Präparat

Präparat is a German term for a prepared sample or specimen, usually intended for microscopical study, display, or investigation. It is used across several disciplines, including medicine, biology, botany, anatomy, archaeology, and museum work. The word covers both microscopic slides and larger preserved objects.

In medicine and biology, a Präparat may be a histological tissue sample or a cytological slide. A histologisches Präparat consists of a tissue block that has been fixed, embedded, sectioned into thin slices, stained, and mounted on a microscope slide for examination. A zytologisches Präparat comprises cells prepared as smears, cytospins, or small tissue fragments on a slide, typically stained to reveal cellular features.

Preparation steps vary by type but common elements include fixation to preserve structure, processing with solvents, embedding in paraffin or resin, cutting into thin sections, and staining for contrast. Cytological preparations focus on cell morphology and may use stains such as Giemsa or Papanicolaou to highlight nuclei and cytoplasm. In both cases the goal is to render the sample suitable for microscopic analysis or teaching.

Beyond microscopy, Präparate also refers to preserved anatomical, botanical or fossil specimens prepared for teaching and display in laboratories or museums. The term denotes material that has been deliberately prepared and preserved, as distinct from unprocessed material or raw samples. Etymologically, Präparat derives from the German verb präparieren (“to prepare”).