Comprehensive Laboratory Analysis
for Nurse Practitioners – 150 Qs&A
2025/2026
1. A patient has a fasting blood glucose of 130 mg/dL. This result is:
A. Normal
B. Prediabetes
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Hypoglycemia
Rationale: A fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL on more than one
occasion is diagnostic for diabetes mellitus.
2. Which of the following is considered a normal adult hemoglobin
(Hb) level for males?
A. 10–12 g/dL
B. 13.5–17.5 g/dL
C. 18–20 g/dL
D. 11–13 g/dL
Rationale: Normal adult male Hb ranges from 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL.
Values below this indicate anemia.
3. A patient has a WBC count of 3,000/mm³. This is called:
A. Leukocytosis
B. Leukopenia
C. Thrombocytopenia
D. Neutrophilia
Rationale: Leukopenia is defined as a WBC count <4,000/mm³,
indicating potential immunosuppression or bone marrow
suppression.
,4. Serum potassium level of 6.0 mEq/L indicates:
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Normal potassium
D. Mild hypokalemia
Rationale: Hyperkalemia is defined as serum potassium >5.0
mEq/L and may cause cardiac arrhythmias.
5. The most specific test for diagnosing myocardial infarction is:
A. CK-MB
B. Troponin I/T
C. Myoglobin
D. LDH
Rationale: Troponin I and T are highly specific to myocardial
injury and remain elevated for several days.
6. A urinalysis showing proteinuria >3.5 g/day is suggestive of:
A. UTI
B. Dehydration
C. Nephrotic syndrome
D. Glomerulonephritis
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is defined by heavy proteinuria
(>3.5 g/day), hypoalbuminemia, and edema.
7. INR is used to monitor therapy with:
A. Aspirin
B. Clopidogrel
C. Heparin
D. Warfarin
Rationale: INR (International Normalized Ratio) is used to
monitor warfarin anticoagulation to maintain therapeutic levels
(typically 2–3).
,8. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in Addison’s disease?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypercalcemia
Rationale: Addison’s disease causes decreased aldosterone,
leading to sodium loss (hyponatremia) and potassium retention
(hyperkalemia).
9. An elevated serum amylase is most suggestive of:
A. Hepatitis
B. Pancreatitis
C. Cholecystitis
D. Appendicitis
Rationale: Serum amylase rises significantly in acute pancreatitis
due to pancreatic inflammation.
10. A patient has a serum sodium of 128 mEq/L. This indicates:
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Normal sodium
D. Pseudohyponatremia
Rationale: Hyponatremia is defined as serum sodium <135
mEq/L and may cause neurologic symptoms.
11. Elevated alkaline phosphatase is most commonly associated
with:
A. Pancreatitis
B. Liver or bone disease
C. Renal failure
D. Hemolysis
, Rationale: Alkaline phosphatase is elevated in cholestasis, liver
disease, and bone disorders.
12. The normal adult platelet count is:
A. 10,000–50,000/mm³
B. 150,000–450,000/mm³
C. 500,000–1,000,000/mm³
D. 50,000–100,000/mm³
Rationale: Platelets normally range from 150,000 to
450,000/mm³; lower levels indicate thrombocytopenia.
13. A urine pH consistently >7 suggests:
A. Normal variation
B. Proteinuria
C. Alkaline urine
D. Acidic urine
Rationale: Urine pH >7 is considered alkaline and can be seen in
UTIs with urea-splitting bacteria or metabolic alkalosis.
14. Which of the following lipid levels is most strongly
associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease?
A. HDL cholesterol
B. Triglycerides
C. LDL cholesterol
D. Total cholesterol
Rationale: Elevated LDL cholesterol is the primary lipid risk factor
for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
15. A patient’s serum creatinine increased from 0.9 to 2.0 mg/dL
over 48 hours. This indicates:
A. Chronic kidney disease
B. Acute kidney injury
C. Normal fluctuation
for Nurse Practitioners – 150 Qs&A
2025/2026
1. A patient has a fasting blood glucose of 130 mg/dL. This result is:
A. Normal
B. Prediabetes
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Hypoglycemia
Rationale: A fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL on more than one
occasion is diagnostic for diabetes mellitus.
2. Which of the following is considered a normal adult hemoglobin
(Hb) level for males?
A. 10–12 g/dL
B. 13.5–17.5 g/dL
C. 18–20 g/dL
D. 11–13 g/dL
Rationale: Normal adult male Hb ranges from 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL.
Values below this indicate anemia.
3. A patient has a WBC count of 3,000/mm³. This is called:
A. Leukocytosis
B. Leukopenia
C. Thrombocytopenia
D. Neutrophilia
Rationale: Leukopenia is defined as a WBC count <4,000/mm³,
indicating potential immunosuppression or bone marrow
suppression.
,4. Serum potassium level of 6.0 mEq/L indicates:
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Normal potassium
D. Mild hypokalemia
Rationale: Hyperkalemia is defined as serum potassium >5.0
mEq/L and may cause cardiac arrhythmias.
5. The most specific test for diagnosing myocardial infarction is:
A. CK-MB
B. Troponin I/T
C. Myoglobin
D. LDH
Rationale: Troponin I and T are highly specific to myocardial
injury and remain elevated for several days.
6. A urinalysis showing proteinuria >3.5 g/day is suggestive of:
A. UTI
B. Dehydration
C. Nephrotic syndrome
D. Glomerulonephritis
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is defined by heavy proteinuria
(>3.5 g/day), hypoalbuminemia, and edema.
7. INR is used to monitor therapy with:
A. Aspirin
B. Clopidogrel
C. Heparin
D. Warfarin
Rationale: INR (International Normalized Ratio) is used to
monitor warfarin anticoagulation to maintain therapeutic levels
(typically 2–3).
,8. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in Addison’s disease?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypercalcemia
Rationale: Addison’s disease causes decreased aldosterone,
leading to sodium loss (hyponatremia) and potassium retention
(hyperkalemia).
9. An elevated serum amylase is most suggestive of:
A. Hepatitis
B. Pancreatitis
C. Cholecystitis
D. Appendicitis
Rationale: Serum amylase rises significantly in acute pancreatitis
due to pancreatic inflammation.
10. A patient has a serum sodium of 128 mEq/L. This indicates:
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Normal sodium
D. Pseudohyponatremia
Rationale: Hyponatremia is defined as serum sodium <135
mEq/L and may cause neurologic symptoms.
11. Elevated alkaline phosphatase is most commonly associated
with:
A. Pancreatitis
B. Liver or bone disease
C. Renal failure
D. Hemolysis
, Rationale: Alkaline phosphatase is elevated in cholestasis, liver
disease, and bone disorders.
12. The normal adult platelet count is:
A. 10,000–50,000/mm³
B. 150,000–450,000/mm³
C. 500,000–1,000,000/mm³
D. 50,000–100,000/mm³
Rationale: Platelets normally range from 150,000 to
450,000/mm³; lower levels indicate thrombocytopenia.
13. A urine pH consistently >7 suggests:
A. Normal variation
B. Proteinuria
C. Alkaline urine
D. Acidic urine
Rationale: Urine pH >7 is considered alkaline and can be seen in
UTIs with urea-splitting bacteria or metabolic alkalosis.
14. Which of the following lipid levels is most strongly
associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease?
A. HDL cholesterol
B. Triglycerides
C. LDL cholesterol
D. Total cholesterol
Rationale: Elevated LDL cholesterol is the primary lipid risk factor
for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
15. A patient’s serum creatinine increased from 0.9 to 2.0 mg/dL
over 48 hours. This indicates:
A. Chronic kidney disease
B. Acute kidney injury
C. Normal fluctuation
