TEXAS MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION-STYLE PRACTICE EXAM
1. Which type of specimen is most appropriate for a complete
blood count (CBC)?
A. Serum
B. EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood
C. Sodium citrate plasma
D. Heparinized plasma
Correct Answer: B. EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood
Rationale: EDTA preserves cellular morphology and prevents
clotting, making it the standard anticoagulant for CBC testing.
2. What is the primary function of hemoglobin in red blood
cells?
A. Produce antibodies
,B. Transport oxygen
C. Destroy bacteria
D. Regulate platelets
Correct Answer: B. Transport oxygen
Rationale: Hemoglobin binds oxygen in the lungs and
transports it to tissues.
3. Which leukocyte is normally the most abundant in
peripheral blood?
A. Basophil
B. Eosinophil
C. Neutrophil
D. Monocyte
Correct Answer: C. Neutrophil
Rationale: Neutrophils generally comprise the largest
proportion of circulating white blood cells and are important in
bacterial defense.
,4. Which red blood cell morphology is commonly associated
with iron deficiency anemia?
A. Macrocytes
B. Spherocytes
C. Microcytic hypochromic cells
D. Sickle cells
Correct Answer: C. Microcytic hypochromic cells
Rationale: Iron deficiency typically produces smaller-than-
normal RBCs with reduced hemoglobin concentration.
5. Which test is used to evaluate the extrinsic and common
coagulation pathways?
A. PT
B. aPTT
C. Bleeding time
D. D-dimer only
Correct Answer: A. PT
, Rationale: Prothrombin time evaluates the extrinsic and
common pathways and is commonly used to monitor warfarin
therapy.
6. Which anticoagulant is routinely used for coagulation
studies?
A. EDTA
B. Sodium citrate
C. Sodium fluoride
D. Heparin
Correct Answer: B. Sodium citrate
Rationale: Citrate binds calcium reversibly and is used for PT
and aPTT testing.
7. An underfilled citrate tube can produce which problem?
A. Falsely shortened coagulation times
B. Falsely prolonged coagulation times
C. Increased hemoglobin
D. Decreased glucose
CERTIFICATION-STYLE PRACTICE EXAM
1. Which type of specimen is most appropriate for a complete
blood count (CBC)?
A. Serum
B. EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood
C. Sodium citrate plasma
D. Heparinized plasma
Correct Answer: B. EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood
Rationale: EDTA preserves cellular morphology and prevents
clotting, making it the standard anticoagulant for CBC testing.
2. What is the primary function of hemoglobin in red blood
cells?
A. Produce antibodies
,B. Transport oxygen
C. Destroy bacteria
D. Regulate platelets
Correct Answer: B. Transport oxygen
Rationale: Hemoglobin binds oxygen in the lungs and
transports it to tissues.
3. Which leukocyte is normally the most abundant in
peripheral blood?
A. Basophil
B. Eosinophil
C. Neutrophil
D. Monocyte
Correct Answer: C. Neutrophil
Rationale: Neutrophils generally comprise the largest
proportion of circulating white blood cells and are important in
bacterial defense.
,4. Which red blood cell morphology is commonly associated
with iron deficiency anemia?
A. Macrocytes
B. Spherocytes
C. Microcytic hypochromic cells
D. Sickle cells
Correct Answer: C. Microcytic hypochromic cells
Rationale: Iron deficiency typically produces smaller-than-
normal RBCs with reduced hemoglobin concentration.
5. Which test is used to evaluate the extrinsic and common
coagulation pathways?
A. PT
B. aPTT
C. Bleeding time
D. D-dimer only
Correct Answer: A. PT
, Rationale: Prothrombin time evaluates the extrinsic and
common pathways and is commonly used to monitor warfarin
therapy.
6. Which anticoagulant is routinely used for coagulation
studies?
A. EDTA
B. Sodium citrate
C. Sodium fluoride
D. Heparin
Correct Answer: B. Sodium citrate
Rationale: Citrate binds calcium reversibly and is used for PT
and aPTT testing.
7. An underfilled citrate tube can produce which problem?
A. Falsely shortened coagulation times
B. Falsely prolonged coagulation times
C. Increased hemoglobin
D. Decreased glucose
