What does the term "floaters" refer to in surgical pathology QA?

The term "floaters" in surgical pathology QA refers to unidentified structures within specimens. In the context of pathology, "floaters" can represent artifacts or elements that are not part of the actual tissue being evaluated, but rather are extraneous or misleading. For example, these could include debris, cellular elements that do not belong to the tissue sample, or combinations of substances that can cause confusion in interpretation. Proper identification and handling of these structures are crucial for ensuring accurate diagnoses.

Other choices like floating tissues in specimen containers, unwanted particles in reagents, or non-specific binding in assays refer to different concepts that do not align specifically with the terminology used in surgical pathology QA, further emphasizing the unique context of "floaters" as it pertains to tissue analysis and quality assurance.