ASCP CG CERTIFICATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is the best agent to use against mycoplasma? - (ANSWER)BM cyclin - a combination of two
antibiotics (tiamulin and minocycline) that effecticely targets mycoplasma growth
For successful harvest, each new batch of hypotonic solution should be evaluated by: -
(ANSWER)comparing the new lot to a lot already in use
Colagenase, pronase, and trypsin are: - (ANSWER)Proteolytic enzymes - break down tissues into single-
cell suspensions
When harvesting peripheral blood cultures, asceptic technique no longer matters following incubation
with: - (ANSWER)Colcemid - mitotic spindle poison that halts cells at metaphase
Samples that arrive at the cytogenetics lab should first be: - (ANSWER)Logged in to the system
Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulates which type of cells into division? - (ANSWER)T-cell lymphocytes
To avoid culture failure, monitoring reagents is crucial. When logging a culture failure, what is the MOST
important to document? - (ANSWER)Expiration dates of reagents used
Which type of microscope is used when cleaning a CVS (chorionic villus) sample? - (ANSWER)Dissection
Which cell type is most problematic if found in a CVS (chorionic villus) sample? - (ANSWER)Decidua
(maternal tissue)
When looking at a slide under a phase contrast scope and a lot of cytoplasm is still seen around the
mets, what is the most likely cause? - (ANSWER)innappropriate slide drying time
What will help prevent microbial contamination and cross contamination of cultures? -
(ANSWER)Asceptic technique
,ASCP CG CERTIFICATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
When there are not enough mets to complete the study of a patient/case, what needs to be done next?
- (ANSWER)prepare additional slides from any remaining sample
When looking at a dropped slide under a phase scope and mets are very spread out and sparse, what
could help fix the issue? - (ANSWER)Increading the drying time by using warm slides
What is true of an inverted microscope? - (ANSWER)the objectives are beneath the stage
High-resolution banding is indicated for a possible diagnosis of: - (ANSWER)DiGenorge syndrome --
microdeletion of 22q11, also called velocardiofacial syndrome
"velo" - soft palette,
"cardio" - congenital heart defects,
"facial" - unique abnormal facial features, short philtrum (upper lip indent), tubular nose, wide spread
eyes, etc
When verifying if a specimen is appropriate for cytogenetic analysis, what is the MOST important data to
accompany the specimen? - (ANSWER)Reason for referral
Which type of specimen should be requested for a cytogenetic analysis for turner syndrome? -
(ANSWER)Heparinized peripheral blood stored at room temperature
(NOT FROZEN)
A blood sample can be used to study the cytogenetics of a malignancy only if: - (ANSWER)Dividing
leukemic cells are present in circulation
All of the cultures in a CO2 incubator failed, what aspects of the incubator are important to monitor to
assess the source of the problem? - (ANSWER)Temperature,
CO2 level, and
, ASCP CG CERTIFICATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Humidity level
The most important factor affecting the quality of chromosomes viewed under a phase contrast scope
is: - (ANSWER)Slide drying after the cells have been dropped
What is the modal number (default number of chromosomes in a cell) for a Down syndrome
translocation carrier? - (ANSWER)45
What is the best tissue to use for both a good success rate and abnormality detection in spontaneous
abortion miscarriages? - (ANSWER)Chorionic villi
What is a possible cause for a drying oven to not maintain a proper temperature? - (ANSWER)The door
does not seal properly
If a tech with a cold and sneezing does not take proper precautions while setting up amniotic fluid
samples, the specimen could become contaminated with: - (ANSWER)Mycoplasma
--> the most common contaminant by a sick tech and can be detected through a specific stain used on
the sample
mycoplasma can induce abnormalities in a sample, so it is important to avoid contamination
What about the metaphases on a slide are affected by slide making? - (ANSWER)Cell density - thru
dilution of the sample with fix
Banding - based on how dark/pale/refractive they are affects trypsin time
Chromosome spreading - affected by drying time
What is the best agent to use against mycoplasma? - (ANSWER)BM cyclin - a combination of two
antibiotics (tiamulin and minocycline) that effecticely targets mycoplasma growth
For successful harvest, each new batch of hypotonic solution should be evaluated by: -
(ANSWER)comparing the new lot to a lot already in use
Colagenase, pronase, and trypsin are: - (ANSWER)Proteolytic enzymes - break down tissues into single-
cell suspensions
When harvesting peripheral blood cultures, asceptic technique no longer matters following incubation
with: - (ANSWER)Colcemid - mitotic spindle poison that halts cells at metaphase
Samples that arrive at the cytogenetics lab should first be: - (ANSWER)Logged in to the system
Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulates which type of cells into division? - (ANSWER)T-cell lymphocytes
To avoid culture failure, monitoring reagents is crucial. When logging a culture failure, what is the MOST
important to document? - (ANSWER)Expiration dates of reagents used
Which type of microscope is used when cleaning a CVS (chorionic villus) sample? - (ANSWER)Dissection
Which cell type is most problematic if found in a CVS (chorionic villus) sample? - (ANSWER)Decidua
(maternal tissue)
When looking at a slide under a phase contrast scope and a lot of cytoplasm is still seen around the
mets, what is the most likely cause? - (ANSWER)innappropriate slide drying time
What will help prevent microbial contamination and cross contamination of cultures? -
(ANSWER)Asceptic technique
,ASCP CG CERTIFICATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
When there are not enough mets to complete the study of a patient/case, what needs to be done next?
- (ANSWER)prepare additional slides from any remaining sample
When looking at a dropped slide under a phase scope and mets are very spread out and sparse, what
could help fix the issue? - (ANSWER)Increading the drying time by using warm slides
What is true of an inverted microscope? - (ANSWER)the objectives are beneath the stage
High-resolution banding is indicated for a possible diagnosis of: - (ANSWER)DiGenorge syndrome --
microdeletion of 22q11, also called velocardiofacial syndrome
"velo" - soft palette,
"cardio" - congenital heart defects,
"facial" - unique abnormal facial features, short philtrum (upper lip indent), tubular nose, wide spread
eyes, etc
When verifying if a specimen is appropriate for cytogenetic analysis, what is the MOST important data to
accompany the specimen? - (ANSWER)Reason for referral
Which type of specimen should be requested for a cytogenetic analysis for turner syndrome? -
(ANSWER)Heparinized peripheral blood stored at room temperature
(NOT FROZEN)
A blood sample can be used to study the cytogenetics of a malignancy only if: - (ANSWER)Dividing
leukemic cells are present in circulation
All of the cultures in a CO2 incubator failed, what aspects of the incubator are important to monitor to
assess the source of the problem? - (ANSWER)Temperature,
CO2 level, and
, ASCP CG CERTIFICATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Humidity level
The most important factor affecting the quality of chromosomes viewed under a phase contrast scope
is: - (ANSWER)Slide drying after the cells have been dropped
What is the modal number (default number of chromosomes in a cell) for a Down syndrome
translocation carrier? - (ANSWER)45
What is the best tissue to use for both a good success rate and abnormality detection in spontaneous
abortion miscarriages? - (ANSWER)Chorionic villi
What is a possible cause for a drying oven to not maintain a proper temperature? - (ANSWER)The door
does not seal properly
If a tech with a cold and sneezing does not take proper precautions while setting up amniotic fluid
samples, the specimen could become contaminated with: - (ANSWER)Mycoplasma
--> the most common contaminant by a sick tech and can be detected through a specific stain used on
the sample
mycoplasma can induce abnormalities in a sample, so it is important to avoid contamination
What about the metaphases on a slide are affected by slide making? - (ANSWER)Cell density - thru
dilution of the sample with fix
Banding - based on how dark/pale/refractive they are affects trypsin time
Chromosome spreading - affected by drying time
