Mock CG(ASCP) Certification exam 1 -
Part 1
A specimen was processed for cytogenetic studies. The culture, harvest, slide
preparation and staining procedures went along without unusual incidents. Seven slides
were dropped and five were stained. However, upon microscopic analysis, all cells
observed were interphase cells, no mitotic cells were present. Other specimens
harvested on the same day had fair to good mitotic index. What is the appropriate
course of action?
a. Obtain new specimen for repeat studies
b. Retrieve the fixed suspension and "drop" additional slides for analysis
c. Retrieve the fixed suspension and "drop" additional increasing the amount of fixative
d. Stain remaining slides and analyze again - CORRECT ANSWER-Retrieve the fixed
suspension and "drop" additional slides for analysis
Cytoplasm surrounding chromosomes on newly dropped slides?
a. Will cause a reduction in quality of banding
b. Will have no effect on banding procedures
c. Is normal phenomenon
d. Should be avoided at all costs as properly dropped slides will be completely free of
any cytoplasm - CORRECT ANSWER-Will cause a reduction in quality of banding
When newly dropped slides are observed, the chromosomes appear to be nonuniform.
The chromosomes vary in quality not only within the cell but also across the slide.
Which of the following would cause this unevenness?
a. Dirty slides
b. Nonuniform drying of the slide
c. Air currents
d. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-All of the above
Short chromosomes will result from?
a. A high concentration of Colcemid
b. A short exposure to Colcemid
c. A short exposure to hypotonic solution
d. Improper fixation - CORRECT ANSWER-A high concentration of Colcemid
Which of the following techniques can be used to increase chromosome spreading?
a. Decreasing the hypotonic time
b. Dropping the cells from an increased height
c. Increasing the concentration of the suspension
d. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-Dropping the cells from an increased height
,Why is the villi obtained in CVS procedures cleaned by the technologists?
a. To remove the blood from the sample.
b. To remove dead tissue from the sample.
c. To remove maternal tissue from the sample
d. To expose the rapidly growing cells in the villi. - CORRECT ANSWER-To remove
maternal tissue from the sample
A solid tumor specimen can NOT be shipped from the hospital to a
cytogenetics laboratory in another city due to a major holiday which will not allow the
sample to be shipped via Federal Express Overnight delivery. How should the sample
be stored so that the cells will remain alive until they can be delivered and placed in
culture?
a. The specimen should be preserved by placing it in formalin until it reaches the
laboratory.
b. The specimen should be placed in media and then in a a 37 'C incubator until it can
be shipped.
c. The specimen should be stored in at -20 'C or on dry ice to prevent cellular decay.
d. The specimen should be placed in media and then refrigerated until it can be
shipped. - CORRECT ANSWER-The specimen should be placed in media and then
refrigerated until it can be shipped.
Lab C noticed that patient samples from one of their doctors had poor or no growth as
compared to their other doctor's samples. No evidence of contamination was observed
and all material needed for sample collection and transportation is provided to the
doctors by the laboratory. What could cause this discrepancy in culture viability?
a. Collection technique
b. Incubator systems
c. Toxic plastic containers
d. Culture media - CORRECT ANSWER-Collection technique
Which statement about maternal cell contamination is FALSE?
a. The incidence of MCC is greater when cultures are established from bloody amniotic
fluid samples.
b. The risk of MCC can be reduced by using a larger bone core needle for the
amniocentesis procedure.
c. The use of maternal Q-polymorphisms may be helpful in identifying cases of MCC.
d. The risk of MCC can be reduced by discarding the first 2-3 cc of aspirated amniotic
fluid. - CORRECT ANSWER-The risk of MCC can be reduced by using a larger bone
core needle for the amniocentesis procedure.
Your laboratory receives specimens form the following cases. Which case would you
assign the highest priority?
a. A 24 year old woman who has had three miscarriages and one normal child.
b. The 28 year old husband of the woman above.
c. Amnoitc fluid from a 36 year old women's current pregnancy of 18 weeks gestation.
, d. A baby who is in the NICU with a myelomeningocele, a heart defect, intrauterine
growth deficiency, a tightly clenched fist and an unusually positioned great toe.
e. A 10 year old boy who is small for his age and has small hands, moderate mental
retardation, protruding ears, "droppy" eyelids and a small mouth. - CORRECT
ANSWER-A baby who is in the NICU with a myelomeningocele, a heart defect,
intrauterine growth deficiency, a tightly clenched fist and an unusually positioned great
toe.
What effects does sodium heparin have on cells?
a. Swells cells
b. Removes water from cells
c. Stimulates mitotic activity
d. Precipitates nucleic acid
e. prevents clotting - CORRECT ANSWER-Prevents clotting
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be toxic to cells?
a. Sodium heparin
b. Lithium heparin
c. Sodium hydroxide
d. Gentamycin - CORRECT ANSWER-Sodium heparin
The optimal temperature for transport of amniotic fluid specimens is?
a. 37 'C
b. 40 'C
c. 0 'C
d. 20 'C - CORRECT ANSWER-20 'C
A pathologist is sending solid tumor specimens to a cytogenetic laboratory for analysis.
What instructions should be given to the pathologist concerning the preparation and
transport of the specimen to insure the highest chance of successful culture?
a. Ensure the sterility of the specimen by placing it in formalin until it reaches the
laboratory.
b. Ensure that the specimen does not contain necrotic or fatty tissue.
c. Ensure that the specimen is transported on dry ice to prevent decomposition.
d. All of the above. - CORRECT ANSWER-Ensure the specimen does not contain
necrotic or fatty acid
Not all cells received by a Cytogenetics laboratory will grow well in culture for any
number of reasons. When amniotic fluid specimens are collected for culture, which of
the following are safeguards against culture failure?
s. Samples are collected in one syringe
b. The first 2 cc of amniotic fluid are discarded
c. Two flasks are set up with two different media types
d. T12 1/2 flasks are used - CORRECT ANSWER-Two flasks are set up with two
different media types
Part 1
A specimen was processed for cytogenetic studies. The culture, harvest, slide
preparation and staining procedures went along without unusual incidents. Seven slides
were dropped and five were stained. However, upon microscopic analysis, all cells
observed were interphase cells, no mitotic cells were present. Other specimens
harvested on the same day had fair to good mitotic index. What is the appropriate
course of action?
a. Obtain new specimen for repeat studies
b. Retrieve the fixed suspension and "drop" additional slides for analysis
c. Retrieve the fixed suspension and "drop" additional increasing the amount of fixative
d. Stain remaining slides and analyze again - CORRECT ANSWER-Retrieve the fixed
suspension and "drop" additional slides for analysis
Cytoplasm surrounding chromosomes on newly dropped slides?
a. Will cause a reduction in quality of banding
b. Will have no effect on banding procedures
c. Is normal phenomenon
d. Should be avoided at all costs as properly dropped slides will be completely free of
any cytoplasm - CORRECT ANSWER-Will cause a reduction in quality of banding
When newly dropped slides are observed, the chromosomes appear to be nonuniform.
The chromosomes vary in quality not only within the cell but also across the slide.
Which of the following would cause this unevenness?
a. Dirty slides
b. Nonuniform drying of the slide
c. Air currents
d. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-All of the above
Short chromosomes will result from?
a. A high concentration of Colcemid
b. A short exposure to Colcemid
c. A short exposure to hypotonic solution
d. Improper fixation - CORRECT ANSWER-A high concentration of Colcemid
Which of the following techniques can be used to increase chromosome spreading?
a. Decreasing the hypotonic time
b. Dropping the cells from an increased height
c. Increasing the concentration of the suspension
d. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-Dropping the cells from an increased height
,Why is the villi obtained in CVS procedures cleaned by the technologists?
a. To remove the blood from the sample.
b. To remove dead tissue from the sample.
c. To remove maternal tissue from the sample
d. To expose the rapidly growing cells in the villi. - CORRECT ANSWER-To remove
maternal tissue from the sample
A solid tumor specimen can NOT be shipped from the hospital to a
cytogenetics laboratory in another city due to a major holiday which will not allow the
sample to be shipped via Federal Express Overnight delivery. How should the sample
be stored so that the cells will remain alive until they can be delivered and placed in
culture?
a. The specimen should be preserved by placing it in formalin until it reaches the
laboratory.
b. The specimen should be placed in media and then in a a 37 'C incubator until it can
be shipped.
c. The specimen should be stored in at -20 'C or on dry ice to prevent cellular decay.
d. The specimen should be placed in media and then refrigerated until it can be
shipped. - CORRECT ANSWER-The specimen should be placed in media and then
refrigerated until it can be shipped.
Lab C noticed that patient samples from one of their doctors had poor or no growth as
compared to their other doctor's samples. No evidence of contamination was observed
and all material needed for sample collection and transportation is provided to the
doctors by the laboratory. What could cause this discrepancy in culture viability?
a. Collection technique
b. Incubator systems
c. Toxic plastic containers
d. Culture media - CORRECT ANSWER-Collection technique
Which statement about maternal cell contamination is FALSE?
a. The incidence of MCC is greater when cultures are established from bloody amniotic
fluid samples.
b. The risk of MCC can be reduced by using a larger bone core needle for the
amniocentesis procedure.
c. The use of maternal Q-polymorphisms may be helpful in identifying cases of MCC.
d. The risk of MCC can be reduced by discarding the first 2-3 cc of aspirated amniotic
fluid. - CORRECT ANSWER-The risk of MCC can be reduced by using a larger bone
core needle for the amniocentesis procedure.
Your laboratory receives specimens form the following cases. Which case would you
assign the highest priority?
a. A 24 year old woman who has had three miscarriages and one normal child.
b. The 28 year old husband of the woman above.
c. Amnoitc fluid from a 36 year old women's current pregnancy of 18 weeks gestation.
, d. A baby who is in the NICU with a myelomeningocele, a heart defect, intrauterine
growth deficiency, a tightly clenched fist and an unusually positioned great toe.
e. A 10 year old boy who is small for his age and has small hands, moderate mental
retardation, protruding ears, "droppy" eyelids and a small mouth. - CORRECT
ANSWER-A baby who is in the NICU with a myelomeningocele, a heart defect,
intrauterine growth deficiency, a tightly clenched fist and an unusually positioned great
toe.
What effects does sodium heparin have on cells?
a. Swells cells
b. Removes water from cells
c. Stimulates mitotic activity
d. Precipitates nucleic acid
e. prevents clotting - CORRECT ANSWER-Prevents clotting
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be toxic to cells?
a. Sodium heparin
b. Lithium heparin
c. Sodium hydroxide
d. Gentamycin - CORRECT ANSWER-Sodium heparin
The optimal temperature for transport of amniotic fluid specimens is?
a. 37 'C
b. 40 'C
c. 0 'C
d. 20 'C - CORRECT ANSWER-20 'C
A pathologist is sending solid tumor specimens to a cytogenetic laboratory for analysis.
What instructions should be given to the pathologist concerning the preparation and
transport of the specimen to insure the highest chance of successful culture?
a. Ensure the sterility of the specimen by placing it in formalin until it reaches the
laboratory.
b. Ensure that the specimen does not contain necrotic or fatty tissue.
c. Ensure that the specimen is transported on dry ice to prevent decomposition.
d. All of the above. - CORRECT ANSWER-Ensure the specimen does not contain
necrotic or fatty acid
Not all cells received by a Cytogenetics laboratory will grow well in culture for any
number of reasons. When amniotic fluid specimens are collected for culture, which of
the following are safeguards against culture failure?
s. Samples are collected in one syringe
b. The first 2 cc of amniotic fluid are discarded
c. Two flasks are set up with two different media types
d. T12 1/2 flasks are used - CORRECT ANSWER-Two flasks are set up with two
different media types
