Blood Bank ASCP EXAM UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What type of serological testing does the blood
bank technologist perform when determining the
blood group of a patient? - CORRECT ANSWER - phenotyping
If anti-K reacts 3+ with a donor cell with a
genotype KK and 2+ with a Kk cell, the antibody
is demonstrating: - CORRECT ANSWER - Dosage
Carla expresses the blood group antigens Fya, Fyb, and Xga. James shows expressions of none
of these antigens. What factor(s) may account for the absence of these antigens in James? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Gender and Race. The frequency of Duffy antigens Fya and Fyb
varies
with race. The Fy(a−b−) phenotype occurs in almost
70% of African Americans and is very rare in whites.
The Xga antigen is X-linked and, therefore, expressed more frequently in women (who may
inherit the antigen from either parent) than in men.
Which of the following statements is true?
A. An individual with the BO genotype is
homozygous for B antigen
B. An individual with the BB genotype is
homozygous for B antigen
C. An individual with the OO genotype is
heterozygous for O antigen
D. An individual with the AB phenotype is
,homozygous for A and B antigens - CORRECT ANSWER - B. An individual with the BB
genotype is
homozygous for B antigen
Which genotype is heterozygous for C?
A. DCe/dce
B. DCE/DCE
C. Dce/dce
D. DCE/dCe - CORRECT ANSWER - A. DCe/dce
Which genotype(s) will give rise to the Bombay phenotype? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
Bombay phenotype will be expressed only when no H substance is present. The Oh type is
expressed by the genotype hh. Bombays produce naturally occurring anti-H, and their serum
agglutinates group
O red cells in addition to red cells from groups A, B, and AB persons.
Meiosis in cell division is limited to the ova and sperm producing four gametes containing what
complement of DNA? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1N. Meiosis involves two nuclear
divisions in succession resulting in four gametocytes each containing half the number of
chromosomes found in somatic cells or 1N.
A cell that is not actively dividing is said to be in: - CORRECT ANSWER - Interphase,
The cell is engaged in metabolic activity. Chromosomes are not clearly discerned; however,
nucleoli may be
visible
Which of the following describes the expression of most blood group antigens? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Codominant
What blood type is not possible for an offspring of an AO and BO mating? - CORRECT
ANSWER - All are possible
,The alleged father of a child in a disputed case of paternity is blood group AB. The mother is
group O and the child is group O. What type of exclusion is this? - CORRECT
ANSWER - -Indirect/secondary/second order
An indirect/secondary/second order exclusion occurs when a genetic marker is absent in the
child but should have been transmitted by the alleged father. In this case, either A or B should be
present in the child.
If the frequency of gene Y is 0.4 and the frequency of gene Z is 0.5, one would expect that they
should occur together 0.2 (20%) of the time. In actuality,
they are found together 32% of the time. This is an example of: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Linkage disequilibrium.
Linkage disequilibrium is a phenomenon in which alleles situated in close proximity on a
chromosome associate with one another more than would be expected from individual allelic
frequencies.
In this type of inheritance, the father carries the trait on his X chromosome. He has no sons with
the trait because he passed his Y chromosome to his sons; however, all his daughters will express
the trait. - CORRECT ANSWER - Autosomal Dominant
In the Hardy-Weinberg formula, p2 represents: - CORRECT ANSWER - In the Hardy-
Weinberg formula p2 + 2pq + q2, p2 and q2 represent homozygous expressions and 2pq
represents heterozygous expression. This formula is
used in population genetics to determine the frequency of different alleles.
What is the Hardy-Weinberg formula? - CORRECT ANSWER - p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1
Why do IgM antibodies, such as those formed against the ABO antigens, have the ability to
directly agglutinate red blood cells (RBCs) and cause visible agglutination? - CORRECT
ANSWER - IgM antibodies are larger molecules and have the ability to bind more antigen
Which of the following enhancement mediums decreases the zeta potential, allowing antibody
and antigen to come closer together? - CORRECT ANSWER - LISS.
, LISS contains a reduced concentration of NaCl (0.2%) and results in a reduction in charged ions
within the ionic cloud, decreasing the zeta potential and facilitating antigen and antibody
interaction.
This type of antibody response is analogous to an anamnestic antibody reaction. - CORRECT
ANSWER - Secondary.
An anamnestic response is a secondary immune response in which memory lymphocytes respond
rapidly to foreign antigen in producing specific antibody. The antibodies are IgG and are
produced
at lower doses of antigen than in the primary response.
Which antibodies to a component of complement are contained in the rabbit polyspecific
antihuman globulin reagent for detection of in vivo sensitization? - CORRECT
ANSWER - In the DAT (direct antiglobulin test), rabbit
polyspecific antisera contains both an anti-human IgG component and an antibody against the
C3d component of complement.
Which of the following distinguishes A1 from A2 blood groups?
A. A2 antigen will not react with anti-A, A1 will
react strongly (4+)
B. An A2 person may form anti-A1; an A1 person
will not form anti-A1
C. An A1 person may form anti-A2, an A2 person
will not form anti-A1
D. A2 antigen will not react with anti-A from a nonimmunized donor; A1 will react with any
anti-A - CORRECT ANSWER - B. An A2 person may form anti-A1; an A1 person will
not form anti-A1
A patient's serum is incompatible with O cells. The patient RBCs give a negative reaction to anti-
H lectin. What is the most likely cause of these results? - CORRECT ANSWER - Bombay
is the only ABO phenotype incompatible with O cells. The red cells of a Bombay show a
negative reaction to anti-H because the cells contain no H substance
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What type of serological testing does the blood
bank technologist perform when determining the
blood group of a patient? - CORRECT ANSWER - phenotyping
If anti-K reacts 3+ with a donor cell with a
genotype KK and 2+ with a Kk cell, the antibody
is demonstrating: - CORRECT ANSWER - Dosage
Carla expresses the blood group antigens Fya, Fyb, and Xga. James shows expressions of none
of these antigens. What factor(s) may account for the absence of these antigens in James? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Gender and Race. The frequency of Duffy antigens Fya and Fyb
varies
with race. The Fy(a−b−) phenotype occurs in almost
70% of African Americans and is very rare in whites.
The Xga antigen is X-linked and, therefore, expressed more frequently in women (who may
inherit the antigen from either parent) than in men.
Which of the following statements is true?
A. An individual with the BO genotype is
homozygous for B antigen
B. An individual with the BB genotype is
homozygous for B antigen
C. An individual with the OO genotype is
heterozygous for O antigen
D. An individual with the AB phenotype is
,homozygous for A and B antigens - CORRECT ANSWER - B. An individual with the BB
genotype is
homozygous for B antigen
Which genotype is heterozygous for C?
A. DCe/dce
B. DCE/DCE
C. Dce/dce
D. DCE/dCe - CORRECT ANSWER - A. DCe/dce
Which genotype(s) will give rise to the Bombay phenotype? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
Bombay phenotype will be expressed only when no H substance is present. The Oh type is
expressed by the genotype hh. Bombays produce naturally occurring anti-H, and their serum
agglutinates group
O red cells in addition to red cells from groups A, B, and AB persons.
Meiosis in cell division is limited to the ova and sperm producing four gametes containing what
complement of DNA? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1N. Meiosis involves two nuclear
divisions in succession resulting in four gametocytes each containing half the number of
chromosomes found in somatic cells or 1N.
A cell that is not actively dividing is said to be in: - CORRECT ANSWER - Interphase,
The cell is engaged in metabolic activity. Chromosomes are not clearly discerned; however,
nucleoli may be
visible
Which of the following describes the expression of most blood group antigens? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Codominant
What blood type is not possible for an offspring of an AO and BO mating? - CORRECT
ANSWER - All are possible
,The alleged father of a child in a disputed case of paternity is blood group AB. The mother is
group O and the child is group O. What type of exclusion is this? - CORRECT
ANSWER - -Indirect/secondary/second order
An indirect/secondary/second order exclusion occurs when a genetic marker is absent in the
child but should have been transmitted by the alleged father. In this case, either A or B should be
present in the child.
If the frequency of gene Y is 0.4 and the frequency of gene Z is 0.5, one would expect that they
should occur together 0.2 (20%) of the time. In actuality,
they are found together 32% of the time. This is an example of: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Linkage disequilibrium.
Linkage disequilibrium is a phenomenon in which alleles situated in close proximity on a
chromosome associate with one another more than would be expected from individual allelic
frequencies.
In this type of inheritance, the father carries the trait on his X chromosome. He has no sons with
the trait because he passed his Y chromosome to his sons; however, all his daughters will express
the trait. - CORRECT ANSWER - Autosomal Dominant
In the Hardy-Weinberg formula, p2 represents: - CORRECT ANSWER - In the Hardy-
Weinberg formula p2 + 2pq + q2, p2 and q2 represent homozygous expressions and 2pq
represents heterozygous expression. This formula is
used in population genetics to determine the frequency of different alleles.
What is the Hardy-Weinberg formula? - CORRECT ANSWER - p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1
Why do IgM antibodies, such as those formed against the ABO antigens, have the ability to
directly agglutinate red blood cells (RBCs) and cause visible agglutination? - CORRECT
ANSWER - IgM antibodies are larger molecules and have the ability to bind more antigen
Which of the following enhancement mediums decreases the zeta potential, allowing antibody
and antigen to come closer together? - CORRECT ANSWER - LISS.
, LISS contains a reduced concentration of NaCl (0.2%) and results in a reduction in charged ions
within the ionic cloud, decreasing the zeta potential and facilitating antigen and antibody
interaction.
This type of antibody response is analogous to an anamnestic antibody reaction. - CORRECT
ANSWER - Secondary.
An anamnestic response is a secondary immune response in which memory lymphocytes respond
rapidly to foreign antigen in producing specific antibody. The antibodies are IgG and are
produced
at lower doses of antigen than in the primary response.
Which antibodies to a component of complement are contained in the rabbit polyspecific
antihuman globulin reagent for detection of in vivo sensitization? - CORRECT
ANSWER - In the DAT (direct antiglobulin test), rabbit
polyspecific antisera contains both an anti-human IgG component and an antibody against the
C3d component of complement.
Which of the following distinguishes A1 from A2 blood groups?
A. A2 antigen will not react with anti-A, A1 will
react strongly (4+)
B. An A2 person may form anti-A1; an A1 person
will not form anti-A1
C. An A1 person may form anti-A2, an A2 person
will not form anti-A1
D. A2 antigen will not react with anti-A from a nonimmunized donor; A1 will react with any
anti-A - CORRECT ANSWER - B. An A2 person may form anti-A1; an A1 person will
not form anti-A1
A patient's serum is incompatible with O cells. The patient RBCs give a negative reaction to anti-
H lectin. What is the most likely cause of these results? - CORRECT ANSWER - Bombay
is the only ABO phenotype incompatible with O cells. The red cells of a Bombay show a
negative reaction to anti-H because the cells contain no H substance
