The problem in the image is most likely due to which of the following?

• A. An improperly dried slide
• B. A dull blade
• C. An improperly clamped block
• D. Moving to an unused section of the blade

Answer: (A)

Adhesion of the tissue to the slide depends on proper drying before staining. If the slide isn’t dried thoroughly, residual moisture can prevent the tissue from sticking firmly. During subsequent processing and coverslipping, that moisture can cause the tissue to lift, peel, or detach, producing the visible artifact. This is exactly what an improperly dried slide would cause. The other issues affect the cut itself rather than adhesion: a dull blade tends to produce thicker, torn, or ragged sections; an improperly clamped block causes compression or uneven thickness; moving to an unused blade area can create tool marks or inconsistent cuts. The observed problem aligns with poor drying leading to tissue detachment.