ASCP BOARD OF CERTIFICATION MLT EXAM REVIEW
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025
Nephelometry is based on the principle of: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Turbidity resulting from specific antigen-
coated latex particles agglutinated by corresponding antibody
Which of the following can cause hemolysis and perhaps result in recollection of the specimen? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Pushing the plunger of a syringe when transferring blood into vacuum tubes.
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 di
lution for this kit was pre-
measured at 1:100. What should the technologist report as the white cell count? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Cannot report
When comparing the white cell counts from one side of the hemacytometer to the other, there is n
ot good duplication. Cell counts from opposite sides of the hemacytometer (within the same patient
sample) that are greater than 10% of one another are considered discrepant and should not be us
ed to calculate reportable results. This particular count should not be used to report patient results.
The RBC inclusions shown in the photograph represent which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Howell-Jolly bodies
Howell-
Jolly bodies are usually single, round, and tend to be positioned at the periphery of the red blood c
ell. These inclusions are rarely found on a routine peripheral blood smear, as they are usually remo
ved by a functioning spleen. Howell-
Jolly bodies appear in megaloblastic anemias and aſter splenectomy.
Which of the following tests would be employed in order to detect neural tube defects? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Alpha fetoprotein
Alpha-
fetoprotein is a protein measured in pregnant women, using maternal blood or amniotic fluid, as a
screening test for a subset developmental abnormalities: it is principally increased in open neural tu
be defects and decreased in Down syndrome.
,A patient has the following serum results:
Na = 130 mEq/LK = 4.9 mEq/LCl = 107 mEq/LGlucose = 300 mg/dLBUN = 18 mg/dLCreatinine = 1.1
mg/dL
Which osmolality result is consistent with these results?. - CORRECT ANSWER -281 mosmol/kg
Osmolality = 2 x Na + [Glucose (mg/dL) / 20] + [BUN (mg/dL)/ 3]
A liquid ion-exchange membrane electrode using the antibiotic valinomycin is MOST selective for: -
CORRECT ANSWER -Potassium
The valinomycin membrane electrode is most selective for potassium as opposed to sodium, glucose
, or chloride which utilize different membranes for their respective electrodes. Valinomycin, which is
neutral in charge, has been incorporated into organic liquid membranes resulting in a sensor with
a very high selectivity for potassium.
What should safety management start with in order to ensure clarity and consistency? -
CORRECT ANSWER -A written safety policy
Which of the following statements about high-frequency antigens is correct? - CORRECT ANSWER -
High-frequency antigens are common, but it is difficult to identify their corresponding antibodies.
An adult's plasma cortisol of 22 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m. and 10 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m. would be: -
CORRECT ANSWER -Found in a healthy individual
Normal levels: 5-23 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m.
3-16 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m.
<50% of 8:00 a.m. values at 8:00 p.m.
A peripheralx smearx demonstratesx ax populationx ofx redx cellsx thatx arex mostlyx 5x -
5.5x µmx inx diameter.x Thex CBCx datax showsx RDWx ofx 13%x (referencex rangex 11.5-
14.5%).x Whichx ofx thex followingx morphologiesx isx consistentx withx thesex findings?x
-
CORRECTx ANSWERx -Microcytosis,x lowx variationx ofx cellx volume
,x
Selectx thex primaryx reagentx componentsx usedx inx thex Jaffex reactionx forx creatinine.x
-
CORRECTx ANSWERx -Saturatedx picricx acidx andx sodiumx hydroxide
Whichx ofx thex followingx arex markersx currentlyx usedx tox differentiatex heartx failurex fromx lungx disease?
x-
CORRECTx ANSWERx -BNPx andx NT-proBNP
Whichx ofx thex followingx isx ax selectivex mediumx forx Campylobacterx jejuni?x -
x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
Skirrowx agar
Whichx Lewisx antigen(s)x wouldx bex detectedx whenx phenotypingx thex redx cellsx ofx anx adultx whox hasx t
he
Le,x Se,x andx Hx genes?x -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -Leb
Thex Sex genex codesx forx thex enzyme,x a-2-L-fucosyltransferase,x whichx addsx L-
fucosex tox thex typex 1x precursorx Hx (typex 1).x Thex Lex genex codesx forx anotherx
L-
fucosex whichx formsx thex Lebx antigen.
Illustratedx inx thex topx photographx arex acid-fastx bacillix asx theyx mayx appearx inx acid-
fastx stainsx preparedx fromx ax directx mountx ofx infectedx tissue.x Thesex acidx fastx bacillix arex thin,x slightly
xc
urved,x red-
pigmentedx andx beaded.x Thex acidx fastx bacilli,x asx illustratedx inx thex bottomx photograph,x aggregatex in
xs
erpentinex chordsx inx stainedx mountsx preparedx fromx coloniesx growingx onx agar.x Fromx thesex observati
o
ns,x selectx thex presumptivex identificationx ofx thisx mycobacterium.x -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
Mycobacterium
Thex predominant x tuberculosis
x cellsx seenx onx thex CSFx smearx inx thisx illustrationx arex indicativex of:
x-
CORRECTx ANSWERx -Bacterialx meningitis
Ax newbornx presentsx withx neonatalx alloimmunex thrombocytopenia.x Whatx isx thex mostx likelyx causex
of
thisx condition?x -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -Maternalx antibodiesx tox neonatalx plateletx antigens
Ax lipidx panelx consistsx ofx whichx ofx thex followingx tests?x -
x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
Cholesterol,x Lipoprotein,x HDL,x Triglycerides
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025
Nephelometry is based on the principle of: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Turbidity resulting from specific antigen-
coated latex particles agglutinated by corresponding antibody
Which of the following can cause hemolysis and perhaps result in recollection of the specimen? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Pushing the plunger of a syringe when transferring blood into vacuum tubes.
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 di
lution for this kit was pre-
measured at 1:100. What should the technologist report as the white cell count? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Cannot report
When comparing the white cell counts from one side of the hemacytometer to the other, there is n
ot good duplication. Cell counts from opposite sides of the hemacytometer (within the same patient
sample) that are greater than 10% of one another are considered discrepant and should not be us
ed to calculate reportable results. This particular count should not be used to report patient results.
The RBC inclusions shown in the photograph represent which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Howell-Jolly bodies
Howell-
Jolly bodies are usually single, round, and tend to be positioned at the periphery of the red blood c
ell. These inclusions are rarely found on a routine peripheral blood smear, as they are usually remo
ved by a functioning spleen. Howell-
Jolly bodies appear in megaloblastic anemias and aſter splenectomy.
Which of the following tests would be employed in order to detect neural tube defects? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Alpha fetoprotein
Alpha-
fetoprotein is a protein measured in pregnant women, using maternal blood or amniotic fluid, as a
screening test for a subset developmental abnormalities: it is principally increased in open neural tu
be defects and decreased in Down syndrome.
,A patient has the following serum results:
Na = 130 mEq/LK = 4.9 mEq/LCl = 107 mEq/LGlucose = 300 mg/dLBUN = 18 mg/dLCreatinine = 1.1
mg/dL
Which osmolality result is consistent with these results?. - CORRECT ANSWER -281 mosmol/kg
Osmolality = 2 x Na + [Glucose (mg/dL) / 20] + [BUN (mg/dL)/ 3]
A liquid ion-exchange membrane electrode using the antibiotic valinomycin is MOST selective for: -
CORRECT ANSWER -Potassium
The valinomycin membrane electrode is most selective for potassium as opposed to sodium, glucose
, or chloride which utilize different membranes for their respective electrodes. Valinomycin, which is
neutral in charge, has been incorporated into organic liquid membranes resulting in a sensor with
a very high selectivity for potassium.
What should safety management start with in order to ensure clarity and consistency? -
CORRECT ANSWER -A written safety policy
Which of the following statements about high-frequency antigens is correct? - CORRECT ANSWER -
High-frequency antigens are common, but it is difficult to identify their corresponding antibodies.
An adult's plasma cortisol of 22 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m. and 10 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m. would be: -
CORRECT ANSWER -Found in a healthy individual
Normal levels: 5-23 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m.
3-16 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m.
<50% of 8:00 a.m. values at 8:00 p.m.
A peripheralx smearx demonstratesx ax populationx ofx redx cellsx thatx arex mostlyx 5x -
5.5x µmx inx diameter.x Thex CBCx datax showsx RDWx ofx 13%x (referencex rangex 11.5-
14.5%).x Whichx ofx thex followingx morphologiesx isx consistentx withx thesex findings?x
-
CORRECTx ANSWERx -Microcytosis,x lowx variationx ofx cellx volume
,x
Selectx thex primaryx reagentx componentsx usedx inx thex Jaffex reactionx forx creatinine.x
-
CORRECTx ANSWERx -Saturatedx picricx acidx andx sodiumx hydroxide
Whichx ofx thex followingx arex markersx currentlyx usedx tox differentiatex heartx failurex fromx lungx disease?
x-
CORRECTx ANSWERx -BNPx andx NT-proBNP
Whichx ofx thex followingx isx ax selectivex mediumx forx Campylobacterx jejuni?x -
x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
Skirrowx agar
Whichx Lewisx antigen(s)x wouldx bex detectedx whenx phenotypingx thex redx cellsx ofx anx adultx whox hasx t
he
Le,x Se,x andx Hx genes?x -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -Leb
Thex Sex genex codesx forx thex enzyme,x a-2-L-fucosyltransferase,x whichx addsx L-
fucosex tox thex typex 1x precursorx Hx (typex 1).x Thex Lex genex codesx forx anotherx
L-
fucosex whichx formsx thex Lebx antigen.
Illustratedx inx thex topx photographx arex acid-fastx bacillix asx theyx mayx appearx inx acid-
fastx stainsx preparedx fromx ax directx mountx ofx infectedx tissue.x Thesex acidx fastx bacillix arex thin,x slightly
xc
urved,x red-
pigmentedx andx beaded.x Thex acidx fastx bacilli,x asx illustratedx inx thex bottomx photograph,x aggregatex in
xs
erpentinex chordsx inx stainedx mountsx preparedx fromx coloniesx growingx onx agar.x Fromx thesex observati
o
ns,x selectx thex presumptivex identificationx ofx thisx mycobacterium.x -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
Mycobacterium
Thex predominant x tuberculosis
x cellsx seenx onx thex CSFx smearx inx thisx illustrationx arex indicativex of:
x-
CORRECTx ANSWERx -Bacterialx meningitis
Ax newbornx presentsx withx neonatalx alloimmunex thrombocytopenia.x Whatx isx thex mostx likelyx causex
of
thisx condition?x -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -Maternalx antibodiesx tox neonatalx plateletx antigens
Ax lipidx panelx consistsx ofx whichx ofx thex followingx tests?x -
x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
Cholesterol,x Lipoprotein,x HDL,x Triglycerides
