MLS ASCP EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS(RATED A+)
Procainamide - ANSWER -Answer: NAPA
-p. 86-Ant antiarrhythmic drug that has a metabolite with the same drug action
-Procainamide is metabolized to N-Acetylprocainamide (NAPA)
- Must quantify both. Although they have the same drug affect, difference in half- life
may cause NAPA to accumulate in the blood and produce toxic affects even at
therapeutic levels of procainamide.
loose clusters of small spherical microconidia, positive urease - ANSWER -Answer:
Trichophyton mentagrophytes -Trichophyton is the only Dermatophyte with two colony
types : macroconidia and microconidia. - T. mentagrophytes characteristically produce
"grapelike clusters" of microconidia. - Positive in the hair perforation test.
Beta -HCG tumor marker - ANSWER Answer: chorocarcinoma
-The are are 2 forms of hCG Alpha (common form) and Beta (unique form)
5HIAA 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid - ANSWER -Answer: carcinoid tumors -5HIAA:
primary metabolite of serotonin, a chemical substance (neurotransmitter) that transmits
messages between nerve cells. -Large quantities of serotonin and 5-HIAA may be
produced by some carcinoid tumors.- Carcinoid tumors are slow-growing noncancerous
or cancerous neuroendocrine masses that can form in the GI tract, especially in the
appendix, and in the lungs.
Proteus vulgaris vs P. mirabilis indole test - ANSWER P. vulgaris is indole pos. P.
mirabilis is indole neg
Hydatid cyst fluid - ANSWER used to neutralize Anti-P1 antibody
Antacid overdose - ANSWER Check pH
Prolonged PT, PTT, and thrombin after collecting from catheter - ANSWER heparin
contamination
mixing study that was performed with a prolonged PTT that couldn't be corrected -
ANSWER 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 - ANSWER check the CaCl/phospholipid reagent delivery
Patient is on coumadin therapy, what will be affected - ANSWER Decreased protein C
Lot's of stomatocytes - ANSWER Liver disease
, Burr cells - ANSWER 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 - ANSWER 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 -
ANSWER recollect with decreased anticoagulant. high hct (>55%) causes low plasma
so you need less anticoagulant
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 - ANSWER check for
lipemia (elevates HGB)
PBS with an elevated reticulocyte count and howell jolly bodies in the RBC's - ANSWER
-Answer: howell jolly bodies= DNA= Wright Stain
-Peppenheimer- Prussian blue stain
-which is not taken up by reticulocytes
-helpful in differentiating the two.
-Reticulocytes=Supravital/ new methylene blue stain
what is composed of DNA? - ANSWER howell jolly bodies
-wright Stain
what falsely increases ESR - ANSWER vibration, tilting of tube, higher temps, >1 hr test
time, improper mixing of blood, improper dilution
factors decreasing ESR - ANSWER Polycythemia, Microcytosis (Hb C), Sickle cells,
spherocytes, Anti-inflammatory medications, Hypogammaglobulinemia,
Hypofibrinogenemia (DIC), High WBC count, Hyperviscosity
Factors increasing ESR - ANSWER Anemia, Macrocytosis, Female gender, Age >50
years, Obesity, Pregnancy, Hypercholesterolemia, cancer, multiple myeloma, rouleaux,
infections, inflammation
what falsely decreases ESR - ANSWER low blood/ room temps, air bubbles, tests <1
hr, improper mixing of blood, improper dilution
lactic acid collection - ANSWER separate from serum and put on ice
coefficient of variation - ANSWER (standard deviation/ mean) X 100
ANSWERS(RATED A+)
Procainamide - ANSWER -Answer: NAPA
-p. 86-Ant antiarrhythmic drug that has a metabolite with the same drug action
-Procainamide is metabolized to N-Acetylprocainamide (NAPA)
- Must quantify both. Although they have the same drug affect, difference in half- life
may cause NAPA to accumulate in the blood and produce toxic affects even at
therapeutic levels of procainamide.
loose clusters of small spherical microconidia, positive urease - ANSWER -Answer:
Trichophyton mentagrophytes -Trichophyton is the only Dermatophyte with two colony
types : macroconidia and microconidia. - T. mentagrophytes characteristically produce
"grapelike clusters" of microconidia. - Positive in the hair perforation test.
Beta -HCG tumor marker - ANSWER Answer: chorocarcinoma
-The are are 2 forms of hCG Alpha (common form) and Beta (unique form)
5HIAA 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid - ANSWER -Answer: carcinoid tumors -5HIAA:
primary metabolite of serotonin, a chemical substance (neurotransmitter) that transmits
messages between nerve cells. -Large quantities of serotonin and 5-HIAA may be
produced by some carcinoid tumors.- Carcinoid tumors are slow-growing noncancerous
or cancerous neuroendocrine masses that can form in the GI tract, especially in the
appendix, and in the lungs.
Proteus vulgaris vs P. mirabilis indole test - ANSWER P. vulgaris is indole pos. P.
mirabilis is indole neg
Hydatid cyst fluid - ANSWER used to neutralize Anti-P1 antibody
Antacid overdose - ANSWER Check pH
Prolonged PT, PTT, and thrombin after collecting from catheter - ANSWER heparin
contamination
mixing study that was performed with a prolonged PTT that couldn't be corrected -
ANSWER 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 - ANSWER check the CaCl/phospholipid reagent delivery
Patient is on coumadin therapy, what will be affected - ANSWER Decreased protein C
Lot's of stomatocytes - ANSWER Liver disease
, Burr cells - ANSWER 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 - ANSWER 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 -
ANSWER recollect with decreased anticoagulant. high hct (>55%) causes low plasma
so you need less anticoagulant
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 - ANSWER check for
lipemia (elevates HGB)
PBS with an elevated reticulocyte count and howell jolly bodies in the RBC's - ANSWER
-Answer: howell jolly bodies= DNA= Wright Stain
-Peppenheimer- Prussian blue stain
-which is not taken up by reticulocytes
-helpful in differentiating the two.
-Reticulocytes=Supravital/ new methylene blue stain
what is composed of DNA? - ANSWER howell jolly bodies
-wright Stain
what falsely increases ESR - ANSWER vibration, tilting of tube, higher temps, >1 hr test
time, improper mixing of blood, improper dilution
factors decreasing ESR - ANSWER Polycythemia, Microcytosis (Hb C), Sickle cells,
spherocytes, Anti-inflammatory medications, Hypogammaglobulinemia,
Hypofibrinogenemia (DIC), High WBC count, Hyperviscosity
Factors increasing ESR - ANSWER Anemia, Macrocytosis, Female gender, Age >50
years, Obesity, Pregnancy, Hypercholesterolemia, cancer, multiple myeloma, rouleaux,
infections, inflammation
what falsely decreases ESR - ANSWER low blood/ room temps, air bubbles, tests <1
hr, improper mixing of blood, improper dilution
lactic acid collection - ANSWER separate from serum and put on ice
coefficient of variation - ANSWER (standard deviation/ mean) X 100
