ASCP CHEMISTRY EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
In absorption spectrophotometry, what relationship is absorption to concentration? - ANSWER
Absorption is directly proportional to concentration.
What is the equation for Beer's law? - ANSWER A= a x b x c
Where "a" equals absorptivity coefficient (a constant); "b" is the path length and "c" is concentration.
A red solution transmits light at.
And strongly absorbs light at. - ANSWER Transmits light at 600-650 nm.
Strongly absorbs light at 400-500 nm.
A green colored solution would show the highest transmittance between: - ANSWER 500-550 nm
Which two hormones promote glyconeogensis and promote hyperglycemia? - ANSWER Growth
hormone.
And.
Cortisol.
Which hormone stimulates glycogenolysis? - ANSWER Epinephrine.
What HLA antigens are genetically associated with type 1 diabetes. - ANSWER DR3.
And.
DR4.
What is the primary mineralocorticoid hormone that stimulates sodium reabsorption and potassium
secretion by the kidneys. - ANSWER Aldosterone.
Does excess thyroid hormone cause hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia? - ANSWER Hyperglycemia.
,What hormone opposes the action of parathyroid hormone? - ANSWER Calcitonin.
What hormone is released from the kidney due to ineffective arterial pressure and promotes activation
of angiotensinogen and aldosterone secretion? - ANSWER Renin.
In type 1 diabetes, what is required to prevent ketosis? - ANSWER Insulin replacement.
Excess of this hormone causes hyperglycemia by increasing glucagon and inactivation of insulin; thereby
promoting both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. - ANSWER Thyroid hormone.
What is type 2 diabetes associated with? - ANSWER A defect in the receptor site for insulin.
Usually occurs in patient over 40 and who are obese.
What is required of the patient's diet when getting the O.G.T.T -O'Sullivan Glucose Tolerance Test? -
ANSWER Required the patient receive at least 150g of carbohydrates per day for 3 days prior to test.
When should the G.T.T -Glucose Tolerance Test be done? - ANSWER It should be reserved for
confirmation of diabetes and for difficult to diagnosis patients.
It is not longer recommended for screening purposes.
What criteria is used for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus for a fasting glucose? - ANSWER greater than or
equal to 126 mg/dL on more than a single testing event.
What criteria is used for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus for a random glucose? - ANSWER Greater than or
equal to 200 mg/dL on more than a single testing event.
What criteria is used for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus after 2 hours following ingestion of 75 grams of
glucose load? - ANSWER A glucose greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL on more than a single testing
event.
,An A1C greater than or equal to what on more than a single testing event is diagnostic of diabetes
mellitus? - ANSWER 6.5.
What is the definition of Impaired Glucose Tolerance ? - ANSWER It is serum or plasma glucose at 2
hours after a 75 g glucose load of greater than or equal to 140 mg/dL and less than 200 mg/dL.
What is GDM? - ANSWER Gestational diabetes mellitus and it is defined as glucose intolerance during
pregnancy.
When are pregnant women screened for gestational diabetes mellitus? - ANSWER Between 24 and 28
weeks of gestation.
What does the screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus consist of? - ANSWER An oral 50 g glucose
load followed by a glucose measurement at 1 hour.
A result greater than or equal to 140 mg/dL is followed by a 2 hr. or 3 hr. G.T.T to confirm gestational
diabetes.
If a 3 hour G.T.T is ordered, what amount of glucose load should be given? - ANSWER 100 g dose.
What are the cutoff points for the glucose tolerance test for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes -
ANSWER Fasting - greater to or equal to 95 mg/dL.
1 hour- greater than or equal to 180 mg/dL.
2 hour- greater than or equal to 155 mg/dL.
3 hour - greater than or equal to 140 mg/dL.
At least two cutoffs must be exceeded.
What can cause clinical hypoglycemia? - ANSWER Insulinoma.
Drugs.
Alcoholism.
Reactive hypoglycemia.
, What is reactive hypoglycemia characterized by? - ANSWER By delayed or excessive insulin output after
eating.
Fasting insulin is normal, but post prandial levels are increased.
What is glycated hemoglobin? (G-Hgb) - ANSWER It is related to the time averaged blood glucose
concentration over the life span of the RBC.
How many G-Hgb fractions are there? - ANSWER 3 fractions:
A1a.
A1b.
A1c
What percentage does A1c make up of the glycated hemoglobin? - ANSWER 80%.
What is the formula for the time averaged blood glucose? - ANSWER (A1c x 33.3) -86 mg/dL.
What is the A.D.A recommended cutoff value for adequate control of blood glucose in diabetes as
measured by glycated hemoglobin? - ANSWER 6.5%.
Should the patient be fasting to have an A1c drawn? - ANSWER No, since A1c represents the average
blood glucose 2-3 months prior to collection, fasting on the day of the test has no effect on the results.
What is considered the normal range for A1c? - ANSWER 4.0-5.5%
What is the recommended cutoff for the early detection of chronic kidney disease in diabetics using the
test for microalbuminuria? - ANSWER > 30 mg/g creatinine.
What is microalbuminuria? - ANSWER Excretion of small quantities of albumin in the urine.
AND ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
In absorption spectrophotometry, what relationship is absorption to concentration? - ANSWER
Absorption is directly proportional to concentration.
What is the equation for Beer's law? - ANSWER A= a x b x c
Where "a" equals absorptivity coefficient (a constant); "b" is the path length and "c" is concentration.
A red solution transmits light at.
And strongly absorbs light at. - ANSWER Transmits light at 600-650 nm.
Strongly absorbs light at 400-500 nm.
A green colored solution would show the highest transmittance between: - ANSWER 500-550 nm
Which two hormones promote glyconeogensis and promote hyperglycemia? - ANSWER Growth
hormone.
And.
Cortisol.
Which hormone stimulates glycogenolysis? - ANSWER Epinephrine.
What HLA antigens are genetically associated with type 1 diabetes. - ANSWER DR3.
And.
DR4.
What is the primary mineralocorticoid hormone that stimulates sodium reabsorption and potassium
secretion by the kidneys. - ANSWER Aldosterone.
Does excess thyroid hormone cause hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia? - ANSWER Hyperglycemia.
,What hormone opposes the action of parathyroid hormone? - ANSWER Calcitonin.
What hormone is released from the kidney due to ineffective arterial pressure and promotes activation
of angiotensinogen and aldosterone secretion? - ANSWER Renin.
In type 1 diabetes, what is required to prevent ketosis? - ANSWER Insulin replacement.
Excess of this hormone causes hyperglycemia by increasing glucagon and inactivation of insulin; thereby
promoting both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. - ANSWER Thyroid hormone.
What is type 2 diabetes associated with? - ANSWER A defect in the receptor site for insulin.
Usually occurs in patient over 40 and who are obese.
What is required of the patient's diet when getting the O.G.T.T -O'Sullivan Glucose Tolerance Test? -
ANSWER Required the patient receive at least 150g of carbohydrates per day for 3 days prior to test.
When should the G.T.T -Glucose Tolerance Test be done? - ANSWER It should be reserved for
confirmation of diabetes and for difficult to diagnosis patients.
It is not longer recommended for screening purposes.
What criteria is used for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus for a fasting glucose? - ANSWER greater than or
equal to 126 mg/dL on more than a single testing event.
What criteria is used for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus for a random glucose? - ANSWER Greater than or
equal to 200 mg/dL on more than a single testing event.
What criteria is used for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus after 2 hours following ingestion of 75 grams of
glucose load? - ANSWER A glucose greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL on more than a single testing
event.
,An A1C greater than or equal to what on more than a single testing event is diagnostic of diabetes
mellitus? - ANSWER 6.5.
What is the definition of Impaired Glucose Tolerance ? - ANSWER It is serum or plasma glucose at 2
hours after a 75 g glucose load of greater than or equal to 140 mg/dL and less than 200 mg/dL.
What is GDM? - ANSWER Gestational diabetes mellitus and it is defined as glucose intolerance during
pregnancy.
When are pregnant women screened for gestational diabetes mellitus? - ANSWER Between 24 and 28
weeks of gestation.
What does the screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus consist of? - ANSWER An oral 50 g glucose
load followed by a glucose measurement at 1 hour.
A result greater than or equal to 140 mg/dL is followed by a 2 hr. or 3 hr. G.T.T to confirm gestational
diabetes.
If a 3 hour G.T.T is ordered, what amount of glucose load should be given? - ANSWER 100 g dose.
What are the cutoff points for the glucose tolerance test for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes -
ANSWER Fasting - greater to or equal to 95 mg/dL.
1 hour- greater than or equal to 180 mg/dL.
2 hour- greater than or equal to 155 mg/dL.
3 hour - greater than or equal to 140 mg/dL.
At least two cutoffs must be exceeded.
What can cause clinical hypoglycemia? - ANSWER Insulinoma.
Drugs.
Alcoholism.
Reactive hypoglycemia.
, What is reactive hypoglycemia characterized by? - ANSWER By delayed or excessive insulin output after
eating.
Fasting insulin is normal, but post prandial levels are increased.
What is glycated hemoglobin? (G-Hgb) - ANSWER It is related to the time averaged blood glucose
concentration over the life span of the RBC.
How many G-Hgb fractions are there? - ANSWER 3 fractions:
A1a.
A1b.
A1c
What percentage does A1c make up of the glycated hemoglobin? - ANSWER 80%.
What is the formula for the time averaged blood glucose? - ANSWER (A1c x 33.3) -86 mg/dL.
What is the A.D.A recommended cutoff value for adequate control of blood glucose in diabetes as
measured by glycated hemoglobin? - ANSWER 6.5%.
Should the patient be fasting to have an A1c drawn? - ANSWER No, since A1c represents the average
blood glucose 2-3 months prior to collection, fasting on the day of the test has no effect on the results.
What is considered the normal range for A1c? - ANSWER 4.0-5.5%
What is the recommended cutoff for the early detection of chronic kidney disease in diabetics using the
test for microalbuminuria? - ANSWER > 30 mg/g creatinine.
What is microalbuminuria? - ANSWER Excretion of small quantities of albumin in the urine.
