ASCP HEMATOLOGY 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔How does the value for RBCs compare to the value for Hgb? - ✔✔RBC X 3 = Hgb
+/-3%
✔✔An increased MCV with MCHC and decreased RBC is associated with what
condition? - ✔✔cold agglutinin disease
✔✔What can be done to circumvent interference from cold agglutinin disease? -
✔✔warming the sample
✔✔What does the erythrocyte sedimentation rate measure? - ✔✔rate of fall of red cells
through plasma
✔✔What is the normal reference range of the ESR for women? - ✔✔0-20 mm/hr
✔✔What is the normal reference range of the ESR for men? - ✔✔0-15 mm/hr
✔✔An increase in the ESR value is see in conditions involving? - ✔✔the presence of
abnormal plasma proteins (inflammatory conditions)
✔✔A falsely elevated ESR can be attributed to? - ✔✔tilting tube, standing too long,
increased temperature, excess EDTA
✔✔A falsely decreased ESR can be attributed to? - ✔✔QNS specimen, decreased
temperature
✔✔What types of stains are used to view reticulocytes? - ✔✔supra vital (new methylene
blue, brilliant cresyl blue)
✔✔Reticulocyte counts are used to monitor? - ✔✔erythropoiesis
✔✔What is the normal reference range for a reticulocyte count? - ✔✔0.5-1.5%
✔✔A reticulocyte production > 2 indicates? - ✔✔adequate bone marrow response to
anemia
✔✔A reticulocyte production < 2 indicates? - ✔✔inadequate bone marrow response to
anemia
✔✔Retic counts are increased in which of the following conditions> - ✔✔hemolytic
anemias, post-acute blood loss, following therapy (iron, folate, B12)
, ✔✔What is the normal amount of megakaryocytes seen per lpf in a bone marrow prep?
- ✔✔5
✔✔What is the normal reference range for the myeloid to erythroid ratio? - ✔✔3:1-4:1
✔✔Dry bone marrow taps are associated with what pathological condition(s)? -
✔✔myelofibrosis, aplastic anemia
✔✔What condition(s) can lead to a decreased myeloid to erythroid ratio? - ✔✔hemolytic
anemia, erythroleukemia
✔✔What condition(s) can lead to an increased myeloid to erythroid ratio? - ✔✔myeloid
hyperplasia, myeloid leukemias
✔✔What are the most common aspirate sites for bone marrows? - ✔✔sternum, hip (iliac
crest)
✔✔What stain is used on a bone marrow? - ✔✔romanowsky stain
✔✔What is the normal ratio of cells to fat seen in a bone marrow - ✔✔50/50
✔✔Bone marrow biopsies are performed to in order to evaulate what? - ✔✔overall
cellularity of the bone marrow
✔✔A WBC differential is performed on a bone marrow in order to do what? -
✔✔determine the type of leukemia present if diagnosed
✔✔When using cellulose acetate for hemoglobin electrophoresis what is the pH used? -
✔✔8.6
✔✔When using citrate agar for hemoglobin electrophoresis what is the pH used? -
✔✔6.2
✔✔What is the order of migration of hemoglobin from the cathode to the anode in
celluose acetate? - ✔✔(1)C, (2)S, (3)F, (4)A
✔✔What is the order of migration of hemoglobin from the cathode to the anode in citrate
agar? - ✔✔(1)F, (2)A, (3)S, (4)C
✔✔What other hemoglobin types migrate to the same position as A2? - ✔✔C, E, O,
CHarlem
✔✔What other hemoglobin types migrate to the same position as S? - ✔✔D, G, L
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔How does the value for RBCs compare to the value for Hgb? - ✔✔RBC X 3 = Hgb
+/-3%
✔✔An increased MCV with MCHC and decreased RBC is associated with what
condition? - ✔✔cold agglutinin disease
✔✔What can be done to circumvent interference from cold agglutinin disease? -
✔✔warming the sample
✔✔What does the erythrocyte sedimentation rate measure? - ✔✔rate of fall of red cells
through plasma
✔✔What is the normal reference range of the ESR for women? - ✔✔0-20 mm/hr
✔✔What is the normal reference range of the ESR for men? - ✔✔0-15 mm/hr
✔✔An increase in the ESR value is see in conditions involving? - ✔✔the presence of
abnormal plasma proteins (inflammatory conditions)
✔✔A falsely elevated ESR can be attributed to? - ✔✔tilting tube, standing too long,
increased temperature, excess EDTA
✔✔A falsely decreased ESR can be attributed to? - ✔✔QNS specimen, decreased
temperature
✔✔What types of stains are used to view reticulocytes? - ✔✔supra vital (new methylene
blue, brilliant cresyl blue)
✔✔Reticulocyte counts are used to monitor? - ✔✔erythropoiesis
✔✔What is the normal reference range for a reticulocyte count? - ✔✔0.5-1.5%
✔✔A reticulocyte production > 2 indicates? - ✔✔adequate bone marrow response to
anemia
✔✔A reticulocyte production < 2 indicates? - ✔✔inadequate bone marrow response to
anemia
✔✔Retic counts are increased in which of the following conditions> - ✔✔hemolytic
anemias, post-acute blood loss, following therapy (iron, folate, B12)
, ✔✔What is the normal amount of megakaryocytes seen per lpf in a bone marrow prep?
- ✔✔5
✔✔What is the normal reference range for the myeloid to erythroid ratio? - ✔✔3:1-4:1
✔✔Dry bone marrow taps are associated with what pathological condition(s)? -
✔✔myelofibrosis, aplastic anemia
✔✔What condition(s) can lead to a decreased myeloid to erythroid ratio? - ✔✔hemolytic
anemia, erythroleukemia
✔✔What condition(s) can lead to an increased myeloid to erythroid ratio? - ✔✔myeloid
hyperplasia, myeloid leukemias
✔✔What are the most common aspirate sites for bone marrows? - ✔✔sternum, hip (iliac
crest)
✔✔What stain is used on a bone marrow? - ✔✔romanowsky stain
✔✔What is the normal ratio of cells to fat seen in a bone marrow - ✔✔50/50
✔✔Bone marrow biopsies are performed to in order to evaulate what? - ✔✔overall
cellularity of the bone marrow
✔✔A WBC differential is performed on a bone marrow in order to do what? -
✔✔determine the type of leukemia present if diagnosed
✔✔When using cellulose acetate for hemoglobin electrophoresis what is the pH used? -
✔✔8.6
✔✔When using citrate agar for hemoglobin electrophoresis what is the pH used? -
✔✔6.2
✔✔What is the order of migration of hemoglobin from the cathode to the anode in
celluose acetate? - ✔✔(1)C, (2)S, (3)F, (4)A
✔✔What is the order of migration of hemoglobin from the cathode to the anode in citrate
agar? - ✔✔(1)F, (2)A, (3)S, (4)C
✔✔What other hemoglobin types migrate to the same position as A2? - ✔✔C, E, O,
CHarlem
✔✔What other hemoglobin types migrate to the same position as S? - ✔✔D, G, L
