1
ASCP BOARD OF CERTIFICATION MLT EXAM
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) ✓
Nephelometry is based on the principle of:
Ans: Turbidity resulting from specific antigen-coated latex particles
agglutinated by corresponding antibody
Which of the following can cause hemolysis and perhaps result in
recollection of the specimen?
Ans: Pushing the plunger of a syringe when transferring blood into vacuum
tubes.
A manual white blood cell count was performed by the hematology
technologist. The cell counts for both sides were 99 and 164, respectively. All
nine large squares were counted on each side. The dilution for this kit was
pre-measured at 1:100. What should the technologist report as the white cell
count?
Ans: Cannot report
When comparing the white cell counts from one side of the hemacytometer
to the other, there is not good duplication. Cell counts from opposite sides of
the hemacytometer (within the same patient sample) that are greater than
10% of one another are considered discrepant and should not be used to
calculate reportable results. This particular count should not be used to report
patient results.
Pretest - Stuvia US
,2
The RBC inclusions shown in the photograph represent which of the
following?
Ans: Howell-Jolly bodies
Howell-Jolly bodies are usually single, round, and tend to be positioned at the
periphery of the red blood cell. These inclusions are rarely found on a routine
peripheral blood smear, as they are usually removed by a functioning spleen.
Howell-Jolly bodies appear in megaloblastic anemias and after splenectomy.
Which of the following tests would be employed in order to detect neural
tube defects?
Ans: Alpha fetoprotein
Alpha-fetoprotein is a protein measured in pregnant women, using maternal
blood or amniotic fluid, as a screening test for a subset developmental
abnormalities: it is principally increased in open neural tube defects and
decreased in Down syndrome.
A patient has the following serum results:
Na = 130 mEq/LK = 4.9 mEq/LCl = 107 mEq/LGlucose = 300 mg/dLBUN = 18
mg/dLCreatinine = 1.1 mg/dL
Which osmolality result is consistent with these results?.
Ans: 281 mosmol/kg
Osmolality = 2 x Na + [Glucose (mg/dL) / 20] + [BUN (mg/dL)/ 3]
Pretest - Stuvia US
,3
A liquid ion-exchange membrane electrode using the antibiotic valinomycin
is MOST selective for:
Ans: Potassium
The valinomycin membrane electrode is most selective for potassium as
opposed to sodium, glucose, or chloride which utilize different membranes for
their respective electrodes. Valinomycin, which is neutral in charge, has been
incorporated into organic liquid membranes resulting in a sensor with a very
high selectivity for potassium.
What should safety management start with in order to ensure clarity and
consistency?
Ans: A written safety policy
Which of the following statements about high-frequency antigens is correct?
Ans: High-frequency antigens are common, but it is difficult to identify their
corresponding antibodies.
An adult's plasma cortisol of 22 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m. and 10 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m.
would be:
Ans: Found in a healthy individual
Normal levels: 5-23 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m.
3-16 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m.
<50% of 8:00 a.m. values at 8:00 p.m.
Pretest - Stuvia US
, 4
A peripheral smear demonstrates a population of red cells that are mostly 5 -
5.5 µm in diameter. The CBC data shows RDW of 13% (reference range 11.5-
14.5%). Which of the following morphologies is consistent with these findings?
Ans: Microcytosis, low variation of cell volume
Select the primary reagent components used in the Jaffe reaction for
creatinine.
Ans: Saturated picric acid and sodium hydroxide
Which of the following are markers currently used to differentiate heart
failure from lung disease?
Ans: BNP and NT-proBNP
Which of the following is a selective medium for Campylobacter jejuni?
Ans: Skirrow agar
Which Lewis antigen(s) would be detected when phenotyping the red cells
of an adult who has the Le, Se, and H genes?
Ans: Leb
The Se gene codes for the enzyme, a-2-L-fucosyltransferase, which adds L-
fucose to the type 1 precursor H (type 1). The Le gene codes for another L-
fucose which forms the Leb antigen.
Illustrated in the top photograph are acid-fast bacilli as they may appear in
acid-fast stains prepared from a direct mount of infected tissue. These acid
fast bacilli are thin, slightly curved, red-pigmented and beaded. The acid fast
Pretest - Stuvia US
ASCP BOARD OF CERTIFICATION MLT EXAM
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) ✓
Nephelometry is based on the principle of:
Ans: Turbidity resulting from specific antigen-coated latex particles
agglutinated by corresponding antibody
Which of the following can cause hemolysis and perhaps result in
recollection of the specimen?
Ans: Pushing the plunger of a syringe when transferring blood into vacuum
tubes.
A manual white blood cell count was performed by the hematology
technologist. The cell counts for both sides were 99 and 164, respectively. All
nine large squares were counted on each side. The dilution for this kit was
pre-measured at 1:100. What should the technologist report as the white cell
count?
Ans: Cannot report
When comparing the white cell counts from one side of the hemacytometer
to the other, there is not good duplication. Cell counts from opposite sides of
the hemacytometer (within the same patient sample) that are greater than
10% of one another are considered discrepant and should not be used to
calculate reportable results. This particular count should not be used to report
patient results.
Pretest - Stuvia US
,2
The RBC inclusions shown in the photograph represent which of the
following?
Ans: Howell-Jolly bodies
Howell-Jolly bodies are usually single, round, and tend to be positioned at the
periphery of the red blood cell. These inclusions are rarely found on a routine
peripheral blood smear, as they are usually removed by a functioning spleen.
Howell-Jolly bodies appear in megaloblastic anemias and after splenectomy.
Which of the following tests would be employed in order to detect neural
tube defects?
Ans: Alpha fetoprotein
Alpha-fetoprotein is a protein measured in pregnant women, using maternal
blood or amniotic fluid, as a screening test for a subset developmental
abnormalities: it is principally increased in open neural tube defects and
decreased in Down syndrome.
A patient has the following serum results:
Na = 130 mEq/LK = 4.9 mEq/LCl = 107 mEq/LGlucose = 300 mg/dLBUN = 18
mg/dLCreatinine = 1.1 mg/dL
Which osmolality result is consistent with these results?.
Ans: 281 mosmol/kg
Osmolality = 2 x Na + [Glucose (mg/dL) / 20] + [BUN (mg/dL)/ 3]
Pretest - Stuvia US
,3
A liquid ion-exchange membrane electrode using the antibiotic valinomycin
is MOST selective for:
Ans: Potassium
The valinomycin membrane electrode is most selective for potassium as
opposed to sodium, glucose, or chloride which utilize different membranes for
their respective electrodes. Valinomycin, which is neutral in charge, has been
incorporated into organic liquid membranes resulting in a sensor with a very
high selectivity for potassium.
What should safety management start with in order to ensure clarity and
consistency?
Ans: A written safety policy
Which of the following statements about high-frequency antigens is correct?
Ans: High-frequency antigens are common, but it is difficult to identify their
corresponding antibodies.
An adult's plasma cortisol of 22 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m. and 10 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m.
would be:
Ans: Found in a healthy individual
Normal levels: 5-23 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m.
3-16 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m.
<50% of 8:00 a.m. values at 8:00 p.m.
Pretest - Stuvia US
, 4
A peripheral smear demonstrates a population of red cells that are mostly 5 -
5.5 µm in diameter. The CBC data shows RDW of 13% (reference range 11.5-
14.5%). Which of the following morphologies is consistent with these findings?
Ans: Microcytosis, low variation of cell volume
Select the primary reagent components used in the Jaffe reaction for
creatinine.
Ans: Saturated picric acid and sodium hydroxide
Which of the following are markers currently used to differentiate heart
failure from lung disease?
Ans: BNP and NT-proBNP
Which of the following is a selective medium for Campylobacter jejuni?
Ans: Skirrow agar
Which Lewis antigen(s) would be detected when phenotyping the red cells
of an adult who has the Le, Se, and H genes?
Ans: Leb
The Se gene codes for the enzyme, a-2-L-fucosyltransferase, which adds L-
fucose to the type 1 precursor H (type 1). The Le gene codes for another L-
fucose which forms the Leb antigen.
Illustrated in the top photograph are acid-fast bacilli as they may appear in
acid-fast stains prepared from a direct mount of infected tissue. These acid
fast bacilli are thin, slightly curved, red-pigmented and beaded. The acid fast
Pretest - Stuvia US
