ASCP Medical Laboratory Technician
(MLT) Practice Exam Study
Guide PRACTICE QUESTIONS
|ORIGINAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
|DETAILED RATIONALES |HINTED
COMPLETE EXAM PREP GRADED
A+*INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which anticoagulant is routinely used for a complete blood count
(CBC)?
A. Sodium citrate
B. Heparin
C. EDTA
D. Sodium fluoride
Answer: C. EDTA
EDTA chelates calcium and preserves cellular morphology, making it
the preferred anticoagulant for CBC testing.
2. A patient has a hemoglobin of 10.0 g/dL, hematocrit of 30%, and
RBC count of 3.0 × 10⁶/µL. What is the MCV?
A. 75 fL
B. 80 fL
C. 90 fL
D. 100 fL
Answer: C. 100 fL
,MCV = Hct × 10 / RBC = 30 × .0 = 100 fL.
3. Which RBC morphology is most characteristic of iron deficiency
anemia?
A. Spherocytes
B. Microcytes and hypochromic cells
C. Macro-ovalocytes
D. Target cells only
Answer: B. Microcytes and hypochromic cells
Iron deficiency commonly produces microcytic, hypochromic
erythrocytes with increased variation in size.
4. Which RBC inclusion represents aggregated ribosomal RNA?
A. Howell-Jolly body
B. Pappenheimer body
C. Basophilic stippling
D. Heinz body
Answer: C. Basophilic stippling
Basophilic stippling consists of aggregated ribosomal RNA and may
be seen in lead poisoning and certain anemias.
5. Howell-Jolly bodies are composed primarily of:
A. Iron
B. DNA remnants
C. RNA
D. Denatured hemoglobin
Answer: B. DNA remnants
,Howell-Jolly bodies are nuclear DNA remnants that may be seen after
splenectomy or with decreased splenic function.
6. Which cell is normally the most numerous leukocyte in
peripheral blood?
A. Lymphocyte
B. Monocyte
C. Neutrophil
D. Eosinophil
Answer: C. Neutrophil
Neutrophils normally constitute the largest proportion of circulating
leukocytes in adults.
7. A marked increase in eosinophils is most commonly associated
with:
A. Bacterial sepsis
B. Parasitic infection or allergy
C. Viral hepatitis only
D. Iron deficiency
Answer: B. Parasitic infection or allergy
Eosinophilia is commonly associated with allergic disorders and
certain parasitic infections.
8. Which leukocyte contains large orange-red granules?
A. Basophil
B. Lymphocyte
C. Eosinophil
D. Monocyte
, Answer: C. Eosinophil
Eosinophil granules stain orange-red with Romanowsky-type stains.
9. Which leukocyte has abundant pale blue-gray cytoplasm and a
kidney-shaped nucleus?
A. Monocyte
B. Neutrophil
C. Basophil
D. Lymphocyte
Answer: A. Monocyte
Monocytes are large cells with abundant gray-blue cytoplasm and
folded or kidney-shaped nuclei.
10. Which cell is associated with antibody production after
differentiation from a B lymphocyte?
A. Plasma cell
B. Neutrophil
C. Monocyte
D. Megakaryocyte
Answer: A. Plasma cell
Plasma cells are differentiated B cells specialized for antibody
secretion.
11. A reticulocyte count measures:
A. Mature neutrophils
B. Immature RBCs containing residual RNA
(MLT) Practice Exam Study
Guide PRACTICE QUESTIONS
|ORIGINAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
|DETAILED RATIONALES |HINTED
COMPLETE EXAM PREP GRADED
A+*INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which anticoagulant is routinely used for a complete blood count
(CBC)?
A. Sodium citrate
B. Heparin
C. EDTA
D. Sodium fluoride
Answer: C. EDTA
EDTA chelates calcium and preserves cellular morphology, making it
the preferred anticoagulant for CBC testing.
2. A patient has a hemoglobin of 10.0 g/dL, hematocrit of 30%, and
RBC count of 3.0 × 10⁶/µL. What is the MCV?
A. 75 fL
B. 80 fL
C. 90 fL
D. 100 fL
Answer: C. 100 fL
,MCV = Hct × 10 / RBC = 30 × .0 = 100 fL.
3. Which RBC morphology is most characteristic of iron deficiency
anemia?
A. Spherocytes
B. Microcytes and hypochromic cells
C. Macro-ovalocytes
D. Target cells only
Answer: B. Microcytes and hypochromic cells
Iron deficiency commonly produces microcytic, hypochromic
erythrocytes with increased variation in size.
4. Which RBC inclusion represents aggregated ribosomal RNA?
A. Howell-Jolly body
B. Pappenheimer body
C. Basophilic stippling
D. Heinz body
Answer: C. Basophilic stippling
Basophilic stippling consists of aggregated ribosomal RNA and may
be seen in lead poisoning and certain anemias.
5. Howell-Jolly bodies are composed primarily of:
A. Iron
B. DNA remnants
C. RNA
D. Denatured hemoglobin
Answer: B. DNA remnants
,Howell-Jolly bodies are nuclear DNA remnants that may be seen after
splenectomy or with decreased splenic function.
6. Which cell is normally the most numerous leukocyte in
peripheral blood?
A. Lymphocyte
B. Monocyte
C. Neutrophil
D. Eosinophil
Answer: C. Neutrophil
Neutrophils normally constitute the largest proportion of circulating
leukocytes in adults.
7. A marked increase in eosinophils is most commonly associated
with:
A. Bacterial sepsis
B. Parasitic infection or allergy
C. Viral hepatitis only
D. Iron deficiency
Answer: B. Parasitic infection or allergy
Eosinophilia is commonly associated with allergic disorders and
certain parasitic infections.
8. Which leukocyte contains large orange-red granules?
A. Basophil
B. Lymphocyte
C. Eosinophil
D. Monocyte
, Answer: C. Eosinophil
Eosinophil granules stain orange-red with Romanowsky-type stains.
9. Which leukocyte has abundant pale blue-gray cytoplasm and a
kidney-shaped nucleus?
A. Monocyte
B. Neutrophil
C. Basophil
D. Lymphocyte
Answer: A. Monocyte
Monocytes are large cells with abundant gray-blue cytoplasm and
folded or kidney-shaped nuclei.
10. Which cell is associated with antibody production after
differentiation from a B lymphocyte?
A. Plasma cell
B. Neutrophil
C. Monocyte
D. Megakaryocyte
Answer: A. Plasma cell
Plasma cells are differentiated B cells specialized for antibody
secretion.
11. A reticulocyte count measures:
A. Mature neutrophils
B. Immature RBCs containing residual RNA