ALU 101 - Basic Laboratory Testing Exam
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Sensitivity - CORRECT ANSWER The measure of the test's ability to detect persons
who have a disease or condition (identify true positives).
Specificity - CORRECT ANSWER The measure of how well the test excludes the
possibility of a particular disease or condition (correctly classify true negatives).
What happens to specificity when the sensitivity of a test increases? - CORRECT
ANSWER As the sensitivity of a test is increased, it identifies more people with the
disease, but the specificity goes down. Lab testing generally attempts to maximize specificity,
even if it means missing a few positives.
Hemolysis - CORRECT ANSWER Rupture of red blood cells (erythrocytes) which
releases hemoglobin. Classified as slight, moderate or severe based on the amount of
hemoglobin in the serum sample.
Lipemia - CORRECT ANSWER The presence of high amounts of lipid (fats) in a
blood sample.
Glycolysis - CORRECT ANSWER The breakdown of sugar. If centrifugation is
delayed, the red and white blood cells will start to metabolize the glucose, resulting in a lower
blood glucose value than was present at the time the sample was taken.
Antigen - CORRECT ANSWER Any structure that is foreign to the person's body
causing the production of an antibody.
Antibody - CORRECT ANSWER Produced by the body and used by the immune
system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses (antigens).
, Venipuncture - CORRECT ANSWER Blood sample drawn from a vein.
DBS (Dried Blood Spot) - CORRECT ANSWER Limited testing capabilities - HIV,
cocaine, cholesterol, cotinine, GGT, and A1c.
Saliva or Urine - CORRECT ANSWER If urine is the only fluid collected testing
includes urine protein, glucose, cotinine, cocaine and urine HIV.
Blood Sample Error - CORRECT ANSWER Transfer of the serum from its collection
tube to the transport tube is a manual process that can introduce error in sample identification
due to a sample being poured into a transport tube with another proposed insured's name.
This type of error occurs in up to 0.5% of all samples processed.
Typical Insurance Profile - CORRECT ANSWER About 20 blood tests that have been
developed to evaluate mortality risks.
Urinalysis - CORRECT ANSWER Urine samples are evaluated for drugs of abuse,
nicotine, creatinine, protein, glucose, and blood cells. In some cases, urine can also be tested
for antibodies to Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). An indispensable test for assessing kidney function. Urine
samples are examined for the concentrations of creatinine, glucose, protein,
hemoglobin, and leukocyte esterase.
Creatinine - CORRECT ANSWER A breakdown of muscle metabolism. Serves as a
measure of renal (kidney) filtration and urine formation.
Urine Creatinine - CORRECT ANSWER The daily amount of creatinine in the system
varies very little, but the amount of urine produced varies depending on hydration. The urine
creatinine level is used to adjust for other urine tests by calculation of their equivalent
concentration per gram of creatinine. Adjustments are normally made for total protein and
albumin creating protein/creatinine or albumin/creatinine ratios. The protein/creatinine and
albumin/creatinine ratios are much superior to urine protein or albumin in the assessment of
proteinuria.
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Sensitivity - CORRECT ANSWER The measure of the test's ability to detect persons
who have a disease or condition (identify true positives).
Specificity - CORRECT ANSWER The measure of how well the test excludes the
possibility of a particular disease or condition (correctly classify true negatives).
What happens to specificity when the sensitivity of a test increases? - CORRECT
ANSWER As the sensitivity of a test is increased, it identifies more people with the
disease, but the specificity goes down. Lab testing generally attempts to maximize specificity,
even if it means missing a few positives.
Hemolysis - CORRECT ANSWER Rupture of red blood cells (erythrocytes) which
releases hemoglobin. Classified as slight, moderate or severe based on the amount of
hemoglobin in the serum sample.
Lipemia - CORRECT ANSWER The presence of high amounts of lipid (fats) in a
blood sample.
Glycolysis - CORRECT ANSWER The breakdown of sugar. If centrifugation is
delayed, the red and white blood cells will start to metabolize the glucose, resulting in a lower
blood glucose value than was present at the time the sample was taken.
Antigen - CORRECT ANSWER Any structure that is foreign to the person's body
causing the production of an antibody.
Antibody - CORRECT ANSWER Produced by the body and used by the immune
system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses (antigens).
, Venipuncture - CORRECT ANSWER Blood sample drawn from a vein.
DBS (Dried Blood Spot) - CORRECT ANSWER Limited testing capabilities - HIV,
cocaine, cholesterol, cotinine, GGT, and A1c.
Saliva or Urine - CORRECT ANSWER If urine is the only fluid collected testing
includes urine protein, glucose, cotinine, cocaine and urine HIV.
Blood Sample Error - CORRECT ANSWER Transfer of the serum from its collection
tube to the transport tube is a manual process that can introduce error in sample identification
due to a sample being poured into a transport tube with another proposed insured's name.
This type of error occurs in up to 0.5% of all samples processed.
Typical Insurance Profile - CORRECT ANSWER About 20 blood tests that have been
developed to evaluate mortality risks.
Urinalysis - CORRECT ANSWER Urine samples are evaluated for drugs of abuse,
nicotine, creatinine, protein, glucose, and blood cells. In some cases, urine can also be tested
for antibodies to Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). An indispensable test for assessing kidney function. Urine
samples are examined for the concentrations of creatinine, glucose, protein,
hemoglobin, and leukocyte esterase.
Creatinine - CORRECT ANSWER A breakdown of muscle metabolism. Serves as a
measure of renal (kidney) filtration and urine formation.
Urine Creatinine - CORRECT ANSWER The daily amount of creatinine in the system
varies very little, but the amount of urine produced varies depending on hydration. The urine
creatinine level is used to adjust for other urine tests by calculation of their equivalent
concentration per gram of creatinine. Adjustments are normally made for total protein and
albumin creating protein/creatinine or albumin/creatinine ratios. The protein/creatinine and
albumin/creatinine ratios are much superior to urine protein or albumin in the assessment of
proteinuria.
