[HAADMLTechnician] HAAD MLTechnician
DOH Licensureination for Medical
Laboratory Technician Certification Exam
Guide
**Question 1. Which of the following personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory when
performing a gram stain?**
A) Face shield only
B) Lab coat and gloves
C) Surgical mask only
D) No PPE required because the stain is non‑hazardous
Answer: B
Explanation: A lab coat protects skin and clothing from stains, while gloves prevent direct
contact with chemicals and microorganisms.
**Question 2. In a Levey‑Jennings chart, a data point that falls beyond the ±2 SD limit
indicates:**
A) Perfect assay performance
B) Random error only
C) A probable systematic error requiring investigation
D) That the control is out of date
Answer: C
Explanation: Points beyond ±2 SD suggest a shift or trend, prompting a review of reagents,
equipment, or technique.
**Question 3. Which specimen is most likely to be rejected because of hemolysis?**
A) Urine for culture
B) Serum for potassium measurement
C) Whole blood for CBC
, [HAADMLTechnician] HAAD MLTechnician
DOH Licensureination for Medical
Laboratory Technician Certification Exam
Guide
D) CSF for glucose determination
Answer: B
Explanation: Hemolysis releases intracellular potassium, falsely elevating serum potassium
levels; therefore, the specimen is rejected.
**Question 4. The correct calculation for a 1 : 10 dilution of a stock solution to obtain 5 mL of
diluted sample is:**
A) Add 0.5 mL stock to 4.5 mL diluent
B) Add 5 mL stock to 45 mL diluent
C) Add 50 mL stock to 450 mL diluent
D) Add 0.05 mL stock to 4.95 mL diluent
Answer: A
Explanation: A 1 : 10 dilution means 1 part stock + 9 parts diluent; 0.5 mL + 4.5 mL = 5 mL total.
**Question 5. Routine maintenance of an automated chemistry analyzer should include which
of the following?**
A) Replacing the main power cable weekly
B) Calibrating the photometer daily
C) Cleaning the sample probe after each run
D) Removing the instrument from the laboratory environment monthly
Answer: C
Explanation: The sample probe contacts patient specimens and must be cleaned after each run
to prevent cross‑contamination.
, [HAADMLTechnician] HAAD MLTechnician
DOH Licensureination for Medical
Laboratory Technician Certification Exam
Guide
**Question 6. Which of the following electrolytes is measured by an ion‑selective electrode
(ISE) that does not require a separate calibration curve?**
A) Calcium
B) Sodium
C) Magnesium
D) Phosphate
Answer: B
Explanation: Sodium ISEs are typically pre‑calibrated and provide direct readings without a
calibration curve.
**Question 7. A patient’s fasting plasma glucose is 130 mg/dL. According to ADA criteria, this
result indicates:**
A) Normal glucose tolerance
B) Impaired fasting glucose (pre‑diabetes)
C) Diabetes mellitus
D) Laboratory error
Answer: C
Explanation: A fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL meets the diagnostic threshold for diabetes.
**Question 8. Which liver enzyme is most specific for hepatic injury?**
A) Alkaline phosphatase
B) Gamma‑glutamyl transferase (GGT)
C) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
, [HAADMLTechnician] HAAD MLTechnician
DOH Licensureination for Medical
Laboratory Technician Certification Exam
Guide
D) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Answer: D
Explanation: ALT is primarily found in hepatocytes; elevations more accurately reflect hepatic
damage than AST.
**Question 9. Troponin I is preferred over CK‑MB for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction
because:**
A) Troponin I rises earlier than CK‑MB
B) Troponin I has a longer half‑life, allowing detection later
C) Troponin I is not affected by renal failure
D) Troponin I is less expensive to assay
Answer: B
Explanation: Troponin I remains elevated for up to 7–10 days, providing a wider diagnostic
window.
**Question 10. In a thyroid function panel, an elevated TSH with low free T4 indicates:**
A) Primary hyperthyroidism
B) Primary hypothyroidism
C) Secondary hyperthyroidism
D) Euthyroid sick syndrome
Answer: B
Explanation: High TSH reflects pituitary compensation for low thyroid hormone production
(primary hypothyroidism).
DOH Licensureination for Medical
Laboratory Technician Certification Exam
Guide
**Question 1. Which of the following personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory when
performing a gram stain?**
A) Face shield only
B) Lab coat and gloves
C) Surgical mask only
D) No PPE required because the stain is non‑hazardous
Answer: B
Explanation: A lab coat protects skin and clothing from stains, while gloves prevent direct
contact with chemicals and microorganisms.
**Question 2. In a Levey‑Jennings chart, a data point that falls beyond the ±2 SD limit
indicates:**
A) Perfect assay performance
B) Random error only
C) A probable systematic error requiring investigation
D) That the control is out of date
Answer: C
Explanation: Points beyond ±2 SD suggest a shift or trend, prompting a review of reagents,
equipment, or technique.
**Question 3. Which specimen is most likely to be rejected because of hemolysis?**
A) Urine for culture
B) Serum for potassium measurement
C) Whole blood for CBC
, [HAADMLTechnician] HAAD MLTechnician
DOH Licensureination for Medical
Laboratory Technician Certification Exam
Guide
D) CSF for glucose determination
Answer: B
Explanation: Hemolysis releases intracellular potassium, falsely elevating serum potassium
levels; therefore, the specimen is rejected.
**Question 4. The correct calculation for a 1 : 10 dilution of a stock solution to obtain 5 mL of
diluted sample is:**
A) Add 0.5 mL stock to 4.5 mL diluent
B) Add 5 mL stock to 45 mL diluent
C) Add 50 mL stock to 450 mL diluent
D) Add 0.05 mL stock to 4.95 mL diluent
Answer: A
Explanation: A 1 : 10 dilution means 1 part stock + 9 parts diluent; 0.5 mL + 4.5 mL = 5 mL total.
**Question 5. Routine maintenance of an automated chemistry analyzer should include which
of the following?**
A) Replacing the main power cable weekly
B) Calibrating the photometer daily
C) Cleaning the sample probe after each run
D) Removing the instrument from the laboratory environment monthly
Answer: C
Explanation: The sample probe contacts patient specimens and must be cleaned after each run
to prevent cross‑contamination.
, [HAADMLTechnician] HAAD MLTechnician
DOH Licensureination for Medical
Laboratory Technician Certification Exam
Guide
**Question 6. Which of the following electrolytes is measured by an ion‑selective electrode
(ISE) that does not require a separate calibration curve?**
A) Calcium
B) Sodium
C) Magnesium
D) Phosphate
Answer: B
Explanation: Sodium ISEs are typically pre‑calibrated and provide direct readings without a
calibration curve.
**Question 7. A patient’s fasting plasma glucose is 130 mg/dL. According to ADA criteria, this
result indicates:**
A) Normal glucose tolerance
B) Impaired fasting glucose (pre‑diabetes)
C) Diabetes mellitus
D) Laboratory error
Answer: C
Explanation: A fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL meets the diagnostic threshold for diabetes.
**Question 8. Which liver enzyme is most specific for hepatic injury?**
A) Alkaline phosphatase
B) Gamma‑glutamyl transferase (GGT)
C) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
, [HAADMLTechnician] HAAD MLTechnician
DOH Licensureination for Medical
Laboratory Technician Certification Exam
Guide
D) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Answer: D
Explanation: ALT is primarily found in hepatocytes; elevations more accurately reflect hepatic
damage than AST.
**Question 9. Troponin I is preferred over CK‑MB for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction
because:**
A) Troponin I rises earlier than CK‑MB
B) Troponin I has a longer half‑life, allowing detection later
C) Troponin I is not affected by renal failure
D) Troponin I is less expensive to assay
Answer: B
Explanation: Troponin I remains elevated for up to 7–10 days, providing a wider diagnostic
window.
**Question 10. In a thyroid function panel, an elevated TSH with low free T4 indicates:**
A) Primary hyperthyroidism
B) Primary hypothyroidism
C) Secondary hyperthyroidism
D) Euthyroid sick syndrome
Answer: B
Explanation: High TSH reflects pituitary compensation for low thyroid hormone production
(primary hypothyroidism).
