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MLS ASCP exam recall Questions and
Correct Answers
Procainamide Ans: NAPA
loose clusters of small spherical microconidia, positive urease
Ans: Trichophyton mentagrophytes
BHCG tumor marker Ans: chorocarcinoma
5HIAA Ans: carcinoid tumors
Proteus vulgaris vs P. mirabilis indole test Ans: P. vulgaris is
indole pos. P. mirabilis is indole neg
Hydatid cyst fluid Ans: used to neutralize Anti-P1 antibody
Antacid overdose Ans: Check pH
Prolonged PT, PTT, and thrombin after collecting from catheter
Ans: heparin contamination
mixing study that was performed with a prolonged PTT that
couldn't be corrected Ans: DRVVT (Dilute Russell Viper Venom
Test)
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two pt's ran in duplicate (PT and PTT). The PTT seemed to always
be prolonged but PT looked ok Ans: check the CaCl/phospholipid
reagent delivery
Patient is on coumadin therapy, what will be affected Ans:
Decreased protein C
Lot's of stomatocytes Ans: Liver disease
Burr cells Ans: 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 Ans:
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 Ans: 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 Ans: check for lipemia (elevates HGB)
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PBS with an elevated reticulocyte count and howell jolly bodies in
the RBC's Ans: Prussian blue for howell jolly bodies made of iron.
Prussian blue stain, which is not taken up by reticulocytes, is
helpful in differentiating the two.
what is composed of DNA? Ans: howell jolly bodies
what falsely increases ESR Ans: vibration, tilting of tube, higher
temps, >1 hr test time, improper mixing of blood, improper
dilution
factors decreasing ESR Ans: Polycythemia, Microcytosis (Hb C),
Sickle cells, spherocytes, Anti-inflammatory medications,
Hypogammaglobulinemia, Hypofibrinogenemia (DIC), High WBC
count, Hyperviscosity
Factors increasing ESR Ans: Anemia, Macrocytosis, Female gender,
Age >50 years, Obesity, Pregnancy, Hypercholesterolemia, cancer,
multiple myeloma, rouleaux, infections, inflammation
what falsely decreases ESR Ans: low blood/ room temps, air
bubbles, tests <1 hr, improper mixing of blood, improper dilution
lactic acid collection Ans: separate from serum and put on ice
coefficient of variation Ans: (standard deviation/ mean) X 100
© 2025 All rights reserved
MLS ASCP exam recall Questions and
Correct Answers
Procainamide Ans: NAPA
loose clusters of small spherical microconidia, positive urease
Ans: Trichophyton mentagrophytes
BHCG tumor marker Ans: chorocarcinoma
5HIAA Ans: carcinoid tumors
Proteus vulgaris vs P. mirabilis indole test Ans: P. vulgaris is
indole pos. P. mirabilis is indole neg
Hydatid cyst fluid Ans: used to neutralize Anti-P1 antibody
Antacid overdose Ans: Check pH
Prolonged PT, PTT, and thrombin after collecting from catheter
Ans: heparin contamination
mixing study that was performed with a prolonged PTT that
couldn't be corrected Ans: DRVVT (Dilute Russell Viper Venom
Test)
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
two pt's ran in duplicate (PT and PTT). The PTT seemed to always
be prolonged but PT looked ok Ans: check the CaCl/phospholipid
reagent delivery
Patient is on coumadin therapy, what will be affected Ans:
Decreased protein C
Lot's of stomatocytes Ans: Liver disease
Burr cells Ans: 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 Ans:
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 Ans: 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 Ans: check for lipemia (elevates HGB)
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
PBS with an elevated reticulocyte count and howell jolly bodies in
the RBC's Ans: Prussian blue for howell jolly bodies made of iron.
Prussian blue stain, which is not taken up by reticulocytes, is
helpful in differentiating the two.
what is composed of DNA? Ans: howell jolly bodies
what falsely increases ESR Ans: vibration, tilting of tube, higher
temps, >1 hr test time, improper mixing of blood, improper
dilution
factors decreasing ESR Ans: Polycythemia, Microcytosis (Hb C),
Sickle cells, spherocytes, Anti-inflammatory medications,
Hypogammaglobulinemia, Hypofibrinogenemia (DIC), High WBC
count, Hyperviscosity
Factors increasing ESR Ans: Anemia, Macrocytosis, Female gender,
Age >50 years, Obesity, Pregnancy, Hypercholesterolemia, cancer,
multiple myeloma, rouleaux, infections, inflammation
what falsely decreases ESR Ans: low blood/ room temps, air
bubbles, tests <1 hr, improper mixing of blood, improper dilution
lactic acid collection Ans: separate from serum and put on ice
coefficient of variation Ans: (standard deviation/ mean) X 100
© 2025 All rights reserved
