What is indicated by gross examination of a specimen?

The indication that a specimen has undergone a gross examination is that it has not been sectioned into slides. Gross examination refers to the visual inspection of a specimen with the naked eye, typically performed on a surgical or biopsy specimen in its entirety or in large pieces, enabling the pathologist or technician to assess its size, shape, color, and other macroscopic characteristics. This step is crucial in pathology as it provides an initial evaluation before any microscopic analysis takes place.

During the gross examination, the specimen is not yet prepared into thin slices (slides) that would be suitable for microscopic examination. Thus, stating that the specimen has not been sectioned into slides accurately reflects the state of the specimen at the time of gross examination.

The other choices describe aspects that do not directly relate to the process of gross examination. Careful analysis under a microscope pertains specifically to histological examination, which is distinct from gross analysis. A preliminary test is a broader concept that may not apply directly to the specific act of examining tissues, and requiring immediate attention is not a standard characteristic of a specimen under gross examination. This focus on macroscopic analysis distinctly marks the correct understanding of what gross examination entails.