The spreading of metaphases is a slow process which leads to a stretching of chromosomes.

In routine chromosome harvesting of blood lymphocytes it is well accepted that metaphase spreads are obtained from fixed mitotic cells which burst on the surface of slides during the dropping procedure. For confirmation and clarification, fixed mitotic cells were dropped onto coverslips and observed under an inverted microscope during the evaporation of the fixative. Fixed mitotic cells in the metaphase stage first stick onto the surface of the coverslip without changing their three-dimensional shape and they do not burst. Thereafter, when evaporation of the fixative occurs, they slowly flatten until they are spread. This slow process leads to a stretching of chromosomes which may be a prerequisite for high resolution banding patterns. Confocal laser scanning microscopic measurements of the length, thickness, and width of chromosomes after (i) short term evaporation of the fixative, (ii) evaporation of the fixative under routine harvesting conditions and (iii) a prolonged evaporation, confirmed the stretching of chromosomes. The humidity, the temperature, and the drying time of the fixative influence the dynamic flow of the remaining fixative on the slide. This dynamic flow leads to an intensive wash of the fixed mitotic cells with increasing concentrations of acetic acid which is primarily responsible for the better quality of the metaphase spread.