhance nuclear staining
- D. To fix the tissue
- Which of the following tissues is best visualized using H&E staining?
- A. Lipid-rich tissues
- B. Bone tissues
- C. Soft tissues ✅
- D. Cartilage
- Which step in H&E staining ensures that the tissue is free of wax?
- A. Hydration
- B. Deparaffinization ✅
- C. Clearing
- D. Staining
- What is the most common fixative used before H&E staining?
- A. Acetic acid
- B. 10% neutral buffered formalin ✅
- C. Ethanol
- D. Osmium tetroxide
