ASCP PA key terms

The systematic visual and tactile inspection and description of a specimen as received, including size, shape, color, consistency, and relationship of its parts, recorded before any tissue is taken for processing.

Cutting a specimen into thin slices so that representative and diagnostically important areas, such as the lesion-to-normal interface, can be sampled for processing and microscopic review.

Evaluating the surgical cut edge of an excision to determine whether tumor extends to it, usually reported as involved, close, or uninvolved based on the distance of tumor from the inked surface.

A rapid intraoperative technique in which fresh tissue is frozen, thinly cut, and stained so a pathologist can give a timely answer about diagnosis, margins, or adequacy of sampling.

The sequence of fixation, dehydration, clearing, and paraffin infiltration that converts fresh tissue into a firm block suitable for microtomy and permanent section staining.

Cutting thin, uniform sections from a processed tissue block using a microtome, with correct blade angle, section thickness, and block orientation critical to producing interpretable slides.

Any change in tissue produced by handling, fixation, processing, freezing, or staining rather than by disease, which can mimic or obscure a true pathologic finding if not recognized.

A postmortem examination of the body, including external inspection, organ dissection, and microscopic sampling, performed to determine cause of death and document coexisting disease.

The disease or injury that initiated the sequence of events leading directly to death, distinguished from the mechanism and from contributing conditions on the death certificate.

The classification of how death came about, typically natural, accident, homicide, suicide, or undetermined, which is determined from the circumstances and autopsy findings together.

Chemical preservation of tissue, most often with formalin, that cross-links proteins to halt autolysis and putrefaction while preserving structure for later processing and staining.

An aqueous solution of formaldehyde, commonly buffered to near-neutral pH, used as the standard fixative; concentration, volume ratio, and duration all affect preservation quality.

Removal of calcium from bone or calcified tissue with acid or chelating agents so the specimen can be cut without tearing, balanced against the risk of damaging staining and DNA.

Placing ink, sutures, or other markers on a specimen or its margins so orientation is preserved and the pathologist can identify specific edges or regions after sectioning.

Planned checks that monitor whether a process or product meets defined criteria, such as verifying stains, reagents, and equipment performance before results are reported to clinicians.

The broader system of policies and activities designed to ensure reliable, timely, and clinically useful results across the total testing process, from specimen collection through reporting.

External assessment in which a laboratory tests unknown samples supplied by an accredited provider and its results are compared with peer laboratories to verify ongoing analytical performance.

Documented, unbroken record of who handled a specimen or evidence from collection through storage and testing, required when legal or forensic integrity of the material matters.

Refusal to accept a specimen for testing because it fails defined criteria such as mislabeling, inadequate volume, improper container, or unacceptable fixation, with the reason documented.

The interval from specimen receipt or order entry to result reporting, monitored as a performance measure and often stratified by specimen type or test priority.

A written program required where hazardous chemicals are used, describing safe practices, engineering controls, personal protective equipment, spill response, and employee training for those chemicals.

A standardized document supplied with a hazardous chemical that lists its hazards, handling precautions, exposure limits, first-aid measures, and spill and disposal guidance.

Infection control practices applied to all patients regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, gowns, eye protection, and safe handling of sharps and body fluids.

Barriers such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection worn to reduce exposure to infectious agents, chemicals, and other workplace hazards during specimen handling.

A puncture or cut from a needle, blade, or broken glass that can transmit bloodborne pathogens, requiring immediate first aid, reporting, and evaluation for post-exposure prophylaxis.

The regulatory airborne concentration ceiling for formaldehyde in the workplace; monitoring and ventilation are used to keep staff exposure below the permitted level.

Sorting discarded materials into correct streams, such as biohazardous, chemical, sharps, and general waste, so each is handled and disposed of according to applicable regulations.

Knowledge of extinguisher types, alarm and evacuation procedures, and storage practices that reduce ignition risk from flammable reagents and equipment in the laboratory.

The process of logging a specimen into the laboratory information system, assigning a unique identifier, and recording patient, source, and collection details before processing begins.

Software that manages specimen tracking, result entry, report generation, and billing, and that supports audit trails and quality data used for laboratory oversight.

Documented evaluation of a technologist's ability to perform assigned tasks, using methods such as direct observation, blind sample testing, and review of reported results.

The steps taken to fix an identified problem and prevent its recurrence, recorded with the root cause, responsible person, and verification that the fix worked.

A structured investigation that traces an error or adverse event back to its underlying system causes rather than blaming an individual, so durable preventive changes can be made.

The range of values expected in a healthy comparison population, used to interpret patient results and established by the laboratory for each test it reports.

Removal of a tissue sample from a living patient for diagnostic examination, which may be incisional, excisional, needle, or endoscopic depending on the clinical question.

A sample of individual cells or small clusters, such as a smear or fluid preparation, evaluated for cellular features rather than the architecture seen in tissue sections.

Special studies performed on tissue beyond routine staining, including immunohistochemistry, special stains, and molecular assays, used to refine diagnosis or guide therapy.

Checking a newly received batch of reagent or antiserum against known controls before use to confirm it performs within expected limits and has not degraded in transit.