ASCP CG Certification Practice
Which type of microscope is used when cleaning a CVS (chorionic villus) sample? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Dissection
Which cell type is most problematic if found in a CVS (chorionic villus) sample? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Decidua (maternal tissue)
When looking at a slide under a phase contrast scope and a lot of cytoplasm is still seen
around the mets, what is the most likely cause? - CORRECT ANSWER-innappropriate
slide drying time
What will help prevent microbial contamination and cross contamination of cultures? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Asceptic technique
When there are not enough mets to complete the study of a patient/case, what needs to
be done next? - CORRECT ANSWER-prepare additional slides from any remaining
sample
When looking at a dropped slide under a phase scope and mets are very spread out
and sparse, what could help fix the issue? - CORRECT ANSWER-Increading the drying
time by using warm slides
What is true of an inverted microscope? - CORRECT ANSWER-the objectives are
beneath the stage
What is the best agent to use against mycoplasma? - CORRECT ANSWER-BM cyclin -
a combination of two antibiotics (tiamulin and minocycline) that effecticely targets
mycoplasma growth
For successful harvest, each new batch of hypotonic solution should be evaluated by: -
CORRECT ANSWER-comparing the new lot to a lot already in use
Colagenase, pronase, and trypsin are: - CORRECT ANSWER-Proteolytic enzymes -
break down tissues into single-cell suspensions
When harvesting peripheral blood cultures, asceptic technique no longer matters
following incubation with: - CORRECT ANSWER-Colcemid - mitotic spindle poison that
halts cells at metaphase
Samples that arrive at the cytogenetics lab should first be: - CORRECT ANSWER-
Logged in to the system
,Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulates which type of cells into division? - CORRECT
ANSWER-T-cell lymphocytes
To avoid culture failure, monitoring reagents is crucial. When logging a culture failure,
what is the MOST important to document? - CORRECT ANSWER-Expiration dates of
reagents used
High-resolution banding is indicated for a possible diagnosis of: - CORRECT ANSWER-
DiGenorge syndrome -- microdeletion of 22q11, also called velocardiofacial syndrome
"velo" - soft palette,
"cardio" - congenital heart defects,
"facial" - unique abnormal facial features, short philtrum (upper lip indent), tubular nose,
wide spread eyes, etc
When verifying if a specimen is appropriate for cytogenetic analysis, what is the MOST
important data to accompany the specimen? - CORRECT ANSWER-Reason for referral
Which type of specimen should be requested for a cytogenetic analysis for turner
syndrome? - CORRECT ANSWER-Heparinized peripheral blood stored at room
temperature
(NOT FROZEN)
A blood sample can be used to study the cytogenetics of a malignancy only if: -
CORRECT ANSWER-Dividing leukemic cells are present in circulation
All of the cultures in a CO2 incubator failed, what aspects of the incubator are important
to monitor to assess the source of the problem? - CORRECT ANSWER-Temperature,
CO2 level, and
Humidity level
The most important factor affecting the quality of chromosomes viewed under a phase
contrast scope is: - CORRECT ANSWER-Slide drying after the cells have been dropped
What is the modal number (default number of chromosomes in a cell) for a Down
syndrome translocation carrier? - CORRECT ANSWER-45
What is the best tissue to use for both a good success rate and abnormality detection in
spontaneous abortion miscarriages? - CORRECT ANSWER-Chorionic villi
What is a possible cause for a drying oven to not maintain a proper temperature? -
CORRECT ANSWER-The door does not seal properly
, If a tech with a cold and sneezing does not take proper precautions while setting up
amniotic fluid samples, the specimen could become contaminated with: - CORRECT
ANSWER-Mycoplasma
--> the most common contaminant by a sick tech and can be detected through a specific
stain used on the sample
mycoplasma can induce abnormalities in a sample, so it is important to avoid
contamination
What about the metaphases on a slide are affected by slide making? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Cell density - thru dilution of the sample with fix
Banding - based on how dark/pale/refractive they are affects trypsin time
Chromosome spreading - affected by drying time
What test(s) should be ordered on a newborn with suspected Prader-Willi syndrome? -
CORRECT ANSWER-High resolution banding and FISH for the Prader-Willi locus on
15q11.2
When capturing a metaphase, a tech cannot get the met into focus, what is the most
likely cause? - CORRECT ANSWER-The camera is not parfocal (in focus with the
microscpe objectives) with the microscope
Unstained chromosome preparation should be viewed using which scope? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Phase contrast condenser
The minimum band level necessary to detect prader-willi syndrome is? - CORRECT
ANSWER-550 at the lowest
15q11.2 is visible at that level
See CAP regulation CYG.42300
A regulatory inspecter requests a copy of a lab patient's record for his inspection files,
the tech should: - CORRECT ANSWER-Deny the inspector a copy of the record
See HIPAA compliance policy
According to CAP regulations, what is the minimum band level for consitutional
specimens? - CORRECT ANSWER-400
The suggested level for most constitutional specimen is 550, but 400 is the lowest
acceptible level
See CAP regulation CYG.42200
Which type of microscope is used when cleaning a CVS (chorionic villus) sample? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Dissection
Which cell type is most problematic if found in a CVS (chorionic villus) sample? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Decidua (maternal tissue)
When looking at a slide under a phase contrast scope and a lot of cytoplasm is still seen
around the mets, what is the most likely cause? - CORRECT ANSWER-innappropriate
slide drying time
What will help prevent microbial contamination and cross contamination of cultures? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Asceptic technique
When there are not enough mets to complete the study of a patient/case, what needs to
be done next? - CORRECT ANSWER-prepare additional slides from any remaining
sample
When looking at a dropped slide under a phase scope and mets are very spread out
and sparse, what could help fix the issue? - CORRECT ANSWER-Increading the drying
time by using warm slides
What is true of an inverted microscope? - CORRECT ANSWER-the objectives are
beneath the stage
What is the best agent to use against mycoplasma? - CORRECT ANSWER-BM cyclin -
a combination of two antibiotics (tiamulin and minocycline) that effecticely targets
mycoplasma growth
For successful harvest, each new batch of hypotonic solution should be evaluated by: -
CORRECT ANSWER-comparing the new lot to a lot already in use
Colagenase, pronase, and trypsin are: - CORRECT ANSWER-Proteolytic enzymes -
break down tissues into single-cell suspensions
When harvesting peripheral blood cultures, asceptic technique no longer matters
following incubation with: - CORRECT ANSWER-Colcemid - mitotic spindle poison that
halts cells at metaphase
Samples that arrive at the cytogenetics lab should first be: - CORRECT ANSWER-
Logged in to the system
,Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulates which type of cells into division? - CORRECT
ANSWER-T-cell lymphocytes
To avoid culture failure, monitoring reagents is crucial. When logging a culture failure,
what is the MOST important to document? - CORRECT ANSWER-Expiration dates of
reagents used
High-resolution banding is indicated for a possible diagnosis of: - CORRECT ANSWER-
DiGenorge syndrome -- microdeletion of 22q11, also called velocardiofacial syndrome
"velo" - soft palette,
"cardio" - congenital heart defects,
"facial" - unique abnormal facial features, short philtrum (upper lip indent), tubular nose,
wide spread eyes, etc
When verifying if a specimen is appropriate for cytogenetic analysis, what is the MOST
important data to accompany the specimen? - CORRECT ANSWER-Reason for referral
Which type of specimen should be requested for a cytogenetic analysis for turner
syndrome? - CORRECT ANSWER-Heparinized peripheral blood stored at room
temperature
(NOT FROZEN)
A blood sample can be used to study the cytogenetics of a malignancy only if: -
CORRECT ANSWER-Dividing leukemic cells are present in circulation
All of the cultures in a CO2 incubator failed, what aspects of the incubator are important
to monitor to assess the source of the problem? - CORRECT ANSWER-Temperature,
CO2 level, and
Humidity level
The most important factor affecting the quality of chromosomes viewed under a phase
contrast scope is: - CORRECT ANSWER-Slide drying after the cells have been dropped
What is the modal number (default number of chromosomes in a cell) for a Down
syndrome translocation carrier? - CORRECT ANSWER-45
What is the best tissue to use for both a good success rate and abnormality detection in
spontaneous abortion miscarriages? - CORRECT ANSWER-Chorionic villi
What is a possible cause for a drying oven to not maintain a proper temperature? -
CORRECT ANSWER-The door does not seal properly
, If a tech with a cold and sneezing does not take proper precautions while setting up
amniotic fluid samples, the specimen could become contaminated with: - CORRECT
ANSWER-Mycoplasma
--> the most common contaminant by a sick tech and can be detected through a specific
stain used on the sample
mycoplasma can induce abnormalities in a sample, so it is important to avoid
contamination
What about the metaphases on a slide are affected by slide making? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Cell density - thru dilution of the sample with fix
Banding - based on how dark/pale/refractive they are affects trypsin time
Chromosome spreading - affected by drying time
What test(s) should be ordered on a newborn with suspected Prader-Willi syndrome? -
CORRECT ANSWER-High resolution banding and FISH for the Prader-Willi locus on
15q11.2
When capturing a metaphase, a tech cannot get the met into focus, what is the most
likely cause? - CORRECT ANSWER-The camera is not parfocal (in focus with the
microscpe objectives) with the microscope
Unstained chromosome preparation should be viewed using which scope? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Phase contrast condenser
The minimum band level necessary to detect prader-willi syndrome is? - CORRECT
ANSWER-550 at the lowest
15q11.2 is visible at that level
See CAP regulation CYG.42300
A regulatory inspecter requests a copy of a lab patient's record for his inspection files,
the tech should: - CORRECT ANSWER-Deny the inspector a copy of the record
See HIPAA compliance policy
According to CAP regulations, what is the minimum band level for consitutional
specimens? - CORRECT ANSWER-400
The suggested level for most constitutional specimen is 550, but 400 is the lowest
acceptible level
See CAP regulation CYG.42200
