Page 1 of 228
1. A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis requires assessment of fibrinolysis rate.
Which tests would the physician most likely order?
• A) PT and PTT only
• B) D-dimer and fibrin degradation products
• C) Complete blood count and platelet function
• D) Thrombin time and reptilase time
• Correct Answer: B) D-dimer and fibrin degradation products
Rationale: D-dimer and fibrin degradation products directly measure the breakdown
of fibrin clots, making them the appropriate markers for assessing fibrinolysis in a
patient recovering from thrombosis.
2. A technologist analyzing a FISH specimen notices extensive nonspecific cross
hybridization. What is the most likely cause of this issue?
• A) Probe concentration was too high
• B) Stringency conditions were too low
• C) Denaturation temperature was excessive
• D) Hybridization time was insufficient
• Correct Answer: B) Stringency conditions were too low
Rationale: Low stringency conditions allow mismatched probe binding to partially
,Page 2 of 228
homologous sequences, resulting in high background and nonspecific cross
hybridization signals across the specimen.
3. Which counterstain dye should be selected when visualizing cells with both Spectrum
Green and Spectrum Red dual color signals?
• A) Propidium iodide
• B) Fluorescein isothiocyanate
• C) DAPI
• D) Texas red
• Correct Answer: C) DAPI
Rationale: DAPI produces blue fluorescence that contrasts well with both green and
red signals, allowing clear distinction of all three colors without spectral overlap
interference.
4. A phlebotomist centrifuges chemistry specimens and observes a cloudy, pinkish-red
appearance in one tube. How should this specimen be characterized?
• A) Normal and sterile
• B) Lipemic and hemolyzed
• C) Icteric only
• D) Contaminated with bacteria
• Correct Answer: B) Lipemic and hemolyzed
Rationale: Cloudiness indicates lipemia from high lipid content while the pinkish-red
color indicates hemolysis from ruptured red blood cells releasing hemoglobin.
,Page 3 of 228
5. When performing array-based CGH, what do the QC measurements include to ensure
accurate results?
• A) Single clone analysis and room temperature storage
• B) Triplicate clones, dye swap, and equal DNA amounts
• C) Metaphase spreads and Giemsa staining
• D) Formamide treatment and ethanol dehydration
• Correct Answer: B) Triplicate clones, dye swap, and equal DNA amounts
Rationale: Triplicate clones provide statistical reliability, dye swap controls for labeling
bias, and equal DNA amounts ensure proper hybridization competition between sample
and reference.
6. A patient scheduled for dialysis requires a potassium level draw. The phlebotomist
should deliver this specimen to which department?
• A) Hematology
• B) Nephrology
• C) Immunology
• D) Microbiology
• Correct Answer: B) Nephrology
Rationale: Potassium testing is critical for dialysis patients to monitor renal function
and electrolyte balance, and nephrology manages kidney-related disorders and dialysis
treatment.
7. What is the primary purpose of adding formamide to the denaturation solution in FISH
procedures?
, Page 4 of 228
• A) Increase the pH stability of the buffer
• B) Lower the melting point of DNA
• C) Enhance probe fluorescence intensity
• D) Prevent chromosome degradation
• Correct Answer: B) Lower the melting point of DNA
Rationale: Formamide reduces the thermal stability of double-stranded DNA, allowing
denaturation to occur at lower temperatures and preserving chromosome morphology.
8. A newborn with severe anemia requires a direct antibody test. The collected specimen
should be delivered immediately to which laboratory department?
• A) Chemistry
• B) Hematology
• C) Blood Bank/Immunohematology
• D) Molecular Diagnostics
• Correct Answer: C) Blood Bank/Immunohematology
Rationale: The direct antiglobulin test (Coombs test) detects antibodies bound to red
blood cells and is performed in the blood bank to diagnose hemolytic disease of the
newborn.
9. Which statement about directly labeled FISH probes is true regarding proper handling?
• A) They require enzymatic detection steps
• B) Exposure to light should be strictly avoided
• C) They can be stored at room temperature
1. A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis requires assessment of fibrinolysis rate.
Which tests would the physician most likely order?
• A) PT and PTT only
• B) D-dimer and fibrin degradation products
• C) Complete blood count and platelet function
• D) Thrombin time and reptilase time
• Correct Answer: B) D-dimer and fibrin degradation products
Rationale: D-dimer and fibrin degradation products directly measure the breakdown
of fibrin clots, making them the appropriate markers for assessing fibrinolysis in a
patient recovering from thrombosis.
2. A technologist analyzing a FISH specimen notices extensive nonspecific cross
hybridization. What is the most likely cause of this issue?
• A) Probe concentration was too high
• B) Stringency conditions were too low
• C) Denaturation temperature was excessive
• D) Hybridization time was insufficient
• Correct Answer: B) Stringency conditions were too low
Rationale: Low stringency conditions allow mismatched probe binding to partially
,Page 2 of 228
homologous sequences, resulting in high background and nonspecific cross
hybridization signals across the specimen.
3. Which counterstain dye should be selected when visualizing cells with both Spectrum
Green and Spectrum Red dual color signals?
• A) Propidium iodide
• B) Fluorescein isothiocyanate
• C) DAPI
• D) Texas red
• Correct Answer: C) DAPI
Rationale: DAPI produces blue fluorescence that contrasts well with both green and
red signals, allowing clear distinction of all three colors without spectral overlap
interference.
4. A phlebotomist centrifuges chemistry specimens and observes a cloudy, pinkish-red
appearance in one tube. How should this specimen be characterized?
• A) Normal and sterile
• B) Lipemic and hemolyzed
• C) Icteric only
• D) Contaminated with bacteria
• Correct Answer: B) Lipemic and hemolyzed
Rationale: Cloudiness indicates lipemia from high lipid content while the pinkish-red
color indicates hemolysis from ruptured red blood cells releasing hemoglobin.
,Page 3 of 228
5. When performing array-based CGH, what do the QC measurements include to ensure
accurate results?
• A) Single clone analysis and room temperature storage
• B) Triplicate clones, dye swap, and equal DNA amounts
• C) Metaphase spreads and Giemsa staining
• D) Formamide treatment and ethanol dehydration
• Correct Answer: B) Triplicate clones, dye swap, and equal DNA amounts
Rationale: Triplicate clones provide statistical reliability, dye swap controls for labeling
bias, and equal DNA amounts ensure proper hybridization competition between sample
and reference.
6. A patient scheduled for dialysis requires a potassium level draw. The phlebotomist
should deliver this specimen to which department?
• A) Hematology
• B) Nephrology
• C) Immunology
• D) Microbiology
• Correct Answer: B) Nephrology
Rationale: Potassium testing is critical for dialysis patients to monitor renal function
and electrolyte balance, and nephrology manages kidney-related disorders and dialysis
treatment.
7. What is the primary purpose of adding formamide to the denaturation solution in FISH
procedures?
, Page 4 of 228
• A) Increase the pH stability of the buffer
• B) Lower the melting point of DNA
• C) Enhance probe fluorescence intensity
• D) Prevent chromosome degradation
• Correct Answer: B) Lower the melting point of DNA
Rationale: Formamide reduces the thermal stability of double-stranded DNA, allowing
denaturation to occur at lower temperatures and preserving chromosome morphology.
8. A newborn with severe anemia requires a direct antibody test. The collected specimen
should be delivered immediately to which laboratory department?
• A) Chemistry
• B) Hematology
• C) Blood Bank/Immunohematology
• D) Molecular Diagnostics
• Correct Answer: C) Blood Bank/Immunohematology
Rationale: The direct antiglobulin test (Coombs test) detects antibodies bound to red
blood cells and is performed in the blood bank to diagnose hemolytic disease of the
newborn.
9. Which statement about directly labeled FISH probes is true regarding proper handling?
• A) They require enzymatic detection steps
• B) Exposure to light should be strictly avoided
• C) They can be stored at room temperature
