Molecular Diagnostics Practice
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update!!
1. An unlabeled specimen arrives in the laboratory with an accompanying requisition. The
requisition is properly filled out. How should you proceed? - Correct Answer: Do not
proceed with the test and notify the supervisor.
2. A blood sample is received in the laboratory for factor V Leiden analysis. What
precautions are appropriate? - Correct Answer: Standard precautions
3. A blood specimen is received in the laboratory for a PCR assay to detect cytomegalovirus
(a DNA virus) on a Wednesday night. The PCR assay will not be performed until the next
Monday morning. How should this specimen be stored to maintain the integrity of the
nucleic acid prior to analysis? - Correct Answer: Lyse RBCs, centrifuge, and store at -
20o
4. What test method is best for a fixed tissue specimen? - Correct Answer: Standard
PCR
5. An outbreak of Salmonella has occurred in the community. Molecular-based assays will
be performed to determine if multiple isolates of Salmonella taken at hospital X are
related to each other and part of the outbreak. Laboratory technologists have
accumulated 10 different cultures growing Salmonella and suspect that there may be
more isolated in the next few days. How should these organisms be handled until the
, molecular-based assays can be performed in about 3 days? - Correct Answer: Isolate
DNA from all organisms and store at -20oC.
6. A quantitative method was performed 100 times, and results from 99 of the 100 runs
were in agreement with each other. This method has 99% ____________? - Correct
Answer: Precision
7. The ability of a molecular-based assay to detect only the analyte and not other targets is
called what? - Correct Answer: Analytic specificity
8. What organization has established standards used by laboratory professionals when
developing, implementing, and performing molecular-based laboratory tests? -
Correct Answer: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
9. What type of control defines the lower limit of reproducible and accurate detection of a
molecular target? - Correct Answer: Sensitivity
10. What type of control can distinguish between a true negative in a nucleic acid
amplification assay from a false negative in which amplification failed in the specimen? -
Correct Answer: Amplification
11. The temperature in a refrigerator that is used to store patient specimens and reagents
should be checked how often? - Correct Answer: Daily
12. The delivery of accurate voltage and current by an electrophoresis power supply should
be checked how often? - Correct Answer: Yearly
13. What is used to calibrate an instrument that measures analyte in saline? - Correct
Answer: A reference standard diluted in saline
, 14. An unlabeled bottle of clear liquid is found on a shelf. A sign on the shelf says, "Tris-EDTA
Buffer, pH 8.0." What is the proper course of action? - Correct Answer: Dispose of
the liquid
15. What organization provides oversight and governs the use the radioactive materials in
the clinical laboratory? - Correct Answer: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
16. A lavender-top tube labeled "John Smith" is received in the molecular biology laboratory.
The tube is attached to a requisition stamped "John Doe," with today's date, requesting
testing for t(9:22). What is the proper course of action for the technologist who receives
this specimen? - Correct Answer: Notify the laboratory supervisor
17. Whole blood was sent to the laboratory for viral load determination of HIV (an RNA
virus). It was received on a Saturday morning, and the technologist working in the
receiving section of the laboratory put the tube in the refrigerator at 2o-8oC. The
molecular technologist came on Monday morning and collected the specimens that had
been sent to the laboratory over the weekend. What will likely be required on Monday
morning? - Correct Answer: Request for blood redraw
18. A technologist in a tissue bank who performed HLA typing by DNA analysis was asked to
bank all DNA extracted from specimens received in the laboratory so as to maintain the
nucleic acid for the longest period in the most limited space. How should the DNA be
stored to satisfy this request? - Correct Answer: Freeze-dried at 22o-25oC
19. An assay that detects an analyte associated with a particular disease only in patients
who have that disease and not in patients who do not have the disease has what type of
specificity? - Correct Answer: Clinical specificity
20. What is required for incorporating an FDA-approved test into a laboratory? - Correct
Answer: Validate test performance on reference and validation specimens.
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update!!
1. An unlabeled specimen arrives in the laboratory with an accompanying requisition. The
requisition is properly filled out. How should you proceed? - Correct Answer: Do not
proceed with the test and notify the supervisor.
2. A blood sample is received in the laboratory for factor V Leiden analysis. What
precautions are appropriate? - Correct Answer: Standard precautions
3. A blood specimen is received in the laboratory for a PCR assay to detect cytomegalovirus
(a DNA virus) on a Wednesday night. The PCR assay will not be performed until the next
Monday morning. How should this specimen be stored to maintain the integrity of the
nucleic acid prior to analysis? - Correct Answer: Lyse RBCs, centrifuge, and store at -
20o
4. What test method is best for a fixed tissue specimen? - Correct Answer: Standard
PCR
5. An outbreak of Salmonella has occurred in the community. Molecular-based assays will
be performed to determine if multiple isolates of Salmonella taken at hospital X are
related to each other and part of the outbreak. Laboratory technologists have
accumulated 10 different cultures growing Salmonella and suspect that there may be
more isolated in the next few days. How should these organisms be handled until the
, molecular-based assays can be performed in about 3 days? - Correct Answer: Isolate
DNA from all organisms and store at -20oC.
6. A quantitative method was performed 100 times, and results from 99 of the 100 runs
were in agreement with each other. This method has 99% ____________? - Correct
Answer: Precision
7. The ability of a molecular-based assay to detect only the analyte and not other targets is
called what? - Correct Answer: Analytic specificity
8. What organization has established standards used by laboratory professionals when
developing, implementing, and performing molecular-based laboratory tests? -
Correct Answer: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
9. What type of control defines the lower limit of reproducible and accurate detection of a
molecular target? - Correct Answer: Sensitivity
10. What type of control can distinguish between a true negative in a nucleic acid
amplification assay from a false negative in which amplification failed in the specimen? -
Correct Answer: Amplification
11. The temperature in a refrigerator that is used to store patient specimens and reagents
should be checked how often? - Correct Answer: Daily
12. The delivery of accurate voltage and current by an electrophoresis power supply should
be checked how often? - Correct Answer: Yearly
13. What is used to calibrate an instrument that measures analyte in saline? - Correct
Answer: A reference standard diluted in saline
, 14. An unlabeled bottle of clear liquid is found on a shelf. A sign on the shelf says, "Tris-EDTA
Buffer, pH 8.0." What is the proper course of action? - Correct Answer: Dispose of
the liquid
15. What organization provides oversight and governs the use the radioactive materials in
the clinical laboratory? - Correct Answer: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
16. A lavender-top tube labeled "John Smith" is received in the molecular biology laboratory.
The tube is attached to a requisition stamped "John Doe," with today's date, requesting
testing for t(9:22). What is the proper course of action for the technologist who receives
this specimen? - Correct Answer: Notify the laboratory supervisor
17. Whole blood was sent to the laboratory for viral load determination of HIV (an RNA
virus). It was received on a Saturday morning, and the technologist working in the
receiving section of the laboratory put the tube in the refrigerator at 2o-8oC. The
molecular technologist came on Monday morning and collected the specimens that had
been sent to the laboratory over the weekend. What will likely be required on Monday
morning? - Correct Answer: Request for blood redraw
18. A technologist in a tissue bank who performed HLA typing by DNA analysis was asked to
bank all DNA extracted from specimens received in the laboratory so as to maintain the
nucleic acid for the longest period in the most limited space. How should the DNA be
stored to satisfy this request? - Correct Answer: Freeze-dried at 22o-25oC
19. An assay that detects an analyte associated with a particular disease only in patients
who have that disease and not in patients who do not have the disease has what type of
specificity? - Correct Answer: Clinical specificity
20. What is required for incorporating an FDA-approved test into a laboratory? - Correct
Answer: Validate test performance on reference and validation specimens.
