ASCP-MLT Online Practice Questions and Answers

The recommended disinfectant for blood and body fluid contamination is:

A. sodium hydroxide.

B. antimicrobial soap.

C. hydrogen peroxide.

D. sodium hypochlorite.

What has happened in a titer, if tubes #5-7 show a stronger reaction than tubes #1-4?

A. poor technique

B. postzone reaction

C. prozone reaction

D. equivalence reaction technical error

Gram positive organisms resist decolorization by ethyl alcohol. The large crystal violet- iodine complex is not able to penetrate the peptidoglycan layer, and is trapped within the cell in gram-positive organisms. Conversely, the outer membrane of gram-negative organisms is degraded and the thinner peptidoglycan layer of gram-negative cells is unable to retain the crystal violet-iodine complex and the color is lost.

What is the purpose of using ethyl alcohol or acetone in the gram stain procedure:

A. Fix all gram positive organisms

B. Decolorize all gram positive organisms

C. Decolorize all gram negative organisms

D. Fix all gram negative organisms

During primary hypothyroidism, where a defect in the thryoid gland is producing low levels of T3 and T4, the TSH level is increased. TSH is released in elevated quantities in an attempt to stimulate the thryoid to produce more T3 and T4 as part of a feedback mechanism.

Serum TSH levels five-times the upper limit of normal in the presence of a low T4 and low T3 uptake could mean which of the following:

A. The thyroid has been established as the cause of hypothyroidism

B. The thyroid is ruled-out as the cause of hypothyroidism

C. The pituitary has been established as the cause of hypothyroidism

D. The diagnosis is consistent with secondary hyperthyroidism

The role of the point-of-care testing (POCT) compared with in-laboratory testing is the

A. Specific microscopic tests (wet mounts) performed by a physician for his or her own patients

B. Process of performin laboratory testing at the bedside of the patient and a means of decentralizing some of the laboratory testing

C. Means by which quality control between laboratories is maintained

D. Continuation of the process of evaluating and monitoring all aspects of the laboratory to ensure accuracy of test results

The characteristic that distinguishes vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis from other Enterococcus species is their lack of motility.

Enterococci are all catalase-negative. Growth on bile esculin agar and in 6.5% salt broth are two characteristics that have commonly been used to identify Enterococcus to the genus level. A positive esculin in combination with a positive PYR

reaction is another approach to presumptive identification.

Which one of these characteristics distinguishes vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis from other Enterococcus species?

A. PYR positive reaction

B. Non-motility

C. Catalase negative

D. Growth on bile esculin agar

Bacterial contamination of platelets is most likely because they are stored at room temperature. Bacterial contamination is MOST likely in which of the following blood products?

A. Red Blood Cells

B. Red Blood Cells Frozen

C. Platelets

D. Fresh Frozen Plasma

This scenario's answer can be calculated by first deciding what the total quality control labor costs are as well as what the total consumable costs are. In this case, if quality control is run 3 times per day, a total of 1095 quality control runs are performed each year. The direct labor cost of $2.63 multiplied by 1095 quality control runs equals $2879.85 per year in quality control direct labor. The hospital pays $354.00 per month on quality control consumables, which equals $4248.00 per year. The total quality control costs in a year are equal to $2879.85 + $4248.00 = $7127.85. If 76,000 new chemistry tests panels are peformed each year, the total quality control cost per new chemistry test panel will be $0.09. General Hospital is considering the addition of a new chemistry panel containing 12 tests. The laboratory is asked to calculate the total cost of quality control per new chemistry test panel. Quality control must be performed 3 times per day (every 8 hours). The labor cost per quality control test for this panel is $2.63. A month's worth of quality control reagent costs $354.00. What is the total quality control cost per new chemistry test panel if 76,000 of these new panels are performed each year?

A. $0.01

B. $0.09

C. $0.04

D. $1.70

Granulocytes are the most granular population; they have the most side scatter of the cell populations that are listed.

Which of these white blood cell populations would have the MOST side scatter when analyzed using flow cytometry?

A. Monocytes

B. Lymphocytes

C. Granulocytes

In sickle cell anemia, rapid hemoglobin turnover may be present. HbA1C and other glycated hemoglobin assays are not valid in rapid hemoglobin turnover and in abnormal hemoglobin conditions. Fructosamine measurements can be used because of shorter half life of albumin.

HbA1C measurements are NOT ordinarily used to monitor long-term diabetic control in a diabetic with sickle cell anemia.

A. true

B. false