1 | Page
MLS ASCP Exam Questions and Answers
c antigen is most common in blacks and whites; anti-c would be
most common reactive
Ans: Rh antibodies show enhanced reactivity with enzyme pretreated
cells. The M and Fya antigens are cleaved from enzyme pretreated cells
and therefore there would be no reaction between enzyme pretreated
cells and serum containing anti-M or anti-Fya. The incidence of the c
antigen is 80% in whites and 96% in blacks. The incidence of the E
antigen is 29% in whites and 22% in blacks. Increased reactivity with
enzyme pretreated cells and incompatible results with 8 of 10 donor
units is most likely due to anti-c.
Procainamide
Ans: NAPA
loose clusters of small spherical microconidia, positive urease
Ans: Trichophyton mentagrophytes
BHCG tumor marker
Ans: chorocarcinoma
5HIAA
Ans: carcinoid tumors
Proteus vulgaris vs P. mirabilis indole test
Ans: P. vulgaris is indole pos. P. mirabilis is indole neg
Hydatid cyst fluid
Ans: used to neutralize Anti-P1 antibody
Antacid overdose
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Ans: Check pH
Prolonged PT, PTT, and thrombin after collecting from catheter
Ans: heparin contamination
mixing study that was performed with a prolonged PTT that
couldn't be corrected
Ans: DRVVT (Dilute Russell Viper Venom Test)
two pt's ran in duplicate (PT and PTT). The PTT seemed to always
be prolonged but PT looked ok
Ans: check the CaCl/phospholipid reagent delivery
Patient is on coumadin therapy, what will be affected
Ans: Decreased protein C
Lot's of stomatocytes
Ans: Liver disease
Burr cells
Ans: Uremia
Picture of target cells with hemoglobin C crystals. The white count
was high on instrument 1, so a second instrument was used with a
stronger lysing agent, and the white count was corrected
Ans: anti-lysing target cells are what increased the white count?
Erythrocytes containing hemoglobin C do not lyse normally (sickle cell
diseases)
A sodium citrate tube was drawn for a HCT on a pt but the
hematocrit was abnormal
Ans: recollect with decreased anticoagulant. high hct (>55%) causes low
plasma so you need less anticoagulant
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Question that gives a red blood cells count, HGB, and HCT. I did
the rule of 3 and found that the HGB didn't meet the rule of 3
because it was too high
Ans: check for lipemia (elevates HGB)
PBS with an elevated reticulocyte count and howell jolly bodies in
the RBC's
Ans: Prussian blue for howell jolly bodies made of iron. Prussian blue
stain, which is not taken up by reticulocytes, is helpful in differentiating
the two.
what is composed of DNA?
Ans: howell jolly bodies
what falsely increases ESR
Ans: vibration, tilting of tube, higher temps, >1 hr test time, improper
mixing of blood, improper dilution
factors decreasing ESR
Ans: Polycythemia, Microcytosis (Hb C), Sickle cells, spherocytes, Anti-
inflammatory medications, Hypogammaglobulinemia,
Hypofibrinogenemia (DIC), High WBC count, Hyperviscosity
Factors increasing ESR
Ans: Anemia, Macrocytosis, Female gender, Age >50 years, Obesity,
Pregnancy, Hypercholesterolemia, cancer, multiple myeloma, rouleaux,
infections, inflammation
what falsely decreases ESR
Ans: low blood/ room temps, air bubbles, tests <1 hr, improper mixing
of blood, improper dilution
lactic acid collection
Ans: separate from serum and put on ice
© 2025 All rights reserved
MLS ASCP Exam Questions and Answers
c antigen is most common in blacks and whites; anti-c would be
most common reactive
Ans: Rh antibodies show enhanced reactivity with enzyme pretreated
cells. The M and Fya antigens are cleaved from enzyme pretreated cells
and therefore there would be no reaction between enzyme pretreated
cells and serum containing anti-M or anti-Fya. The incidence of the c
antigen is 80% in whites and 96% in blacks. The incidence of the E
antigen is 29% in whites and 22% in blacks. Increased reactivity with
enzyme pretreated cells and incompatible results with 8 of 10 donor
units is most likely due to anti-c.
Procainamide
Ans: NAPA
loose clusters of small spherical microconidia, positive urease
Ans: Trichophyton mentagrophytes
BHCG tumor marker
Ans: chorocarcinoma
5HIAA
Ans: carcinoid tumors
Proteus vulgaris vs P. mirabilis indole test
Ans: P. vulgaris is indole pos. P. mirabilis is indole neg
Hydatid cyst fluid
Ans: used to neutralize Anti-P1 antibody
Antacid overdose
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Ans: Check pH
Prolonged PT, PTT, and thrombin after collecting from catheter
Ans: heparin contamination
mixing study that was performed with a prolonged PTT that
couldn't be corrected
Ans: DRVVT (Dilute Russell Viper Venom Test)
two pt's ran in duplicate (PT and PTT). The PTT seemed to always
be prolonged but PT looked ok
Ans: check the CaCl/phospholipid reagent delivery
Patient is on coumadin therapy, what will be affected
Ans: Decreased protein C
Lot's of stomatocytes
Ans: Liver disease
Burr cells
Ans: Uremia
Picture of target cells with hemoglobin C crystals. The white count
was high on instrument 1, so a second instrument was used with a
stronger lysing agent, and the white count was corrected
Ans: anti-lysing target cells are what increased the white count?
Erythrocytes containing hemoglobin C do not lyse normally (sickle cell
diseases)
A sodium citrate tube was drawn for a HCT on a pt but the
hematocrit was abnormal
Ans: recollect with decreased anticoagulant. high hct (>55%) causes low
plasma so you need less anticoagulant
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Question that gives a red blood cells count, HGB, and HCT. I did
the rule of 3 and found that the HGB didn't meet the rule of 3
because it was too high
Ans: check for lipemia (elevates HGB)
PBS with an elevated reticulocyte count and howell jolly bodies in
the RBC's
Ans: Prussian blue for howell jolly bodies made of iron. Prussian blue
stain, which is not taken up by reticulocytes, is helpful in differentiating
the two.
what is composed of DNA?
Ans: howell jolly bodies
what falsely increases ESR
Ans: vibration, tilting of tube, higher temps, >1 hr test time, improper
mixing of blood, improper dilution
factors decreasing ESR
Ans: Polycythemia, Microcytosis (Hb C), Sickle cells, spherocytes, Anti-
inflammatory medications, Hypogammaglobulinemia,
Hypofibrinogenemia (DIC), High WBC count, Hyperviscosity
Factors increasing ESR
Ans: Anemia, Macrocytosis, Female gender, Age >50 years, Obesity,
Pregnancy, Hypercholesterolemia, cancer, multiple myeloma, rouleaux,
infections, inflammation
what falsely decreases ESR
Ans: low blood/ room temps, air bubbles, tests <1 hr, improper mixing
of blood, improper dilution
lactic acid collection
Ans: separate from serum and put on ice
© 2025 All rights reserved
