ASCP ASCP Certifications ASCP-MLT Questions & Answers

• Question 421:

  Provide the equivalent measurement for 1 decimeter.

  A. 1 microgram

  B. 100 microns

  C. 100 millimeters

  D. 5 millimeters

  Correct Answer: C

• Question 422:

  Fatty casts contain refractile oval fat bodies or free fat droplets. They are derived from renal tubular cells, and may be seen in nephrotic syndrome. Identify the urine sediment element:

  A. WBC cast

  B. Fatty cast

  C. Waxy cast

  D. Granular cast

  Correct Answer: B

• Question 423:

  The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) increases as the severity of alpha thalassemia increases because of changing MCV as the bone marrow produces smaller cells. In addition, if Hemoglobin H bodies are present, they result in the formation of schiztocytes (RBC fragments) that can have an effect on the MCV and RDW.

  The Red cell Distribution Width (RDW) in alpha thalassemia is

  A. within normal limits

  B. usually increased

  C. usually decreased

  D. dependent upon severity

  Correct Answer: D

• Question 424:

  A test with high specificity accurately detects the absence of disease. The more specific a test is, the fewer false-positive results will occur. A test with high sensitivity accurately identifies the presence of disease. The more sensitive a test, the fewer false-negative results it produces. In the case stated in this question, the immunoassay has high specificity, so it has few false-positives and will accurately detect those individuals who do not have the disease or condition that is being tested for. However, the test has low sensitivity, so it may not identify all individuals who actually have the disease; it may produce many false-negative results.

  The accuracy of an immunoassay is its ability to discriminate between results that are true positives and results that are true negatives. Two parameters of test accuracy are specificity and sensitivity. Which of these statements apply to an immunoassay with high specificity, but low sensitivity?

  A. Accurately identifies the presence of disease

  B. Accurately identifies the absence of disease

  C. Has few false-positives

  D. Has few false-negatives

  Correct Answer: BC

• Question 425:

  Rule-out is a process by which antibodies are identified as being unlikely in a given sample because of the absence of an expected antigen-antibody reaction. In other words, the absence of a reaction is noted with a cell that is positive for the

  corresponding antigen.

  Although rule-out procedures may vary somewhat from institution to institution, the following general principles apply:

  Non-reactive cells are selected for rule-out. To be classified as non-reactive, a cell must NOT have reacted at any phase of testing in a given panel or screen.

  Using the logic that if the rule-out cell is positive for a given antigen, it should have reacted with the corresponding antibody, you can rule-out antibodies that correspond to antigen positive cells.

  To increase the probability that rule-out will not mistakenly eliminate a weakly-reacting antibody that exhibits dosage*, use only cells that are homozygous for the corresponding antigen for those systems that generally show dosage. Generally

  these include: C, c, E, e, Fya, Fyb, Jka, Jkb, M, N, S, and s.

  In this case, it is only possible to rule out on screening cell 2 since it demonstrates a negative reaction with the patient serum. Anti-C cannot be ruled out since the C antigen is heterozygous on screening cell 2 with c. Anti-Fya cannot be ruled out since this antigen is not present on screening cell 2. Anti-M and anti-Jka can be ruled out since the antigens are homozyous while demonstrating a negative reaction on screening cell 2.

  Rule-out, while very useful, can lead to error. Ruling out an antibody should be combined with other supporting data to increase confidence in the solution; the more data collected, the higher the probability that the final solution is correct.

  *Dosage means that there are two "doses" of the same antigen present on the red cells . Antibodies that exhibit dosage react more strongly with homozygous cells (e.g., Jka Jka) than with heterozygous cells (e.g., Jka Jkb) .

  Based on the phenotype of the RBC screening cells, and patient results shown on the right, which of the following antibodies CANNOT be ruled out?

  A. Anti-C

  B. Anti-Jka

  C. Anti-M

  D. Anti-Fya

  Correct Answer: AD

• Question 426:

  In order to perform a venipuncture on a newly admitted hospital patient, a phlebotomist needs to

  A. Ask for the patients' written permission to perform the procedure.

  B. Verfity that the patient has specifically name the drawing of blood in the admission process.

  C. Realize that an admitted hospital patient has given implied consent to routine procedures such as phlebotomy.

  D. Verify with the patient's primary care provider that phlebotomy is covered as a routine procedure.

  Correct Answer: C

• Question 427:

  What are the certification requirements for clinical laboratory professionals?

  A. on the job training

  B. national certification exam

  C. college degree

  D. college degree and a national certification exam

  Correct Answer: D

• Question 428:

  In radioimmunassay, a fixed concentration of labeled antigen is incubated with a constant amount of antiserum such that the concentration of antigen binding sites on the antibody is limiting. If unlabeled antigen is added to this system, there is competition between labeled antigen and unlabeled antigen for the limited and constant number of binding sites on the antibody, and thus the amount of labeled antigen bound to antibody will decrease as the concentration of unlabeled antigen increases.

  Which of the following choices is correct when describing the principles of competitive radioimmunoassay procedures?

  A. antibody will react preferentially with the labeled antigen

  B. antibody will react preferentially with the unlabeled antigen

  C. antibody will react with labeled antigen only

  D. antibody will react equally with labeled and unlabeled antigen

  E. antibody will react directly with radioactive labeled immunoglobulin

  Correct Answer: D

• Question 429:

  Malbranchia species share the production of alternate staining arthroconidia as a common feature with the mold form of Coccidioides immitis.

  Both Geotrichum species and Trichosporon species produce rectangular-shaped arthroconidia; however, they are regularly rather than alternately staining. Additionally, the arthroconidia of Geotrichum may produce germ tubes from one

  corner and the arthroconidia of Trichosporon species may produce blastoconidia from adjacent corners, features not shared by either Malbranchia species or Coccidioides immitis.

  The hyphae of Microsporum canis, as seen in direct KOH mounts of skin scales, may break up into arthroconidia; however, they are much narrower in dimension and do not share the alternate staining characteristics.

  Microbiology

  The hyaline saprobic fungus that has microscopic features similar to the mold form of Coccidioides immitis is:

  A. Malbranchia species

  B. Geotrichum species

  C. Trichosporon species

  D. Microsporum canis

  Correct Answer: A

• Question 430:

  Match the viruses below with their associated conditions.

  1.

  Herpesvirus

  2.

  Papovavirus

  3.

  Rhinovirus

  4.

  Rotavirus

  A. Warts

  B. Herpes

  C. Gastroenteritis in infants

  D. Common Cold

  Correct Answer: ABCD