ASCP CHEMISTRY SECTION
CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
◉ Which of the following organisms is BEST VISUALIZED by use of a
darkfield microscope?
A: Poxviridae
B: Entamoeba
C: Borrelia
D: Streptococcus
**This is a Level 5 Question** Answer: C
◉ What is the MOST LIKELY cause of the ABO discrepancy when the
following results were obtained from a first-time 29-year-old, blood
donor?
Forward: Anti-A = Negative; Anti-B = Negative
Reverse: A1 cells = Negative; B cells = 3+
A: Loss of antigen due to disease
B: Acquired B
,C: Low immunoglobulin levels
D: Weak subgroup of A
**This is a Level 4 Question** Answer: D
◉ An aerobic Gram-Negative coccobacillus was isolated from a
nasopharyngeal swab 48 hours after culture from a 6-month-old with
the following culture characteristics on Bordet-Gengou agar:
Small zone of Beta-hemolysis
Urease: Positive (24hrs)
Oxidase: Negative
Motility: Negative
The MOST probable ID of this isolate is:
A: Pasteurella multocida
B: Bordetella pertussis
C: Bordetella parapertussis
D: Bordetella bronchiseptica
**This is a Level 8 Question** Answer: C
,◉ Disorders in which coarse basophilic stippling can be seen are in all of
the following except?
A: Polycythemia
B: Thalassemia
C: Disorders of abnormal heme synthesis
D: Lead poisoning
**This is a Level 5 Question** Answer: A
◉ Which of the following statements concerning Tamm-Horsfall
protein is FALSE?
A: It is the protein that is predominantly detected by a urine reagent
strip test
B: Hyaline casts are formed by this protein in the distal tubule
C: It acts as a coating & lubricant in the tubules
D: It is produced by the tubules
**This is a Level 4 Question** Answer: A
◉ All the following are reasons for conducting compatibility testing
EXCEPT:
, A: Prevent recipient alloimmunization
B: Verify ABO & Rh
C: Select proper blood products
D: Detect antibodies against donor cells
**This is a Level 6 Question** Answer: A
◉ The historical medium of choice for isolation of Francisella is:
A: Chocolate agar
B: Cysteine blood glucose agar
C: Modified Thayer-Martin agar
D: MacConkey agar
**This is a Level 4 Question** Answer: B
◉ To screen for UTIs, leukocyte esterase results should be evaluated
along with the results from which of these other reagent strip tests?
A: Urobilinogen
B: Bilirubin
CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
◉ Which of the following organisms is BEST VISUALIZED by use of a
darkfield microscope?
A: Poxviridae
B: Entamoeba
C: Borrelia
D: Streptococcus
**This is a Level 5 Question** Answer: C
◉ What is the MOST LIKELY cause of the ABO discrepancy when the
following results were obtained from a first-time 29-year-old, blood
donor?
Forward: Anti-A = Negative; Anti-B = Negative
Reverse: A1 cells = Negative; B cells = 3+
A: Loss of antigen due to disease
B: Acquired B
,C: Low immunoglobulin levels
D: Weak subgroup of A
**This is a Level 4 Question** Answer: D
◉ An aerobic Gram-Negative coccobacillus was isolated from a
nasopharyngeal swab 48 hours after culture from a 6-month-old with
the following culture characteristics on Bordet-Gengou agar:
Small zone of Beta-hemolysis
Urease: Positive (24hrs)
Oxidase: Negative
Motility: Negative
The MOST probable ID of this isolate is:
A: Pasteurella multocida
B: Bordetella pertussis
C: Bordetella parapertussis
D: Bordetella bronchiseptica
**This is a Level 8 Question** Answer: C
,◉ Disorders in which coarse basophilic stippling can be seen are in all of
the following except?
A: Polycythemia
B: Thalassemia
C: Disorders of abnormal heme synthesis
D: Lead poisoning
**This is a Level 5 Question** Answer: A
◉ Which of the following statements concerning Tamm-Horsfall
protein is FALSE?
A: It is the protein that is predominantly detected by a urine reagent
strip test
B: Hyaline casts are formed by this protein in the distal tubule
C: It acts as a coating & lubricant in the tubules
D: It is produced by the tubules
**This is a Level 4 Question** Answer: A
◉ All the following are reasons for conducting compatibility testing
EXCEPT:
, A: Prevent recipient alloimmunization
B: Verify ABO & Rh
C: Select proper blood products
D: Detect antibodies against donor cells
**This is a Level 6 Question** Answer: A
◉ The historical medium of choice for isolation of Francisella is:
A: Chocolate agar
B: Cysteine blood glucose agar
C: Modified Thayer-Martin agar
D: MacConkey agar
**This is a Level 4 Question** Answer: B
◉ To screen for UTIs, leukocyte esterase results should be evaluated
along with the results from which of these other reagent strip tests?
A: Urobilinogen
B: Bilirubin
