Histopathology Artifacts Quiz
ANSWER CASE 17
This micrograph shows a circular deposit adjacent to a section and
which contained recognisable squamous cells, cell debris, some
bacteria and an amorphous background which stains weakly with
haematoxylin. This deposit resulted from someone sneezing close to
the section while it was drying on a hotplate. Squamous cell
contamination on sections is not uncommon but it usually arises from
the fingers or scalp of the microtomist during flotation and less
commonly from sneezes or coughs. Give yourself a mark if you
correctly identified the contaminant as sneeze artefact. Half a mark
if your answer was squamous cell contamination.

© Roy C. Ellis 2004