Final answer:
Gently rolling swabs over a slide minimizes cell damage during sample collection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gently rolling swabs over a slide can minimize cell damage during sample collection. This technique helps to prevent smearing, which could cause cell damage. Pressing the swabs firmly or rubbing them vigorously on the slide can lead to more cell damage instead of minimizing it. Additionally, dipping the swabs in fixative before applying them to the slide is not necessary for minimizing cell damage during sample collection.