ASCP MLS Blood Bank
ASCP MLS Blood Bank Exam Questions and
Answers
Question 1
The minimum hemoglobin concentration in a fingerstick from a male blood donor is:
a. 12.0 g/dL (120 g/L)
b. 12.5 g/dL (125 g/L)
c. 13.5 g/dL (135 g/L)
d. 15.0 g/dL (150 g/L)
Correct Answer
b. All donors, regardless of sex, require a minimum hemoglobin of 12.5 g/dL (125
g/L). The value must not be performed on an earlobe stick.
Question 2
A cause for permanent deferral of blood donation is:
a. diabetes
b. residence in an endemic malaria region
c. history of jaundice of uncertain cause
d. history of therapeutic rabies vaccine
Correct Answer
c. Jaundice is a sign of liver impairment, which might be due to HBV or HCV.
Infection with HBV and HCV is a cause for indefinite deferral.
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, ASCP MLS Blood Bank
Question 3
Which of the following prospective donors would be accepted for donation?
a. 32-year-old woman who received a transfusion in a complicated delivery 5 months
previously
b. 19-year-old sailor who has been stateside for 9 months and stopped taking his
anti-malarial medication 9 months previously
c. 22-year-old college student who has a temperature of 99.2F (37.3C) and states that
he feels well, but is nervous about donating
d. 45-year-old woman who has just recovered from a bladder infection and is still
taking antibiotics
Correct Answer
c. The receipt of blood products is a
6-month deferral, the deferral for travel to areas endemic for malaria is 12 months
regardless of
antimalarial prophylaxis, and a person taking antibiotics may have bacteremia. The
requirement for temperature is not over 37.5°C or 99.5°F.
Question 4
Which one of the following constitutes permanent rejection status of a donor?
a. a tattoo 5 months previously
b. recent close contact with a patient with viral hepatitis
c. 2 units of blood transfused 4 months previously
d. confirmed positive test for HBsAg 10 years previously
Correct Answer
d. A positive test for HbsAg at any time is an indefinite deferral.
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Question 5
According to AABB standards, which of the following donors may be accepted as a
blood donor?
a. traveled to an area endemic for malaria 9 months previously
b. spontaneous abortion at 2 months of pregnancy, 3 months previously
c. resides with a known hepatitis patient
d. received a blood transfusion 22 weeks previously
Correct Answer
b. A woman who had a spontaneous abortion at 2 months of pregnancy, 3 months
previously would be acceptable. A donor is acceptable if she has not been pregnant
in the previous 6 weeks.
Question 6
Below are the results of the history obtained from a prospective female blood donor:
Age: 16
Temperature: 99.0"F (37.2°C)
Hct: 36%
History: tetanus toxoid immunization 1 week previously
How many of the above results excludes this donor from giving blood for a routine
transfusion?
a. none
b. 1
c. 2
d. 3
Correct Answer
b. The Hct must be >38%, A donor may be l6 unless state law differs. Temperature
must not exceed 99.5°C/37.5°C, blood pressure must be <180 mmHg systolic and
<100 mmHg diastolic, pulse 50-100 unless an athlete (which can be lower). Toxoids
and vaccines from synthetic or killed sources have no deferral.
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Question 7
For apheresis donors who donate platelets more frequently than every 4 weeks, a
platelet count must be performed prior to the procedure and be at least:
a. 150 x 10^3 / µL (150 x 10^9 / L)
b. 200 x 10^3/ µL (200 x 10^9/ L)
c. 250 x 10^3 / µL (250 x 10^9 / L)
d. 300 x 10^3 / µL (300 x 10^9 / L)
Correct Answer
a. The minimum platelet count required for frequent repeat donors is 150 x 10^3/µL
(150 x 10^9/L). A platelet count is not required prior to the first donation or if the
interval between donations is at least 4 weeks.
Question 8
Prior to blood donation, the intended venipuncture site must be cleaned with a scrub'
solution containing:
a. hypochlorite
b. isopropyl alcohol
c. 10% acetone
d. PVP iodine complex
Correct Answer
d. The scrub must use iodine, eg, PVP iodine complex. Donors who are sensitive to
iodine can have the area cleaned with a preparation of 2% chlorhexidine and 70%
isopropyl alcohol.
Question 9
All donor blood testing must include:
a. complete Rh phenotyping
b. anti-CMV testing
c. direct antiglobulin test
d. serological test for syphilis
Correct Answer
d. Testing for syphilis was the first mandated donor screening test for infectious
disease and is still part of donor screening.
Page 4 of 121
ASCP MLS Blood Bank Exam Questions and
Answers
Question 1
The minimum hemoglobin concentration in a fingerstick from a male blood donor is:
a. 12.0 g/dL (120 g/L)
b. 12.5 g/dL (125 g/L)
c. 13.5 g/dL (135 g/L)
d. 15.0 g/dL (150 g/L)
Correct Answer
b. All donors, regardless of sex, require a minimum hemoglobin of 12.5 g/dL (125
g/L). The value must not be performed on an earlobe stick.
Question 2
A cause for permanent deferral of blood donation is:
a. diabetes
b. residence in an endemic malaria region
c. history of jaundice of uncertain cause
d. history of therapeutic rabies vaccine
Correct Answer
c. Jaundice is a sign of liver impairment, which might be due to HBV or HCV.
Infection with HBV and HCV is a cause for indefinite deferral.
Page 1 of 121
, ASCP MLS Blood Bank
Question 3
Which of the following prospective donors would be accepted for donation?
a. 32-year-old woman who received a transfusion in a complicated delivery 5 months
previously
b. 19-year-old sailor who has been stateside for 9 months and stopped taking his
anti-malarial medication 9 months previously
c. 22-year-old college student who has a temperature of 99.2F (37.3C) and states that
he feels well, but is nervous about donating
d. 45-year-old woman who has just recovered from a bladder infection and is still
taking antibiotics
Correct Answer
c. The receipt of blood products is a
6-month deferral, the deferral for travel to areas endemic for malaria is 12 months
regardless of
antimalarial prophylaxis, and a person taking antibiotics may have bacteremia. The
requirement for temperature is not over 37.5°C or 99.5°F.
Question 4
Which one of the following constitutes permanent rejection status of a donor?
a. a tattoo 5 months previously
b. recent close contact with a patient with viral hepatitis
c. 2 units of blood transfused 4 months previously
d. confirmed positive test for HBsAg 10 years previously
Correct Answer
d. A positive test for HbsAg at any time is an indefinite deferral.
Page 2 of 121
, ASCP MLS Blood Bank
Question 5
According to AABB standards, which of the following donors may be accepted as a
blood donor?
a. traveled to an area endemic for malaria 9 months previously
b. spontaneous abortion at 2 months of pregnancy, 3 months previously
c. resides with a known hepatitis patient
d. received a blood transfusion 22 weeks previously
Correct Answer
b. A woman who had a spontaneous abortion at 2 months of pregnancy, 3 months
previously would be acceptable. A donor is acceptable if she has not been pregnant
in the previous 6 weeks.
Question 6
Below are the results of the history obtained from a prospective female blood donor:
Age: 16
Temperature: 99.0"F (37.2°C)
Hct: 36%
History: tetanus toxoid immunization 1 week previously
How many of the above results excludes this donor from giving blood for a routine
transfusion?
a. none
b. 1
c. 2
d. 3
Correct Answer
b. The Hct must be >38%, A donor may be l6 unless state law differs. Temperature
must not exceed 99.5°C/37.5°C, blood pressure must be <180 mmHg systolic and
<100 mmHg diastolic, pulse 50-100 unless an athlete (which can be lower). Toxoids
and vaccines from synthetic or killed sources have no deferral.
Page 3 of 121
, ASCP MLS Blood Bank
Question 7
For apheresis donors who donate platelets more frequently than every 4 weeks, a
platelet count must be performed prior to the procedure and be at least:
a. 150 x 10^3 / µL (150 x 10^9 / L)
b. 200 x 10^3/ µL (200 x 10^9/ L)
c. 250 x 10^3 / µL (250 x 10^9 / L)
d. 300 x 10^3 / µL (300 x 10^9 / L)
Correct Answer
a. The minimum platelet count required for frequent repeat donors is 150 x 10^3/µL
(150 x 10^9/L). A platelet count is not required prior to the first donation or if the
interval between donations is at least 4 weeks.
Question 8
Prior to blood donation, the intended venipuncture site must be cleaned with a scrub'
solution containing:
a. hypochlorite
b. isopropyl alcohol
c. 10% acetone
d. PVP iodine complex
Correct Answer
d. The scrub must use iodine, eg, PVP iodine complex. Donors who are sensitive to
iodine can have the area cleaned with a preparation of 2% chlorhexidine and 70%
isopropyl alcohol.
Question 9
All donor blood testing must include:
a. complete Rh phenotyping
b. anti-CMV testing
c. direct antiglobulin test
d. serological test for syphilis
Correct Answer
d. Testing for syphilis was the first mandated donor screening test for infectious
disease and is still part of donor screening.
Page 4 of 121
