SCYM (ASCP) REVIEW - SECTION 2 - PANEL/EXPERIMENTAL
DESIGN QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
Adherent Samples - CORRECT ANSWERS -Cell lines, some tumors
Liquid Samples - CORRECT ANSWERS -Blood, spleen, bone marrow, fresh marine water
Solid Tissue Samples - CORRECT ANSWERS -Tumors, organs, plants
Cons of enzymatic disruption methods - CORRECT ANSWERS -Can strip surface epitopes
How to prevent coagulation - CORRECT ANSWERS -ACD, EDTA, heparin, or physically disrupt
cells using a method such as vortexing
How long can whole blood remain at room temperature? - CORRECT ANSWERS -24 hours, then
refrigerate for up to 72 hours
Cells that are too large for flow cytometry - CORRECT ANSWERS -Cardiomyocytes and
Megakaryocytes
Factors to consider when fixing to preserve the epitope - CORRECT ANSWERS -Fixative type,
fixation time, temperature, fluorochrome compatibility, surface marker compatibility
Alcohol fixation cannot be used on these fluorochromes - CORRECT ANSWERS -PE and GFP
Aldehydes - CORRECT ANSWERS -formaldehyde, increases background, destroys epitopes, 4%
permeabilizes
, Alcohol - CORRECT ANSWERS -Ethanol and methanol permeabilizes, alters morphology, nuclear,
cell cycle
Harsh Detergents - CORRECT ANSWERS -Triton X-100, NP-40
Gentle Detergents - CORRECT ANSWERS -Saponin, Lysolecithin
Centrifugation Gradients - CORRECT ANSWERS -Seperate samples based on density
Percoll
Ficoll
Do voltage plates push or pull droplets? - CORRECT ANSWERS -Push. They are called
"deflection" plates.
Probe Types - CORRECT ANSWERS -Antibodies, viability/DNA dyes, physiological, tracking dyes,
fluorescent proteins
Fluorochrome Selection - CORRECT ANSWERS -Antigen density, protein, co-expression, optimal
combination, photostability, F/P ratio, quenching, signal to noise
Types of Assay Controls - CORRECT ANSWERS -Fluorescence minus one, autofluorescence,
biological systems control, background measurement controls
Assay Optimization - CORRECT ANSWERS -Appropriate use of limited sample, frequency of
target, cell concentration, kinetics, scalability, blocking, statistical design
DESIGN QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
Adherent Samples - CORRECT ANSWERS -Cell lines, some tumors
Liquid Samples - CORRECT ANSWERS -Blood, spleen, bone marrow, fresh marine water
Solid Tissue Samples - CORRECT ANSWERS -Tumors, organs, plants
Cons of enzymatic disruption methods - CORRECT ANSWERS -Can strip surface epitopes
How to prevent coagulation - CORRECT ANSWERS -ACD, EDTA, heparin, or physically disrupt
cells using a method such as vortexing
How long can whole blood remain at room temperature? - CORRECT ANSWERS -24 hours, then
refrigerate for up to 72 hours
Cells that are too large for flow cytometry - CORRECT ANSWERS -Cardiomyocytes and
Megakaryocytes
Factors to consider when fixing to preserve the epitope - CORRECT ANSWERS -Fixative type,
fixation time, temperature, fluorochrome compatibility, surface marker compatibility
Alcohol fixation cannot be used on these fluorochromes - CORRECT ANSWERS -PE and GFP
Aldehydes - CORRECT ANSWERS -formaldehyde, increases background, destroys epitopes, 4%
permeabilizes
, Alcohol - CORRECT ANSWERS -Ethanol and methanol permeabilizes, alters morphology, nuclear,
cell cycle
Harsh Detergents - CORRECT ANSWERS -Triton X-100, NP-40
Gentle Detergents - CORRECT ANSWERS -Saponin, Lysolecithin
Centrifugation Gradients - CORRECT ANSWERS -Seperate samples based on density
Percoll
Ficoll
Do voltage plates push or pull droplets? - CORRECT ANSWERS -Push. They are called
"deflection" plates.
Probe Types - CORRECT ANSWERS -Antibodies, viability/DNA dyes, physiological, tracking dyes,
fluorescent proteins
Fluorochrome Selection - CORRECT ANSWERS -Antigen density, protein, co-expression, optimal
combination, photostability, F/P ratio, quenching, signal to noise
Types of Assay Controls - CORRECT ANSWERS -Fluorescence minus one, autofluorescence,
biological systems control, background measurement controls
Assay Optimization - CORRECT ANSWERS -Appropriate use of limited sample, frequency of
target, cell concentration, kinetics, scalability, blocking, statistical design
