Certified Nurses Operating Room (CNOR) Practice Exam

For a dry specimen container, what condition should be avoided when sending frozen sections to the lab?

1. Using formalin

2. Being overfilled

3. Using saline

4. Allowing to thaw

The correct answer is: Using formalin

The correct answer is allowing the specimen to thaw before sending it to the lab. For frozen sections, it is crucial that the specimen remains in a frozen state until it is processed. This is because the freezing process preserves the cellular structure necessary for accurate histological examination. If the specimen thaws, it can cause changes in the cellular morphology, which may lead to a misdiagnosis or an inability to properly assess the tissue. In the context of frozen section analysis, formalin is not appropriate for a dry specimen container, as it is typically used for fixation and can alter the tissue. A specimen that is overfilled may risk spillage or inefficient cooling, which can complicate the processing. Using saline could potentially interfere with the freezing process and tissue evaluation but is less critical than allowing the specimen to thaw. Therefore, ensuring the specimen remains frozen is paramount for accurate lab results.