EXAMINATION
1. What stain is most commonly used for bone marrow aspirates?
a. Prussian blue
b. new methylene blue
c. hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)
d. Wright - Correct answer-D
2. What bone marrow sample is best to determine fat-to-cell ratio and overall cellularity,
as well as for searching for malignant cells?
a. core biopsy
b. aspirate smears
c. peripheral blood
d. Prussian blue stain - Correct answer-A
3. Which of the following is least helpful in evaluating bone marrow findings?
a. differential performed on the aspirate
b. clinical findings
c. laboratory data from chemistry, immunology, and microbiology
d. examination of peripheral blood - Correct answer-C
4. Which of the following would be a valid indication for performing a bone marrow
aspiration?
a. iron deficiency
b. folate deficiency
c. unexpected pancytopenia
d. leukocytosis from a severe infection - Correct answer-C
5. What type of preparation is preferred for bone marrow aspirates? a. coverslip smears
from a bone marrow fragment called a spicule
b. wedge smears made from the blood surrounding marrow fragments
c. touch preps from rolling the biopsy on a glass slide
d. smears of the biopsy made with an automated slide maker - Correct answer-A
6. Low power (10) is used to count and evaluate which of the following?
a. immature neutrophils
b. megakaryocytes
c. nucleated red cells
d. plasma cell - Correct answer-B