CG(ASCP) EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL
DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST 2025/2026
Question 1
Which anticoagulant is most appropriate for collecting peripheral blood intended
for chromosome culture?
A) EDTA
B) Sodium heparin
C) Sodium citrate
D) Lithium heparin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sodium heparin is the anticoagulant of choice for peripheral blood
chromosome cultures because it prevents clotting while maintaining cell viability.
EDTA can interfere with cell growth, and citrate is primarily used for coagulation
studies.
Question 2
What effects does sodium heparin have on cells?
,A) Swells cells
B) Removes water from cells
C) Stimulates mitotic activity
D) Precipitates nucleic acid
E) Prevents clotting
Correct Answer: E
Rationale: Sodium heparin functions as an anticoagulant by preventing blood
clotting. It does not significantly affect cell morphology or stimulate mitotic activity.
Question 3
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be toxic to cells?
A) Sodium heparin
B) Lithium heparin
C) Sodium hydroxide
D) Gentamicin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Sodium heparin is the least toxic to cells among the options listed.
Lithium heparin, sodium hydroxide, and gentamicin can all be cytotoxic at certain
concentrations.
Question 4
The optimal temperature for transport of amniotic fluid specimens is:
,A) 37°C
B) 40°C
C) 0°C
D) 20°C
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Amniotic fluid specimens should be transported at room temperature
(approximately 20°C). Refrigeration (0°C) can damage cells, and incubation at 37°C
during transport may promote overgrowth of contaminants.
Question 5
What should be added to modified media before use in amniotic fluid cultures?
A) Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)
B) Vitamins
C) Sucrose
D) Gentamicin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) provides essential growth factors, hormones,
and attachment factors necessary for cell proliferation in amniotic fluid cultures. It
is a critical supplement for successful culture establishment.
Question 6
Collagenase is used in culture of solid tissues to:
, A) Dissociate cells
B) Supplement culture media
C) Prevent mycoplasma contamination
D) Subculture monolayer cultures
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Collagenase is a proteolytic enzyme that breaks down collagen in
extracellular matrix, allowing dissociation of cells from solid tissue specimens for
culture establishment.
Question 7
Which cell type would you want to use for long-term serial cytogenetic studies?
A) Lymphocytes
B) Fibroblast cells
C) Amniocytes
D) Bone marrow cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fibroblast cells are the preferred cell type for long-term serial
cytogenetic studies because they can be maintained in culture for multiple
passages and have a longer lifespan than other cell types.
Question 8
What microscope is useful in the separation of fetal tissue from maternal tissue?
ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL
DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST 2025/2026
Question 1
Which anticoagulant is most appropriate for collecting peripheral blood intended
for chromosome culture?
A) EDTA
B) Sodium heparin
C) Sodium citrate
D) Lithium heparin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sodium heparin is the anticoagulant of choice for peripheral blood
chromosome cultures because it prevents clotting while maintaining cell viability.
EDTA can interfere with cell growth, and citrate is primarily used for coagulation
studies.
Question 2
What effects does sodium heparin have on cells?
,A) Swells cells
B) Removes water from cells
C) Stimulates mitotic activity
D) Precipitates nucleic acid
E) Prevents clotting
Correct Answer: E
Rationale: Sodium heparin functions as an anticoagulant by preventing blood
clotting. It does not significantly affect cell morphology or stimulate mitotic activity.
Question 3
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be toxic to cells?
A) Sodium heparin
B) Lithium heparin
C) Sodium hydroxide
D) Gentamicin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Sodium heparin is the least toxic to cells among the options listed.
Lithium heparin, sodium hydroxide, and gentamicin can all be cytotoxic at certain
concentrations.
Question 4
The optimal temperature for transport of amniotic fluid specimens is:
,A) 37°C
B) 40°C
C) 0°C
D) 20°C
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Amniotic fluid specimens should be transported at room temperature
(approximately 20°C). Refrigeration (0°C) can damage cells, and incubation at 37°C
during transport may promote overgrowth of contaminants.
Question 5
What should be added to modified media before use in amniotic fluid cultures?
A) Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)
B) Vitamins
C) Sucrose
D) Gentamicin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) provides essential growth factors, hormones,
and attachment factors necessary for cell proliferation in amniotic fluid cultures. It
is a critical supplement for successful culture establishment.
Question 6
Collagenase is used in culture of solid tissues to:
, A) Dissociate cells
B) Supplement culture media
C) Prevent mycoplasma contamination
D) Subculture monolayer cultures
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Collagenase is a proteolytic enzyme that breaks down collagen in
extracellular matrix, allowing dissociation of cells from solid tissue specimens for
culture establishment.
Question 7
Which cell type would you want to use for long-term serial cytogenetic studies?
A) Lymphocytes
B) Fibroblast cells
C) Amniocytes
D) Bone marrow cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fibroblast cells are the preferred cell type for long-term serial
cytogenetic studies because they can be maintained in culture for multiple
passages and have a longer lifespan than other cell types.
Question 8
What microscope is useful in the separation of fetal tissue from maternal tissue?
