ASCP BOARD OF CERTIFICATION MLT EXAM REVIEW
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025
Nephelometry is based on the principle of: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Turbidity resulting from specific antigen-
coated latex particles agglutinated by corresponding antibody
Which of the following can cause hemolysis and perhaps result in recollection of the specimen? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Pushing the plunger of a syringe when transferring blood into vacuum tubes.
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 di
lution for this kit was pre-
measured at 1:100. What should the technologist report as the white cell count? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Cannot report
When comparing the white cell counts from one side of the hemacytometer to the other, there is n
ot 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 us
ed to calculate reportable results. This particular count should not be used to report patient results.
The RBC inclusions shown in the photograph represent which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Howell-Jolly bodies
Howell-
Jolly bodies are usually single, round, and tend to be positioned at the periphery of the red blood c
ell. These inclusions are rarely found on a routine peripheral blood smear, as they are usually remo
ved by a functioning spleen. Howell-
Jolly bodies appear in megaloblastic anemias and aſter splenectomy.
Which of the following tests would be employed in order to detect neural tube defects? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Alpha fetoprotein
Alpha-
fetoprotein is a protein measured in pregnant women, using maternal blood or amniotic fluid, as a
screening test for a subset developmental abnormalities: it is principally increased in open neural tu
be defects and decreased in Down syndrome.
,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 ANSWER -281 mosmol/kg
Osmolality = 2 x Na + [Glucose (mg/dL) / 20] + [BUN (mg/dL)/ 3]
A liquid ion-exchange membrane electrode using the antibiotic valinomycin is MOST selective for: -
CORRECT ANSWER -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.
What should safety management start with in order to ensure clarity and consistency? -
CORRECT ANSWER -A written safety policy
Which of the following statements about high-frequency antigens is correct? - CORRECT ANSWER -
High-frequency antigens are common, but it is difficult to identify their corresponding antibodies.
An adult's plasma cortisol of 22 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m. and 10 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m. would be: -
CORRECT ANSWER -Found in a healthy individual
Normal levels: 5-23 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m.
3-16 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m.
<50% of 8:00 a.m. values at 8:00 p.m.
A peripheralz smearz demonstratesz az populationz ofz redz cellsz thatz arez mostlyz 5z -
5.5z µmz inz diameter.z Thez CBCz dataz showsz RDWz ofz 13%z (referencez rangez 11.5-
14.5%).z Whichz ofz thez followingz morphologiesz isz consistentz withz thesez findings?z -
CORRECTz ANSWERz -Microcytosis,z lowz variationz ofz cellz volume
,z
Selectz thez primaryz reagentz componentsz usedz inz thez Jaffez reactionz forz creatinine.z -
CORRECTz ANSWERz -Saturatedz picricz acidz andz sodiumz hydroxide
Whichz ofz thez followingz arez markersz currentlyz usedz toz differentiatez heartz failurez fromz lungz disease?z -
CORRECTz ANSWERz -BNPz andz NT-proBNP
Whichz ofz thez followingz isz az selectivez mediumz forz Campylobacterz jejuni?z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
Skirrowz agar
Whichz Lewisz antigen(s)z wouldz bez detectedz whenz phenotypingz thez redz cellsz ofz anz adultz whoz hasz th
e
Le,z Se,z andz Hz genes?z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -Leb
Thez Sez genez codesz forz thez enzyme,z a-2-L-fucosyltransferase,z whichz addsz L-
fucosez toz thez typez 1z precursorz Hz (typez 1).z Thez Lez genez codesz forz anotherz L-
fucosez whichz formsz thez Lebz antigen.
Illustratedz inz thez topz photographz arez acid-fastz bacilliz asz theyz mayz appearz inz acid-
fastz stainsz preparedz fromz az directz mountz ofz infectedz tissue.z Thesez acidz fastz bacilliz arez thin,z slightlyz
c
urved,z red-
pigmentedz andz beaded.z Thez acidz fastz bacilli,z asz illustratedz inz thez bottomz photograph,z aggregatez inz s
erpentinez chordsz inz stainedz mountsz preparedz fromz coloniesz growingz onz agar.z Fromz thesez observatio
ns,z selectz thez presumptivez identificationz ofz thisz mycobacterium.z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
Mycobacteriumz tuberculosis
Thez predominantz cellsz seenz onz thez CSFz smearz inz thisz illustrationz arez indicativez of:z -
CORRECTz ANSWERz -Bacterialz meningitis
Az newbornz presentsz withz neonatalz alloimmunez thrombocytopenia.z Whatz isz thez mostz likelyz causez of
thisz condition?z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -Maternalz antibodiesz toz neonatalz plateletz antigens
Az lipidz panelz consistsz ofz whichz ofz thez followingz tests?z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
Cholesterol,z Lipoprotein,z HDL,z Triglycerides
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025
Nephelometry is based on the principle of: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Turbidity resulting from specific antigen-
coated latex particles agglutinated by corresponding antibody
Which of the following can cause hemolysis and perhaps result in recollection of the specimen? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Pushing the plunger of a syringe when transferring blood into vacuum tubes.
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 di
lution for this kit was pre-
measured at 1:100. What should the technologist report as the white cell count? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Cannot report
When comparing the white cell counts from one side of the hemacytometer to the other, there is n
ot 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 us
ed to calculate reportable results. This particular count should not be used to report patient results.
The RBC inclusions shown in the photograph represent which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Howell-Jolly bodies
Howell-
Jolly bodies are usually single, round, and tend to be positioned at the periphery of the red blood c
ell. These inclusions are rarely found on a routine peripheral blood smear, as they are usually remo
ved by a functioning spleen. Howell-
Jolly bodies appear in megaloblastic anemias and aſter splenectomy.
Which of the following tests would be employed in order to detect neural tube defects? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Alpha fetoprotein
Alpha-
fetoprotein is a protein measured in pregnant women, using maternal blood or amniotic fluid, as a
screening test for a subset developmental abnormalities: it is principally increased in open neural tu
be defects and decreased in Down syndrome.
,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 ANSWER -281 mosmol/kg
Osmolality = 2 x Na + [Glucose (mg/dL) / 20] + [BUN (mg/dL)/ 3]
A liquid ion-exchange membrane electrode using the antibiotic valinomycin is MOST selective for: -
CORRECT ANSWER -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.
What should safety management start with in order to ensure clarity and consistency? -
CORRECT ANSWER -A written safety policy
Which of the following statements about high-frequency antigens is correct? - CORRECT ANSWER -
High-frequency antigens are common, but it is difficult to identify their corresponding antibodies.
An adult's plasma cortisol of 22 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m. and 10 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m. would be: -
CORRECT ANSWER -Found in a healthy individual
Normal levels: 5-23 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m.
3-16 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m.
<50% of 8:00 a.m. values at 8:00 p.m.
A peripheralz smearz demonstratesz az populationz ofz redz cellsz thatz arez mostlyz 5z -
5.5z µmz inz diameter.z Thez CBCz dataz showsz RDWz ofz 13%z (referencez rangez 11.5-
14.5%).z Whichz ofz thez followingz morphologiesz isz consistentz withz thesez findings?z -
CORRECTz ANSWERz -Microcytosis,z lowz variationz ofz cellz volume
,z
Selectz thez primaryz reagentz componentsz usedz inz thez Jaffez reactionz forz creatinine.z -
CORRECTz ANSWERz -Saturatedz picricz acidz andz sodiumz hydroxide
Whichz ofz thez followingz arez markersz currentlyz usedz toz differentiatez heartz failurez fromz lungz disease?z -
CORRECTz ANSWERz -BNPz andz NT-proBNP
Whichz ofz thez followingz isz az selectivez mediumz forz Campylobacterz jejuni?z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
Skirrowz agar
Whichz Lewisz antigen(s)z wouldz bez detectedz whenz phenotypingz thez redz cellsz ofz anz adultz whoz hasz th
e
Le,z Se,z andz Hz genes?z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -Leb
Thez Sez genez codesz forz thez enzyme,z a-2-L-fucosyltransferase,z whichz addsz L-
fucosez toz thez typez 1z precursorz Hz (typez 1).z Thez Lez genez codesz forz anotherz L-
fucosez whichz formsz thez Lebz antigen.
Illustratedz inz thez topz photographz arez acid-fastz bacilliz asz theyz mayz appearz inz acid-
fastz stainsz preparedz fromz az directz mountz ofz infectedz tissue.z Thesez acidz fastz bacilliz arez thin,z slightlyz
c
urved,z red-
pigmentedz andz beaded.z Thez acidz fastz bacilli,z asz illustratedz inz thez bottomz photograph,z aggregatez inz s
erpentinez chordsz inz stainedz mountsz preparedz fromz coloniesz growingz onz agar.z Fromz thesez observatio
ns,z selectz thez presumptivez identificationz ofz thisz mycobacterium.z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
Mycobacteriumz tuberculosis
Thez predominantz cellsz seenz onz thez CSFz smearz inz thisz illustrationz arez indicativez of:z -
CORRECTz ANSWERz -Bacterialz meningitis
Az newbornz presentsz withz neonatalz alloimmunez thrombocytopenia.z Whatz isz thez mostz likelyz causez of
thisz condition?z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -Maternalz antibodiesz toz neonatalz plateletz antigens
Az lipidz panelz consistsz ofz whichz ofz thez followingz tests?z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
Cholesterol,z Lipoprotein,z HDL,z Triglycerides
