ASCP CG Certification Exam
Questions and Answers
1. What is the best agent to use against mycoplasma?: BM
cyclin - a combination of two antibiotics (tiamulin and
minocycline) that effecticely targets mycoplasma growth
2. For successful harvest, each new batch of hypotonic
solution should be evaluated by:: comparing the new lot to
a lot already in use
3. Colagenase, pronase, and trypsin are:: Proteolytic
enzymes - break down tissues into single-cell suspensions
4. When harvesting peripheral blood cultures, asceptic
technique no longer matters following incubation with::
Colcemid - mitotic spindle poison that halts cells at metaphase
5. Samples that arrive at the cytogenetics lab should first
be:: Logged in to the system
6. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulates which type of cells
into division?: -
T-cell lymphocytes
7. To avoid culture failure, monitoring reagents is crucial.
When logging a culture failure, what is the MOST important
to document?: Expiration dates of reagents used
,8. Which type of microscope is used when cleaning a CVS
(chorionic villus)
sample?: Dissection
9. Which cell type is most problematic if found in a CVS
(chorionic villus)
sample?: Decidua (maternal tissue)
10. When looking at a slide under a phase contrast scope
and a lot of cyto- plasm is still seen around the mets, what
is the most likely cause?: innappro- priate slide drying time
11. What will help prevent microbial contamination and
cross contamination of cultures?: Asceptic technique
12. When there are not enough mets to complete the study
of a patient/case, what needs to be done next?: prepare
additional slides from any remaining sample
13. When looking at a dropped slide under a phase scope
and mets are very spread out and sparse, what could help
fix the issue?: Increading the drying time by using warm slides
14. What is true of an inverted microscope?: the objectives are
beneath the stage
15. High-resolution banding is indicated for a possible
diagnosis of:: - DiGenorge syndrome -- microdeletion of
22q11, also called velocardiofacial syn- drome
,"velo" - soft palette,
"cardio" - congenital heart defects,
, "facial" - unique abnormal facial features, short philtrum (upper
lip indent), tubular nose, wide spread eyes, etc
16. When verifying if a specimen is appropriate for
cytogenetic analysis, what is the MOST important data to
accompany the specimen?: Reason for referral
17. Which type of specimen should be requested for a
cytogenetic analysis for turner syndrome?: Heparinized
peripheral blood stored at room temperature
(NOT FROZEN)
18. A blood sample can be used to study the cytogenetics
of a malignancy only if:: Dividing leukemic cells are present
in circulation
19. All of the cultures in a CO2 incubator failed, what aspects
of the incubator are important to monitor to assess the
source of the problem?: Temperature, CO2 level, and
Humidity level
20. The most important factor affecting the quality of
chromosomes viewed under a phase contrast scope is::
Slide drying after the cells have been dropped
21. What is the modal number (default number of
chromosomes in a cell) for a Down syndrome translocation
carrier?: 45
Questions and Answers
1. What is the best agent to use against mycoplasma?: BM
cyclin - a combination of two antibiotics (tiamulin and
minocycline) that effecticely targets mycoplasma growth
2. For successful harvest, each new batch of hypotonic
solution should be evaluated by:: comparing the new lot to
a lot already in use
3. Colagenase, pronase, and trypsin are:: Proteolytic
enzymes - break down tissues into single-cell suspensions
4. When harvesting peripheral blood cultures, asceptic
technique no longer matters following incubation with::
Colcemid - mitotic spindle poison that halts cells at metaphase
5. Samples that arrive at the cytogenetics lab should first
be:: Logged in to the system
6. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulates which type of cells
into division?: -
T-cell lymphocytes
7. To avoid culture failure, monitoring reagents is crucial.
When logging a culture failure, what is the MOST important
to document?: Expiration dates of reagents used
,8. Which type of microscope is used when cleaning a CVS
(chorionic villus)
sample?: Dissection
9. Which cell type is most problematic if found in a CVS
(chorionic villus)
sample?: Decidua (maternal tissue)
10. When looking at a slide under a phase contrast scope
and a lot of cyto- plasm is still seen around the mets, what
is the most likely cause?: innappro- priate slide drying time
11. What will help prevent microbial contamination and
cross contamination of cultures?: Asceptic technique
12. When there are not enough mets to complete the study
of a patient/case, what needs to be done next?: prepare
additional slides from any remaining sample
13. When looking at a dropped slide under a phase scope
and mets are very spread out and sparse, what could help
fix the issue?: Increading the drying time by using warm slides
14. What is true of an inverted microscope?: the objectives are
beneath the stage
15. High-resolution banding is indicated for a possible
diagnosis of:: - DiGenorge syndrome -- microdeletion of
22q11, also called velocardiofacial syn- drome
,"velo" - soft palette,
"cardio" - congenital heart defects,
, "facial" - unique abnormal facial features, short philtrum (upper
lip indent), tubular nose, wide spread eyes, etc
16. When verifying if a specimen is appropriate for
cytogenetic analysis, what is the MOST important data to
accompany the specimen?: Reason for referral
17. Which type of specimen should be requested for a
cytogenetic analysis for turner syndrome?: Heparinized
peripheral blood stored at room temperature
(NOT FROZEN)
18. A blood sample can be used to study the cytogenetics
of a malignancy only if:: Dividing leukemic cells are present
in circulation
19. All of the cultures in a CO2 incubator failed, what aspects
of the incubator are important to monitor to assess the
source of the problem?: Temperature, CO2 level, and
Humidity level
20. The most important factor affecting the quality of
chromosomes viewed under a phase contrast scope is::
Slide drying after the cells have been dropped
21. What is the modal number (default number of
chromosomes in a cell) for a Down syndrome translocation
carrier?: 45
