ASCP Board of Certification MLT exam
review test with correct answers
"Xanthochromic" CSF means that the color of the CSF can be any of the following EXCEPT: -
CORRECT ANSWERS-Blue
A 40-year-old female receives two units of Red Blood Cells during a surgical procedure. The
patient has no prior history of transfusions. Seven days later, she presents with extensive
bruising of the extremities and bleeding of the gums, with no additional symptoms. Her platelet
count is 5 x 109/L (reference interval 150 - 400 x 109/L). What is the most likely diagnosis? -
CORRECT ANSWERS-Post transfusion purpura (PTP)
Her symptoms, including severe thrombocytopenia one week after transfusion, are most
consistent with post-transfusion purpura (PTP). PTP results as an anamnestic response to a
platelet antigen. PTP presents 1 to 24 days after a transfusion.
A 67-year-old man was seen in the emergency room complaining of cough, fever, and piercing
right posterior chest pain. X-ray of the chest revealed consolidation of the right middle lobe of
the lung. Sputum culture grew the bacterial species shown in the upper photograph. The lower
photomicrograph illustrates a gram-stain of the sputum specimen. The most likely cause of the
pneumonia is: - CORRECT ANSWERS-Streptococcus pneumoniae
A CSF glucose value is 62 mg/dL. What would you estimate the serum glucose? - CORRECT
ANSWERS-93 mg/dL
CSF glucose is roughly estimated to be about 2/3 of the serum glucose level in mg/dL.
Therefore:
,62 mg/dL = 2/3 x serum glucose
serum glucose = 62 mg/dL x 3/2
serum glucose = 93 mg/dL
A hepatic function panel A consists of which of the following tests? - CORRECT ANSWERS-
AST, ALT, Alkaline Phosphatase, Total Protein, Albumin, Total Bilirubin, Direct Bilirubin
A lipid panel consists of which of the following tests? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Cholesterol,
Lipoprotein, HDL, Triglycerides
A liquid ion-exchange membrane electrode using the antibiotic valinomycin is MOST selective
for: - CORRECT ANSWERS-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.
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? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Cannot report
When comparing the white cell counts from one side of the hemacytometer to the other, there is
not 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 used to calculate reportable results. This particular count should not be used to report
patient results.
A newborn presents with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. What is the most likely cause
of this condition? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Maternal antibodies to neonatal platelet antigens
A normal hemoglobin molecule is comprised of the following: - CORRECT ANSWERS-Four
heme and four globin chains
, A patient admitted to the hospital for ongoing fever produces the following laboratory results:
RBC count: 3.56 x 1012/L
WBC count: 57.5 x 109/L
Platelet count: 375,000/uL
Differential count: 3 blasts, 10 myelocytes, 6 metamyelocytes, 12 bands, 64 segs, 4
lymphocytes, and 1 monocyte
LAP score = 155.
Which of the following conditions correlates closely with this patient's results? - CORRECT
ANSWERS-Leukemoid Reaction
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 ANSWERS-281
mosmol/kg
Osmolality = 2 x Na + [Glucose (mg/dL) / 20] + [BUN (mg/dL)/ 3]
A patient is seen at his physician's office for scaling, flat lesions on his back that are irregular
with white blotches of discoloration (top image). The bottom image shown is of a tease mount
taken from the skin and stained with Periodic Acid Schiff, which reveals narrow fungal hyphae
(arrows) along with 3 - 5 µm in diameter, irregular sized spherical budding yeast cells, a
presentation often referred to as "spaghetti and meatballs". Which fungi is the most likely cause
of infection? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Malassezia furfur
A patient reported to her doctor that her stools have been ribbon-like over the last few weeks.
What is most likely the cause of the patient's stool appearance? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Bowel
obstruction
A patient with truncal obesity, hypertension, a ruddy/striated complexion, and mood swings has
multiple elevated glucose values. A fasting ACTH sample is also elevated. The physician orders
a dexamethasone test, which shows an elevated cortisol level (no suppression).
What is the most likely cause for the patient's values and symptoms? - CORRECT ANSWERS-
Cushing Syndrome
review test with correct answers
"Xanthochromic" CSF means that the color of the CSF can be any of the following EXCEPT: -
CORRECT ANSWERS-Blue
A 40-year-old female receives two units of Red Blood Cells during a surgical procedure. The
patient has no prior history of transfusions. Seven days later, she presents with extensive
bruising of the extremities and bleeding of the gums, with no additional symptoms. Her platelet
count is 5 x 109/L (reference interval 150 - 400 x 109/L). What is the most likely diagnosis? -
CORRECT ANSWERS-Post transfusion purpura (PTP)
Her symptoms, including severe thrombocytopenia one week after transfusion, are most
consistent with post-transfusion purpura (PTP). PTP results as an anamnestic response to a
platelet antigen. PTP presents 1 to 24 days after a transfusion.
A 67-year-old man was seen in the emergency room complaining of cough, fever, and piercing
right posterior chest pain. X-ray of the chest revealed consolidation of the right middle lobe of
the lung. Sputum culture grew the bacterial species shown in the upper photograph. The lower
photomicrograph illustrates a gram-stain of the sputum specimen. The most likely cause of the
pneumonia is: - CORRECT ANSWERS-Streptococcus pneumoniae
A CSF glucose value is 62 mg/dL. What would you estimate the serum glucose? - CORRECT
ANSWERS-93 mg/dL
CSF glucose is roughly estimated to be about 2/3 of the serum glucose level in mg/dL.
Therefore:
,62 mg/dL = 2/3 x serum glucose
serum glucose = 62 mg/dL x 3/2
serum glucose = 93 mg/dL
A hepatic function panel A consists of which of the following tests? - CORRECT ANSWERS-
AST, ALT, Alkaline Phosphatase, Total Protein, Albumin, Total Bilirubin, Direct Bilirubin
A lipid panel consists of which of the following tests? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Cholesterol,
Lipoprotein, HDL, Triglycerides
A liquid ion-exchange membrane electrode using the antibiotic valinomycin is MOST selective
for: - CORRECT ANSWERS-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.
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? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Cannot report
When comparing the white cell counts from one side of the hemacytometer to the other, there is
not 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 used to calculate reportable results. This particular count should not be used to report
patient results.
A newborn presents with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. What is the most likely cause
of this condition? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Maternal antibodies to neonatal platelet antigens
A normal hemoglobin molecule is comprised of the following: - CORRECT ANSWERS-Four
heme and four globin chains
, A patient admitted to the hospital for ongoing fever produces the following laboratory results:
RBC count: 3.56 x 1012/L
WBC count: 57.5 x 109/L
Platelet count: 375,000/uL
Differential count: 3 blasts, 10 myelocytes, 6 metamyelocytes, 12 bands, 64 segs, 4
lymphocytes, and 1 monocyte
LAP score = 155.
Which of the following conditions correlates closely with this patient's results? - CORRECT
ANSWERS-Leukemoid Reaction
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 ANSWERS-281
mosmol/kg
Osmolality = 2 x Na + [Glucose (mg/dL) / 20] + [BUN (mg/dL)/ 3]
A patient is seen at his physician's office for scaling, flat lesions on his back that are irregular
with white blotches of discoloration (top image). The bottom image shown is of a tease mount
taken from the skin and stained with Periodic Acid Schiff, which reveals narrow fungal hyphae
(arrows) along with 3 - 5 µm in diameter, irregular sized spherical budding yeast cells, a
presentation often referred to as "spaghetti and meatballs". Which fungi is the most likely cause
of infection? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Malassezia furfur
A patient reported to her doctor that her stools have been ribbon-like over the last few weeks.
What is most likely the cause of the patient's stool appearance? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Bowel
obstruction
A patient with truncal obesity, hypertension, a ruddy/striated complexion, and mood swings has
multiple elevated glucose values. A fasting ACTH sample is also elevated. The physician orders
a dexamethasone test, which shows an elevated cortisol level (no suppression).
What is the most likely cause for the patient's values and symptoms? - CORRECT ANSWERS-
Cushing Syndrome
