Oklahoma Clinical Laboratory
Assistant Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf.
1. Which federal framework most directly establishes quality
standards for laboratories performing testing on human specimens
for diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease?
A. OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
B. HIPAA Privacy Rule
C. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)
D. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
CLIA establishes federal requirements for laboratories that test human
specimens for health-related purposes, including requirements
concerning personnel, quality systems, testing complexity, and
laboratory operations.
, 2. A clinical laboratory assistant receives a blood specimen labeled
with the patient's name but without a second required patient
identifier. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Process the specimen because the patient's name is sufficient
B. Add the missing identifier based on the requisition
C. Ask another assistant to identify the patient from the specimen
D. Follow the laboratory's specimen-rejection or identification policy
and resolve the identification discrepancy before testing
Patient identification errors can lead to results being assigned to the
wrong individual. The specimen should be handled according to
established identification and rejection procedures rather than having
information added without verification.
3. Which specimen is generally preferred for many routine
hematology tests such as a complete blood count?
A. Serum collected in a red-top tube
B. Plasma collected in a sodium citrate tube
C. Whole blood collected in an EDTA tube
D. Urine collected in a sterile container
EDTA preserves cellular components and prevents coagulation, making
EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood the standard specimen for many
hematology procedures, including the CBC.
, 4. A lavender-top blood tube contains EDTA. What is the primary
function of EDTA in this specimen?
A. Activate clotting factors
B. Dissolve red blood cells
C. Bind calcium and inhibit coagulation
D. Separate serum from plasma
EDTA chelates calcium, an essential component of the coagulation
cascade, thereby preventing clot formation while preserving blood cells
for hematologic analysis.
5. Which additive is characteristically found in a light-blue-top tube
used for coagulation testing?
A. EDTA
B. Heparin
C. Sodium fluoride
D. Sodium citrate
Light-blue-top tubes contain sodium citrate, which reversibly binds
calcium and is used for coagulation studies such as prothrombin time
and activated partial thromboplastin time.
6. Why is the blood-to-anticoagulant ratio particularly important
when collecting specimens for coagulation testing?
A. It determines the patient's blood type
B. It prevents hemolysis during centrifugation
, C. An incorrect ratio can significantly alter coagulation test results
D. It determines whether serum or plasma is produced
Coagulation assays depend on an appropriate proportion of plasma to
anticoagulant. Underfilling or overfilling citrate tubes can change the
effective anticoagulant concentration and compromise results.
7. Which tube is commonly associated with collection of serum for
many chemistry and serology tests?
A. Lavender-top tube
B. Light-blue-top tube
C. Gray-top tube
D. Red- or serum-separator tube
Red-top and serum-separator tubes are designed to produce serum after
clot formation and centrifugation and are commonly used for numerous
chemistry and serologic procedures.
8. A gray-top tube commonly contains sodium fluoride and which
additional substance?
A. EDTA
B. Sodium citrate
C. Potassium oxalate or another anticoagulant, depending on the tube
formulation
D. Lithium chloride only
Assistant Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf.
1. Which federal framework most directly establishes quality
standards for laboratories performing testing on human specimens
for diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease?
A. OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
B. HIPAA Privacy Rule
C. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)
D. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
CLIA establishes federal requirements for laboratories that test human
specimens for health-related purposes, including requirements
concerning personnel, quality systems, testing complexity, and
laboratory operations.
, 2. A clinical laboratory assistant receives a blood specimen labeled
with the patient's name but without a second required patient
identifier. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Process the specimen because the patient's name is sufficient
B. Add the missing identifier based on the requisition
C. Ask another assistant to identify the patient from the specimen
D. Follow the laboratory's specimen-rejection or identification policy
and resolve the identification discrepancy before testing
Patient identification errors can lead to results being assigned to the
wrong individual. The specimen should be handled according to
established identification and rejection procedures rather than having
information added without verification.
3. Which specimen is generally preferred for many routine
hematology tests such as a complete blood count?
A. Serum collected in a red-top tube
B. Plasma collected in a sodium citrate tube
C. Whole blood collected in an EDTA tube
D. Urine collected in a sterile container
EDTA preserves cellular components and prevents coagulation, making
EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood the standard specimen for many
hematology procedures, including the CBC.
, 4. A lavender-top blood tube contains EDTA. What is the primary
function of EDTA in this specimen?
A. Activate clotting factors
B. Dissolve red blood cells
C. Bind calcium and inhibit coagulation
D. Separate serum from plasma
EDTA chelates calcium, an essential component of the coagulation
cascade, thereby preventing clot formation while preserving blood cells
for hematologic analysis.
5. Which additive is characteristically found in a light-blue-top tube
used for coagulation testing?
A. EDTA
B. Heparin
C. Sodium fluoride
D. Sodium citrate
Light-blue-top tubes contain sodium citrate, which reversibly binds
calcium and is used for coagulation studies such as prothrombin time
and activated partial thromboplastin time.
6. Why is the blood-to-anticoagulant ratio particularly important
when collecting specimens for coagulation testing?
A. It determines the patient's blood type
B. It prevents hemolysis during centrifugation
, C. An incorrect ratio can significantly alter coagulation test results
D. It determines whether serum or plasma is produced
Coagulation assays depend on an appropriate proportion of plasma to
anticoagulant. Underfilling or overfilling citrate tubes can change the
effective anticoagulant concentration and compromise results.
7. Which tube is commonly associated with collection of serum for
many chemistry and serology tests?
A. Lavender-top tube
B. Light-blue-top tube
C. Gray-top tube
D. Red- or serum-separator tube
Red-top and serum-separator tubes are designed to produce serum after
clot formation and centrifugation and are commonly used for numerous
chemistry and serologic procedures.
8. A gray-top tube commonly contains sodium fluoride and which
additional substance?
A. EDTA
B. Sodium citrate
C. Potassium oxalate or another anticoagulant, depending on the tube
formulation
D. Lithium chloride only
