MLT ASCP ACTUAL EXAMINATION SHEET
2026 ACCURATE ANSWERS GUARANTEED
⫸ According to the 2010 ADA guidelines, HbA1C percent can be
used as an assay to diagnose diabetes.
True/False. Answer: T;
The 2010 ADA Clinical Practice Recommendations added
measurement of HbA1C as a diagnostic assay for diagnosis of
diabetes.
⫸ Which of the following conditions would make a sample
unsuitable for lactic acid testing?
Choose the single best answer
A. Movement of hand or arm during specimen collection
B. Received in the lab on ice
C. Centrifuged in a refrigerated centrifuge
D. Specimen centrifuged and plasma separated from cells less than 15
minutes after collection. Answer: A;
Movement of the muscles in the hand or arm during specimen
collection will falsely increase lactic acid concentration. A blood
sample for lactic acid testing should be placed on ice immediately
after collection, centrifuged within 15 minutes of collection, and
plasma immediately separated from cells following centrifugation. If
possible, a refrigerated centrifuge should be used.
,⫸ You are working in a clinical chemistry laboratory and are
analyzing a plasma glucose sample. The sample is flagged by the
analyzer for being "outside of linear range." You manually dilute the
sample 1:2 and rerun it. Again, you receive an "outside linear range"
alert. You decide to perform a different manual dilution. This time you
manually dilute the original sample again; this time using a 1:3
dilution. The instrument gives you a glucose value of 150 mg/dL from
this diluted sample. What is the actual patient glucose result that you
should report to the physician?
Choose the single best answer
A. 100 mg/dL
B. 400 mg/dL
C. 600 mg/dL
D. 450 mg/dL
E. 1200 mg/dL. Answer: D;
The correct response is option D: 450 mg/dl. A 1:3 dilution entails
mixing one part patient sample with two parts diluent, for a total
volume of 3 parts. In laboratory dilutions, the total volume is
considered a dilution factor. The dilution factor in this question is 3.
So a diluted sample with a value of 150 would need to be multiplied
by 3 to obtain the correct final answer. 150 x 3 = 450 mg/dl.
⫸ That portion of an enzyme which is separated from its cofactor is
called a(n):
,Choose the single best answer
A. Partial enzyme
B. Isoenzyme
C. Coenzyme
D. Apoenzyme. Answer: D;
A partial enzyme is not an actual term used in the laboratory. An
isoenzyme is a related enzyme with a different chemical structure.
Finally, a coenzyme is a non-protein molecule (often a vitamin) that
helps an enzyme become active.
⫸ A low CSF glucose level is associated with all the following
except:
Choose the single best answer
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Fungal meningitis
C. Toxoplasmosis
D. Hypoglycemia. Answer: A;
In hyperglycemia you would expect a normal or elevated CSF glucose
level- this question is asking where you would expect to see a
decreased (low) CSF glucose level, and in this case hyperglycemia
would be the one condition that is excluded (therefore the correct
answer).
, ⫸ Blood lactic acid concentration is an indicator of impaired
circulation and tissue oxygenation in critically ill patients. If
circulation and tissue oxygenation are impaired, blood lactic acid
concentration will decrease below the lower end of the established
reference range.
True/False. Answer: False;
Lactic acid will increase. When cells do not receive enough oxygen
because they are not receiving enough blood, they release excess
lactic acid into the bloodstream. Organ failure as a result of septic
shock may be indicated by unexplained metabolic acidosis (low blood
pH and low bicarbonate level) and extremely elevated lactic acid,
where blood pH is <7.30 and plasma lactic acid is >1.5 times the
upper limit of the laboratory's established reference values.
⫸ When should blood samples for trough drug levels be collected?
Choose the single best answer
A. 30 minutes after peak levels
B. 45 minutes before the next dose
C. 1-2 hours after the last dose
D. immediately before the next dose is given. Answer: D;
The trough drug level is drawn immediately before the next dose is
given as the drug level is expected to be the lowest in the body at this
point.
2026 ACCURATE ANSWERS GUARANTEED
⫸ According to the 2010 ADA guidelines, HbA1C percent can be
used as an assay to diagnose diabetes.
True/False. Answer: T;
The 2010 ADA Clinical Practice Recommendations added
measurement of HbA1C as a diagnostic assay for diagnosis of
diabetes.
⫸ Which of the following conditions would make a sample
unsuitable for lactic acid testing?
Choose the single best answer
A. Movement of hand or arm during specimen collection
B. Received in the lab on ice
C. Centrifuged in a refrigerated centrifuge
D. Specimen centrifuged and plasma separated from cells less than 15
minutes after collection. Answer: A;
Movement of the muscles in the hand or arm during specimen
collection will falsely increase lactic acid concentration. A blood
sample for lactic acid testing should be placed on ice immediately
after collection, centrifuged within 15 minutes of collection, and
plasma immediately separated from cells following centrifugation. If
possible, a refrigerated centrifuge should be used.
,⫸ You are working in a clinical chemistry laboratory and are
analyzing a plasma glucose sample. The sample is flagged by the
analyzer for being "outside of linear range." You manually dilute the
sample 1:2 and rerun it. Again, you receive an "outside linear range"
alert. You decide to perform a different manual dilution. This time you
manually dilute the original sample again; this time using a 1:3
dilution. The instrument gives you a glucose value of 150 mg/dL from
this diluted sample. What is the actual patient glucose result that you
should report to the physician?
Choose the single best answer
A. 100 mg/dL
B. 400 mg/dL
C. 600 mg/dL
D. 450 mg/dL
E. 1200 mg/dL. Answer: D;
The correct response is option D: 450 mg/dl. A 1:3 dilution entails
mixing one part patient sample with two parts diluent, for a total
volume of 3 parts. In laboratory dilutions, the total volume is
considered a dilution factor. The dilution factor in this question is 3.
So a diluted sample with a value of 150 would need to be multiplied
by 3 to obtain the correct final answer. 150 x 3 = 450 mg/dl.
⫸ That portion of an enzyme which is separated from its cofactor is
called a(n):
,Choose the single best answer
A. Partial enzyme
B. Isoenzyme
C. Coenzyme
D. Apoenzyme. Answer: D;
A partial enzyme is not an actual term used in the laboratory. An
isoenzyme is a related enzyme with a different chemical structure.
Finally, a coenzyme is a non-protein molecule (often a vitamin) that
helps an enzyme become active.
⫸ A low CSF glucose level is associated with all the following
except:
Choose the single best answer
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Fungal meningitis
C. Toxoplasmosis
D. Hypoglycemia. Answer: A;
In hyperglycemia you would expect a normal or elevated CSF glucose
level- this question is asking where you would expect to see a
decreased (low) CSF glucose level, and in this case hyperglycemia
would be the one condition that is excluded (therefore the correct
answer).
, ⫸ Blood lactic acid concentration is an indicator of impaired
circulation and tissue oxygenation in critically ill patients. If
circulation and tissue oxygenation are impaired, blood lactic acid
concentration will decrease below the lower end of the established
reference range.
True/False. Answer: False;
Lactic acid will increase. When cells do not receive enough oxygen
because they are not receiving enough blood, they release excess
lactic acid into the bloodstream. Organ failure as a result of septic
shock may be indicated by unexplained metabolic acidosis (low blood
pH and low bicarbonate level) and extremely elevated lactic acid,
where blood pH is <7.30 and plasma lactic acid is >1.5 times the
upper limit of the laboratory's established reference values.
⫸ When should blood samples for trough drug levels be collected?
Choose the single best answer
A. 30 minutes after peak levels
B. 45 minutes before the next dose
C. 1-2 hours after the last dose
D. immediately before the next dose is given. Answer: D;
The trough drug level is drawn immediately before the next dose is
given as the drug level is expected to be the lowest in the body at this
point.
