ASCP BOARD OF CERTIFICATION MLT EXAM REVIEW
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025
Nephelometry is based on the principle of: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Turbidity resulting from specific antigen-
coated latex particles agglutinated by corresponding antibody
Which of the following can cause hemolysis and perhaps result in recollection of the specimen? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Pushing the plunger of a syringe when transferring blood into vacuum tubes.
A manual white blood cell count was performed by the hematology technologist. The cell counts for
both sides were 99 and 164, respectively. All nine large squares were counted on each side. The di
lution for this kit was pre-
measured at 1:100. What should the technologist report as the white cell count? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Cannot report
When comparing the white cell counts from one side of the hemacytometer to the other, there is n
ot good duplication. Cell counts from opposite sides of the hemacytometer (within the same patient
sample) that are greater than 10% of one another are considered discrepant and should not be us
ed to calculate reportable results. This particular count should not be used to report patient results.
The RBC inclusions shown in the photograph represent which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Howell-Jolly bodies
Howell-
Jolly bodies are usually single, round, and tend to be positioned at the periphery of the red blood c
ell. These inclusions are rarely found on a routine peripheral blood smear, as they are usually remo
ved by a functioning spleen. Howell-
Jolly bodies appear in megaloblastic anemias and aſter splenectomy.
Which of the following tests would be employed in order to detect neural tube defects? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Alpha fetoprotein
Alpha-
fetoprotein is a protein measured in pregnant women, using maternal blood or amniotic fluid, as a
screening test for a subset developmental abnormalities: it is principally increased in open neural tu
be defects and decreased in Down syndrome.
,A patient has the following serum results:
Na = 130 mEq/LK = 4.9 mEq/LCl = 107 mEq/LGlucose = 300 mg/dLBUN = 18 mg/dLCreatinine = 1.1
mg/dL
Which osmolality result is consistent with these results?. - CORRECT ANSWER -281 mosmol/kg
Osmolality = 2 x Na + [Glucose (mg/dL) / 20] + [BUN (mg/dL)/ 3]
A liquid ion-exchange membrane electrode using the antibiotic valinomycin is MOST selective for: -
CORRECT ANSWER -Potassium
The valinomycin membrane electrode is most selective for potassium as opposed to sodium, glucose
, or chloride which utilize different membranes for their respective electrodes. Valinomycin, which is
neutral in charge, has been incorporated into organic liquid membranes resulting in a sensor with
a very high selectivity for potassium.
What should safety management start with in order to ensure clarity and consistency? -
CORRECT ANSWER -A written safety policy
Which of the following statements about high-frequency antigens is correct? - CORRECT ANSWER -
High-frequency antigens are common, but it is difficult to identify their corresponding antibodies.
An adult's plasma cortisol of 22 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m. and 10 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m. would be: -
CORRECT ANSWER -Found in a healthy individual
Normal levels: 5-23 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m.
3-16 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m.
<50% of 8:00 a.m. values at 8:00 p.m.
A peripheralc smearc demonstratesc ac populationc ofc redc cellsc thatc arec mostlyc 5c -
5.5c µmc inc diameter.c Thec CBCc datac showsc RDWc ofc 13%c (referencec rangec 11.5-
14.5%).c Whichc ofc thec followingc morphologiesc isc consistentc withc thesec findings?c -
CORRECTc ANSWERc -Microcytosis,c lowc variationc ofc cellc volume
,c
Selectc thec primaryc reagentc componentsc usedc inc thec Jaffec reactionc forc creatinine.c -
CORRECTc ANSWERc -Saturatedc picricc acidc andc sodiumc hydroxide
Whichc ofc thec followingc arec markersc currentlyc usedc toc differentiatec heartc failurec fromc lungc disease?c -
CORRECTc ANSWERc -BNPc andc NT-proBNP
Whichc ofc thec followingc isc ac selectivec mediumc forc Campylobacterc jejuni?c -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
Skirrowc agar
Whichc Lewisc antigen(s)c wouldc bec detectedc whenc phenotypingc thec redc cellsc ofc anc adultc whoc hasc th
e
Le,c Se,c andc Hc genes?c -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -Leb
Thec Sec genec codesc forc thec enzyme,c a-2-L-fucosyltransferase,c whichc addsc L-
fucosec toc thec typec 1c precursorc Hc (typec 1).c Thec Lec genec codesc forc anotherc L-
fucosec whichc formsc thec Lebc antigen.
Illustratedc inc thec topc photographc arec acid-fastc bacillic asc theyc mayc appearc inc acid-
fastc stainsc preparedc fromc ac directc mountc ofc infectedc tissue.c Thesec acidc fastc bacillic arec thin,c slightlyc
c
urved,c red-
pigmentedc andc beaded.c Thec acidc fastc bacilli,c asc illustratedc inc thec bottomc photograph,c aggregatec inc s
erpentinec chordsc inc stainedc mountsc preparedc fromc coloniesc growingc onc agar.c Fromc thesec observatio
ns,c selectc thec presumptivec identificationc ofc thisc mycobacterium.c -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
Mycobacteriumc tuberculosis
Thec predominantc cellsc seenc onc thec CSFc smearc inc thisc illustrationc arec indicativec of:c -
CORRECTc ANSWERc -Bacterialc meningitis
Ac newbornc presentsc withc neonatalc alloimmunec thrombocytopenia.c Whatc isc thec mostc likelyc causec of
thisc condition?c -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -Maternalc antibodiesc toc neonatalc plateletc antigens
Ac lipidc panelc consistsc ofc whichc ofc thec followingc tests?c -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
Cholesterol,c Lipoprotein,c HDL,c Triglycerides
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025
Nephelometry is based on the principle of: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Turbidity resulting from specific antigen-
coated latex particles agglutinated by corresponding antibody
Which of the following can cause hemolysis and perhaps result in recollection of the specimen? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Pushing the plunger of a syringe when transferring blood into vacuum tubes.
A manual white blood cell count was performed by the hematology technologist. The cell counts for
both sides were 99 and 164, respectively. All nine large squares were counted on each side. The di
lution for this kit was pre-
measured at 1:100. What should the technologist report as the white cell count? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Cannot report
When comparing the white cell counts from one side of the hemacytometer to the other, there is n
ot good duplication. Cell counts from opposite sides of the hemacytometer (within the same patient
sample) that are greater than 10% of one another are considered discrepant and should not be us
ed to calculate reportable results. This particular count should not be used to report patient results.
The RBC inclusions shown in the photograph represent which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Howell-Jolly bodies
Howell-
Jolly bodies are usually single, round, and tend to be positioned at the periphery of the red blood c
ell. These inclusions are rarely found on a routine peripheral blood smear, as they are usually remo
ved by a functioning spleen. Howell-
Jolly bodies appear in megaloblastic anemias and aſter splenectomy.
Which of the following tests would be employed in order to detect neural tube defects? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Alpha fetoprotein
Alpha-
fetoprotein is a protein measured in pregnant women, using maternal blood or amniotic fluid, as a
screening test for a subset developmental abnormalities: it is principally increased in open neural tu
be defects and decreased in Down syndrome.
,A patient has the following serum results:
Na = 130 mEq/LK = 4.9 mEq/LCl = 107 mEq/LGlucose = 300 mg/dLBUN = 18 mg/dLCreatinine = 1.1
mg/dL
Which osmolality result is consistent with these results?. - CORRECT ANSWER -281 mosmol/kg
Osmolality = 2 x Na + [Glucose (mg/dL) / 20] + [BUN (mg/dL)/ 3]
A liquid ion-exchange membrane electrode using the antibiotic valinomycin is MOST selective for: -
CORRECT ANSWER -Potassium
The valinomycin membrane electrode is most selective for potassium as opposed to sodium, glucose
, or chloride which utilize different membranes for their respective electrodes. Valinomycin, which is
neutral in charge, has been incorporated into organic liquid membranes resulting in a sensor with
a very high selectivity for potassium.
What should safety management start with in order to ensure clarity and consistency? -
CORRECT ANSWER -A written safety policy
Which of the following statements about high-frequency antigens is correct? - CORRECT ANSWER -
High-frequency antigens are common, but it is difficult to identify their corresponding antibodies.
An adult's plasma cortisol of 22 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m. and 10 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m. would be: -
CORRECT ANSWER -Found in a healthy individual
Normal levels: 5-23 µg/dL at 8:00 a.m.
3-16 µg/dL at 4:00 p.m.
<50% of 8:00 a.m. values at 8:00 p.m.
A peripheralc smearc demonstratesc ac populationc ofc redc cellsc thatc arec mostlyc 5c -
5.5c µmc inc diameter.c Thec CBCc datac showsc RDWc ofc 13%c (referencec rangec 11.5-
14.5%).c Whichc ofc thec followingc morphologiesc isc consistentc withc thesec findings?c -
CORRECTc ANSWERc -Microcytosis,c lowc variationc ofc cellc volume
,c
Selectc thec primaryc reagentc componentsc usedc inc thec Jaffec reactionc forc creatinine.c -
CORRECTc ANSWERc -Saturatedc picricc acidc andc sodiumc hydroxide
Whichc ofc thec followingc arec markersc currentlyc usedc toc differentiatec heartc failurec fromc lungc disease?c -
CORRECTc ANSWERc -BNPc andc NT-proBNP
Whichc ofc thec followingc isc ac selectivec mediumc forc Campylobacterc jejuni?c -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
Skirrowc agar
Whichc Lewisc antigen(s)c wouldc bec detectedc whenc phenotypingc thec redc cellsc ofc anc adultc whoc hasc th
e
Le,c Se,c andc Hc genes?c -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -Leb
Thec Sec genec codesc forc thec enzyme,c a-2-L-fucosyltransferase,c whichc addsc L-
fucosec toc thec typec 1c precursorc Hc (typec 1).c Thec Lec genec codesc forc anotherc L-
fucosec whichc formsc thec Lebc antigen.
Illustratedc inc thec topc photographc arec acid-fastc bacillic asc theyc mayc appearc inc acid-
fastc stainsc preparedc fromc ac directc mountc ofc infectedc tissue.c Thesec acidc fastc bacillic arec thin,c slightlyc
c
urved,c red-
pigmentedc andc beaded.c Thec acidc fastc bacilli,c asc illustratedc inc thec bottomc photograph,c aggregatec inc s
erpentinec chordsc inc stainedc mountsc preparedc fromc coloniesc growingc onc agar.c Fromc thesec observatio
ns,c selectc thec presumptivec identificationc ofc thisc mycobacterium.c -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
Mycobacteriumc tuberculosis
Thec predominantc cellsc seenc onc thec CSFc smearc inc thisc illustrationc arec indicativec of:c -
CORRECTc ANSWERc -Bacterialc meningitis
Ac newbornc presentsc withc neonatalc alloimmunec thrombocytopenia.c Whatc isc thec mostc likelyc causec of
thisc condition?c -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -Maternalc antibodiesc toc neonatalc plateletc antigens
Ac lipidc panelc consistsc ofc whichc ofc thec followingc tests?c -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
Cholesterol,c Lipoprotein,c HDL,c Triglycerides
