ASCP Board of Certification MLS Practice Questions

Clinically insignificant cold antibodies antibodies

The immediate spin phase of an indirect antiglobulin test (antibody screen and antibody identification) could most likely lead to the detection of what?

Micosporum canis

Albumin

Which analyte measurement is used to detect early nephropathy in a diabetic patient?

32 grams

In order to correctly prepare a 4 M solution of NaOH, how many grams need to be added to 200 mL of solution? (GMW NaOH =40 g)

Russell bodies

What are the globular inclusions in this cell?

This represents normal kidney function

A urine concentration test was performed on a patient after a fluid intake deprivation period with the following findings:

After 12 hours Urine Osmolality = 850 mOsm/KgAfter 16 hours Urine Osmolality = 850 mOsm/Kg

What do these results indicate?

Nucleolar

This antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is viewed using fluorescent microscopy, which pattern is this?

Corynebacterium jeikeium

Which species of Corynebacterium is lipophilic?

Systematic error

If a commercial lyophilized reagent is diluted using slightly more distilled water than indicated, what type of error will occur?

Hereditary spherocytosis

The autohemolysis test is MOST useful in the diagnosis of which condition?

Clinical Chemistry

Which clinical laboratory department performs the most tests?

Quantitative fecal fat

Which test requires a 72-hour stool (fecal) collection?

There is no discernable pattern

Which antinuclear antibody (ANA) pattern is seen in the image on the right, which represents the result of an ANA test viewed using fluorescent microscopy?

A

From the IgG molecule illustration, which region is the heavy chain?

Lactobacillus species

From the choices listed below, which organism is classified as an aerotolerant anaerobe?

Clostridium novyi

Staphylococcus aureus

Lactobacillus species

Neisseria species

Efficiency

The number of patients correctly diagnosed for the disease or not having the disease is defined as:

Cannot report

A manual white blood cell count was performed by the hematology technologist. The cell counts for both sides were 99 and 164 respectively. All nine large squares were counted on each side. The dilution for this kit was pre-measured at 1:100. What should the technologist report as the white cell count?

Candida glabrata

This species of Candida accounts for around 20 percent of urinary yeast isolates.

Positive DAT

Which finding best distinguishes immune hemolytic anemia from other hemolytic anemias?

Phosphorus

Which analyte shows no difference between capillary and venous values?

Amylase

Which blood test is used to determine acute pancreatitis?

Anti-Leb

If detected in antibody screen testing, which of the following antibodies is NOT considered clinically significant in prenatal patients?

Brown/black

Homogentisic acid in urine will cause urine to be which color?

Type IV Cell mediated hypersensitivity (T-cell dependent)

The type of hypersensitivity reaction associated with macrophage activation, cytokine-mediated inflammation is:

Reliability

The degree in which a measure is consistent in producing the same results when measuring the same analyte is called:

Lymphocytes

A college student is treated in the hospital for suspected meningitis. Which cells should be identified in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) report for the cytospin field that is shown?

Sodium

What contributes most to serum osmolality:

Lesions caused by deposition of antigen-antibody immune complexes

Identify a characteristic of an organ-non specific disorder that distinguishes it from an organ specific disorder.

ABO/Rh, DAT and/or antibody screening are NOT routinely performed in this scenario.

What is the recommended routine testing to be performed on a newborn of a group B Rh positive female?

Microcytic, hypochromic

A patient has the following hematology test results. Classify the anemia:

Hgb = 8.1 g/dL

Hct = 31%

RBC = 4.0 x 1012/L

Bacillus anthracis

Which organism displays the characteristic "Medusa head" on 5% sheep blood agar (SBA) after 18 hours of incubation at 35°C?

Estimated average glucose

Recently the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended reporting which of these values in order to correlate with hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) as a further indicator of glycemic control?

Myeloblast

Which of the following cells are considered abnormal and clinically significant on a CSF differential?

Ependymal

Myeloblast

Pia arachnoid mesothelial

Choroidal cells

Affinity

The name of a reaction between a single antigenic determinant and an individual combining site is:

Increased testing volume

A new clinic in the area is sending a very large number of additional chemistry tests to the laboratory. The existing chemistry instrument is only 2 years old and works well, however, there is a need to acquire a high throughput instrument. What is the appropriate "Justification Category?"

AB negative and AB positive only

Which fresh frozen plasma ABO types would be suitable for transfusion to an AB negative patient?

Streptococcus pneumoniae

The most frequent cause of bacterial meningitis in adults and in children is:

EIA or indirect immunoflourescence

Which serological test would be used for the diagnosis of Q-fever?

Positive because conjugated bilirubin is present and is excreted by the kidneys.

When a patient has a bile duct obstruction, the bilirubin test portion of the reagent strip is:

Cystic Fibrosis

The measurement of sodium and chloride in the sweat is the most useful test for the diagnosis of what condition/disease?

German measles (rubella) vaccine

All of the following represent a 2 week temporary deferral from donating blood or blood products EXCEPT:

Measles (rubeola) vaccine

German measles (rubella) vaccine

Mumps vaccine

Polio vaccine

Low aldosterone production

All of the following are causes of hypernatremia EXCEPT:

Excess water loss

Low aldosterone production

Decreased water intake

Increased sodium intake or retention

Cold agglutinin disorders

The arrangement of erythrocytes on this peripheral blood smear can be associated with each of the following conditions EXCEPT:

Multiple myeloma

Cold agglutinin disorders

Chronic inflammatory disorders

Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma

Induces increased production of HbF

How does hydroxyurea aid in the treatment of sickle cell disease?

Recombinant vector

Vaccines can be divided into the following non-experimental types with the exception of:

Live, attenuated

Inactivated

Toxoid

Recombinant vector

Call the RN or physician to let them know that the specimen is unacceptable, and it should be recollected.

A swab is submitted for an influenza screen. The swab used is a cotton swab with a wooden shaft that was placed in a moist transport container. What is the most appropriate next step in this scenario?

False

True or False: Serum lead level is a good inexpensive screening test for lead toxicity

C in Trans to RHD

Which D variant has the best likelihood to receive D-positive RBCs without any adverse effects?

Burkholderia cepacia

A patient with cystic fibrosis is admitted with a fulminant lung infection. A sputum culture grows a non-lactose fermenting, oxidase positive, Gram-negative bacilli. It is pyocyanin negative, nitrate reduction variable, and it is arginine dihydrolase negative.

>55%

The ratio of whole blood to anticoagulant is very important in the PT assay; at which hematocrit level should the standard anticoagulant volume be adjusted?

Post-hepatic cholestasis

Which condition would be suggested by a jaundiced patient experiencing a marked rise in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), conjugated bilirubin, and a slight rise in alanine aminotransferase (ALT)?

Le(a-b-)

Which one of the Lewis blood group system phenotypes usually produces anti-Lea?

Observe the same organism in all cases of a given disease

What is the first step in the four steps of Koch's postulates?

Sucrose

Which carbohydrate is NOT considered a reducing sugar?

Sickle cell (drepanocyte)

What is the characteristic RBC that is uniquely associated with HbSS?

Pantoea agglomerans

Of the Enterobacteriaceae listed below, which of the following species fails to decarboxylate lysine, ornithine, and arginine?

Pantoea agglomerans

Enterobacter aerogenes

Yersinia enterocolitica

Proteus mirabilis

Cytoplasm appears pink-purple due to small specific granules

Which phrase best describes a segmented neutrophil?

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)

Which marker is most useful for the detection of gestational trophoblastic disease?

Phialophora spp.

Which dematiaceous fungi affects the joints causing septic arthritis?

Tumor Cells

A cerebrospinal fluid sample was taken from an inpatient with severe neurological symptoms. The image shows a field from a cytospin preparation from this patient's fluid. What findings are present in this field?

The reduction of NAD to NADH

A chemical reaction that is utilized by many different analytical methods involves:

Kell

Which antigen is well developed on fetal cells?

2:1 - 4:1

What is the normal myeloid to erythroid (M:E) ratio in the bone marrow?

Clonorchis sinensis

The patient was a 55-year-old male immigrant from Korea. His current symptom was severe jaundice. He had had intermittent less severe bouts of jaundice in the past. During surgery, his proximal bile duct appeared to be enlarged with a nodular area of inflammation. A surgical biopsy was done and a parasite was observed in a stained tissue section residing in the lumen. Further examination revealed a collection of ova within the ovary of this fluke as see in this image (arrow). Which of the organisms listed below is most likely?

Chrnoic inflammation

This serum protein electrophoresis scan most likely represents which condition?

Autoanti-P

A 9-year-old male in Alaska presents with hemolysis and hematuria. The patient history reveals that he recently recovered from a flu-like virus. The ABO type is A+, and the DAT reacts at 1+. What blood group antibody should be suspected?

Citrate

This member of the Enterobacteriaceae was isolated from a stool specimen and gave the following biochemical reactions:

TSI: K/A, no gas, no H2S

Citrate: Positive

Lysine decarboxylase: Negative

Ornithine decarboxylase: Positive

Indole: Negative

This organism agglutinated in Group D Shigella antiserum.

All of the above biochemical results are consistent with this identification, EXCEPT?

TSI

Citrate

Lysine

Indole

About 11% lower

Whole blood glucose values are ____________ plasma glucose values.

Plasma cell

A white blood cell stained with Wright's stain has the following characteristics:

*Round eccentric nucleus with clumped chromatin pattern

*1:1 nucleus to cytoplasm ratio

*Basophilic cytoplasm

*Crescent-shaped clear area next to nucleus

What is the MOST likely identification of this cell?

CDe/ce

Which Rh genotype is found with the highest frequency in the Caucasian population?

Plasmodium falciparum

Which Plasmodium species tends to infect any red blood cell, regardless of the age of the cell?

Photopheresis

What procedure utilizes leukapheresis to collect the buffy coat from whole blood?

Amylase

All of the following laboratory tests are used to determine kidney function, EXCEPT?

Creatinine

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Amylase

Phosphorus

Ticks

Which arthropods would be classified as Arachnida?

Lithium or sodium heparin

Which additive prevents clotting by inhibiting thrombin and thromboplastin?

True

True or False: pH will be elevated without an elevation of pCO2 with respect o uncompensated metabolic alkalosis

D antigen

A D-positive mother with a D-negative fetus eliminates the possibility of HDFN due to the:

Allergic reactions

Basophils' primary role involves:

Retinol-binding protein

What is considered the major transport protein for vitamin A?

Phialophora verrucosa

The segmented, dark-staining grains seen in this photomicrograph are most commonly seen in cases of chromoblastomycosis. Which fungal species is known to cause this disease?

Cytochrome oxidase activity

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Burkholderia cepacia share each of the following characteristics EXCEPT:

Decarboxylation of lysine

Cytochrome oxidase activity

Production of colonies with a yellow pigment

Good growth on MacConkey agar

L-arginine

Nitric oxide is associated with the prevention of vaso-occlusion by decreasing cellular adherence to endothelium. Which amino acid is decreased in patients with sickle cell disease and is needed as a substrate to produce nitric oxide?

Chylomicrons

Which type of lipoprotein is the least dense?

Schistosoma mansoni

Which parasite has the MOST complex life cycle?

Heterozygous alpha thalassemia-2

Which genetic description will NOT contain Bart's hemoglobin at birth ?

Creatinine

Which of the following analytes would be increased due to delay in centrifugation?

Creatinine

Ionized Calcium

Folate

Bicarbonate

Properties of the membrane used

The selectivity of an ion-selective electrode is determined by the:

True

True or False: Pseudomonas stutzeri denitrifies nitrate

gp41 or gp160

The Western Blot for HIV-1 infection identification looks for HIV p24 and what other two protein bands to confirm HIV-1 infection?

Microcytosis, low variation of cell volume

A peripheral smear demonstrates a population of cells composed of red cells that are mostly 5 - 5.5 µm in diameter. The CBC data shows RDW of 13% (reference range 11.5-14.5%). Which morphology is consistent with these findings?

Immediately after waking up

Illustrated in this image is a field of view microscopically observed on a Scotch-tape preparation. Based on the morphology and presentation of these ova, an identification of Enterobius vermicularis can be made. The optimum time to obtain Scotch-tape samples of peri-anal skin to recover these ova is:

Phialophora verrucosa

In observing the slow-growing, 7-day-old dark brown colonies growing on Sabouraud Dextrose with Brain Heart Infusion (SABHI) agar, note that the black pigment extends to the reverse of the colony. This provides a presumptive indication of one of the fungi involved in chromoblastomycosis. The species identification of this fungus can be made by observing the distinctive fruiting heads illustrated in the bottom image. Select the identification of the fungal species.

Alcaligenes faecalis

Illustrated in the image to the left are 3-day old colonies growing on blood agar. The colonies are gray and spreading, and a sweet, fruity odor is noted. Plump, Gram-negative coccobacilli are seen on Gram stain. This isolate belongs to the motile, non-fermenters with peritrichous flagella. Carbohydrate utilization is asaccharolytic. Nitrite reduction produces gas and citrate is positive. From the multiple choices, select the name of this isolate.

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum

Illustrated growing on the surface of the blood agar plate shown in the upper left image are small distinctly beta hemolytic colonies suggestive of beta hemolytic streptococci, particularly when specimens are obtained from patients with an upper respiratory infection. Gram-positive bacilli in branching and Chinese letter formations are observed on Gram stain as illustrated in the upper right image. Observe the reverse CAMP reaction in the lower image. From these observations, select the identification of this bacterial isolate.

94%

The statistics for a specific laboratory test method are illustrated to the right. What is the sensitivity of this test?

Category A

Which bioterrorism agent category is the easiest to spread, has the ability to cause major harm, panic, and death, and carries the highest level of risk with regard to national security?

Insulin

All of the following hormones stimulate gluconeogenesis, the formation of glucose from noncarbohydrate sources such as amino acids, glycerol, and fatty acids, EXCEPT?

Insulin

Thyroxine (T4)

Cortisol

Glucagon

A substitution of an amino acid in the hemoglobin chain.

What best describes a hemoglobinopathy?

Platelet neutralization test

A patient has a history of repeated spontaneous abortion. Coagulation studies reveal an elevated APTT, normal PT, normal platelet function, and normal thrombin time. Schistocytes were seen on the peripheral blood smear.

Which test should be performed to determine if the patient has lupus anticoagulant?

Two hours

What is the maximum recommended amount of time a specimen without additive or anticoagulant should be allowed to clot before centrifugation?