ASCP MLT Examination

Question 1

Humoral antibodies are produced by which cells?

Answer 1

B lymphocytes

Question 2

Many microspherocytes, schistocytes, and spherocytes with budding cytoplasm can be seen on peripheral blood smears of patients with:

Answer 2

extensive burns

Question 3

After 24 hours a blood culture from a newborn grows catalase-negative, Gram-positive cocci. The bacterial colonies are small, translucent, and beta-hemolytic on a blood agar plate. Biochemical test results of a pure culture are:
Test: Result:
bacitracin resisitant
CAMP reaction positive
bile esculin not hydrolyzed
65% NaCl broth no growth

Assuming that all controls react properly and reactions are verified, the next step would be to:

Answer 3

perform a Streptococcus group typing

Question 4

A patient is group O, Rh-negative with anti-D and anti-K in her serum. What percentage of the general Caucasian donor population would be compatible with this patient?

Answer 4

6.0
Determination of compatibility can be determined by multiplying the percentage of compatibility of each antigen. 45% of the population is group O, 15% is D-negative, and 91% is K-negative. 0.46 × 0.15 × 0.91 = 0.06, or 6%.

Question 5

Optimum growth of Campylobacter jejuni is obtained on suitable media incubated at 42°C in an atmosphere containing:

Answer 5

6% O2, 10 - 15% CO2, 85 - 90% nitrogen.
Campylobacter is microaerophilic, and requires a decreased oxygen and increased carbon dioxide atmosphere for growth.

Question 6

A wound specimen grew 2 colony types on sheep blood agar and a single, clear colony type on MacConkey agar. Sheep blood agar growth was documented as:

colony type #1 swarming over the entire plate, Gram stain: Gram-negative bacilli
colony type #2 white colony, Gram stain: Gram-positive cocci in clusters
The best way to isolate colony type #2 from colony type #1 is to subculture:

Answer 6

colony #2 to CNA and/or PEA agar.
Colony #1 is a probable Proteus spp. To isolate the Gram-positive cocci in clusters from the swarming Proteus, a medium that is selective for Gram-positive cocci needs to be used. CNA and PEA agars are both selective for Gram-positive cocci. The swarming Gram-negative bacilli will not be able to grow on these media.

Question 7

A young girl cuts her foot on a rock while swimming at the ocean. Her foot begins to show signs of infection and her parents take her to the ER. A culture grows a non-lactose fermenting Gram-negative bacilli that produces copious amounts of hydrogen sulfide and gas, is indole positive and motile. The organism most likely isolated is:

Answer 7

Edwardsiella spp.
Edwardsiella spp. are commonly isolated from reptiles and freshwater fish. Infections can occur during an aquatic accident resulting in an infected wound. Key biochemical characteristic is the production of hydrogen sulfide otherwise presents similarly to E. coli.

Question 8

The light-colored zone adjacent to the nucleus in a plasma cell is the:

Answer 8

Golgi area.
Morphological identifiable perinuclear halo.

Question 9

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) codes for which antigen?

Answer 9

Human Leukocyte Antigens

Question 10

Which modified PCR technique or other methods of amplification is used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Answer 10

Transcript-Medated Amplication

Question 11

Washing Red Cells may be performed to remove what from the unit?

Answer 11

Proteins

Question 12

The eggs of Nectar americanus are basically indistinguishable from the eggs of:

Answer 12

Ancylostoma duodenale

Question 13

Which common laboratory analyte is most often increased in newborns due to the newborn crying violently?

Answer 13

White blood cells (WBC)

Question 14

What is the primary target of HBV (hepatitis B virus)?

Answer 14

Liver

Question 15

The following characteristics can be seen in the microcytes present in some hemolytic disorders.

Answer 15

spherocytosis

Question 16

The following transfusion reactions can a diagnosis be more firmly established by evaluating B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels before and after transfusion:

Answer 16

Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO)

Question 17

This is currently used to diagnose acute coronary syndrome and/ or acute myocardial infarction:

Answer 17

CK-MB; Tnl; TnT

Question 18

This lipoprotein will form a creamy layer at the top of stored, non-fasting plasma specimens:

Answer 18

Chylomicrons

Question 19

Substances that can be used to induce platelet aggregation when performing aggregation studies:

Answer 19

Thrombin, ADP, and epinephrine, as well as collagen; snake venom, and ristocetin, can all be used to induce platelet aggregation using turbido metric or other methods.

Question 20

The diagnosis of diphtheria must be confirmed by:

Answer 20

determining that a culture isolate is a non-toxin-producing stain.

Question 21

An antibody to which platelet antigen is most commonly encounter in blood bank:

Answer 21

HPA-1a

Question 22

This test is suitable for quantifying the size of feto maternal hemorrhage (FMH)?

Answer 22

Kleihauer-Betke test

Question 23

Factors that require vitamin K for their synthesis in the liver:

Answer 23

Factor VII (7)

Question 24

Useful chemical tests for the diagnosis of hairy cells leukemia:

Answer 24

Tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase test (TRAP)

Question 25

Test for C-reactive protein (CRP) are for:

Answer 25

inflammation

Question 26

The anti-phagocytic capsule of Streptococcus pneumoniae is composed of:

Answer 26

Polysaccharides

Question 27

The least immunogenic transplant tissue is:

Answer 27

Corneas

Question 28

This test would be considered a normal part of a routine electrolyte panel:

Answer 28

The electrolyte panel consists of potassium (K+), Sodium (Na+), Chloride (Cl-), and carbon dioxide (in form of bicarbonate HCO3-) These panels are also typically ordered within other panels as well, including the basic metabolic & complete metabolic panels.

Question 29

These results are consistent with primary hypothyroidism (eg. Hashimoto thyroiditis):

Answer 29

Results:
TSH - increased
T4 (free thyroxine) - decreased
Antimicrosomal antibody - positive

Question 30

Hepatitis B, a disease arising from a DNA virus, is diagnosed in its acute phase via serology for HBsAg, HBeAg, IgM alpha-HBC, and total alpha-HBc. Once a patient reaches chronic HBV infection, the effectiveness of therapy may be evaluated using:

Answer 30

HBV DNA testing with Realtime PCR

Question 31

The best indicator of Reye syndrome for CSF (hepatic encephalopathy) is:

Answer 31

Glutamine

Question 32

The bioavailability of an oral drug refers to:

Answer 32

fraction of the drug that is absorbed into systemic circulation.

Question 33

What is the possible ABO genotypes of offspring of parents whose genotype is AO and BO?

Answer 33

OO, AO, BO, AB

Question 34

Modified trichrome stain is the stain of choice for identifying:

Answer 34

intestinal microsporidium spores

Question 35

Modified acid-fast are primarily used in the identification of:

Answer 35

Cryptosporidium oocysts

Question 36

Bacteria are usually identify by using:

Answer 36

Gram Stain

Question 37

Giemsa stain is the stain of choice for the identification of:

Answer 37

Malarial parasites

Question 38

What is the recommended routine testing to be performed on a newborn of a group B Rh-positive female:

Answer 38

ABO/Rh, DAT, and/or antibody screening are NOT routinely performed in this scenario.

Question 39

The term that refers to the process that must be followed when notification is received that a donor of a unit transfused now test positive for infectious disease:

Answer 39

Look-Back

Question 40

The most common reagent source for anti-A:

Answer 40

Dolishos biflorous seed extracts (lectins)