Certified Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS) Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Post-mortem tissues are typically preserved by refrigeration or freezing to maintain their viability and prevent degradation before processing begins. This method is critical because it slows down enzymatic activity and inhibits the growth of microorganisms that could compromise the quality of the tissues. The refrigeration or freezing process helps ensure that the biological characteristics of the tissues remain intact for the necessary analyses, thereby increasing the success rate of subsequent procedures such as transplantation or research.

The other methods mentioned are less suitable for tissue preservation. Heating tissues can lead to denaturation of proteins and cellular structures, which would make the tissue unsuitable for later use. Drying at room temperature could lead to significant decay and loss of biological integrity due to exposure to air and potential contaminants. Chemical preservation methods, while sometimes used for specific applications, are not the standard for post-mortem tissues intended for immediate processing.