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 peripheralv smearv demonstratesv av populationv ofv redv cellsv thatv arev mostlyv 5v -
5.5v µmv inv diameter.v Thev CBCv datav showsv RDWv ofv 13%v (referencev rangev 11.5-
14.5%).v Whichv ofv thev followingv morphologiesv isv consistentv withv thesev findings?v
-
CORRECTv ANSWERv -Microcytosis,v lowv variationv ofv cellv volume
,v
Selectv thev primaryv reagentv componentsv usedv inv thev Jaffev reactionv forv creatinine.v
-
CORRECTv ANSWERv -Saturatedv picricv acidv andv sodiumv hydroxide
Whichv ofv thev followingv arev markersv currentlyv usedv tov differentiatev heartv failurev fromv lungv disease?
v-
CORRECTv ANSWERv -BNPv andv NT-proBNP
Whichv ofv thev followingv isv av selectivev mediumv forv Campylobacterv jejuni?v -
v CORRECTv ANSWERv -
Skirrowv agar
Whichv Lewisv antigen(s)v wouldv bev detectedv whenv phenotypingv thev redv cellsv ofv anv adultv whov hasv t
he
Le,v Se,v andv Hv genes?v -v CORRECTv ANSWERv -Leb
Thev Sev genev codesv forv thev enzyme,v a-2-L-fucosyltransferase,v whichv addsv L-
fucosev tov thev typev 1v precursorv Hv (typev 1).v Thev Lev genev codesv forv anotherv
L-
fucosev whichv formsv thev Lebv antigen.
Illustratedv inv thev topv photographv arev acid-fastv bacilliv asv theyv mayv appearv inv acid-
fastv stainsv preparedv fromv av directv mountv ofv infectedv tissue.v Thesev acidv fastv bacilliv arev thin,v slightly
vc
urved,v red-
pigmentedv andv beaded.v Thev acidv fastv bacilli,v asv illustratedv inv thev bottomv photograph,v aggregatev in
vs
erpentinev chordsv inv stainedv mountsv preparedv fromv coloniesv growingv onv agar.v Fromv thesev observati
o
ns,v selectv thev presumptivev identificationv ofv thisv mycobacterium.v -v CORRECTv ANSWERv -
Mycobacterium
Thev predominant v tuberculosis
v cellsv seenv onv thev CSFv smearv inv thisv illustrationv arev indicativev of:
v-
CORRECTv ANSWERv -Bacterialv meningitis
Av newbornv presentsv withv neonatalv alloimmunev thrombocytopenia.v Whatv isv thev mostv likelyv causev
of
thisv condition?v -v CORRECTv ANSWERv -Maternalv antibodiesv tov neonatalv plateletv antigens
Av lipidv panelv consistsv ofv whichv ofv thev followingv tests?v -
v CORRECTv ANSWERv -
Cholesterol,v Lipoprotein,v HDL,v 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 peripheralv smearv demonstratesv av populationv ofv redv cellsv thatv arev mostlyv 5v -
5.5v µmv inv diameter.v Thev CBCv datav showsv RDWv ofv 13%v (referencev rangev 11.5-
14.5%).v Whichv ofv thev followingv morphologiesv isv consistentv withv thesev findings?v
-
CORRECTv ANSWERv -Microcytosis,v lowv variationv ofv cellv volume
,v
Selectv thev primaryv reagentv componentsv usedv inv thev Jaffev reactionv forv creatinine.v
-
CORRECTv ANSWERv -Saturatedv picricv acidv andv sodiumv hydroxide
Whichv ofv thev followingv arev markersv currentlyv usedv tov differentiatev heartv failurev fromv lungv disease?
v-
CORRECTv ANSWERv -BNPv andv NT-proBNP
Whichv ofv thev followingv isv av selectivev mediumv forv Campylobacterv jejuni?v -
v CORRECTv ANSWERv -
Skirrowv agar
Whichv Lewisv antigen(s)v wouldv bev detectedv whenv phenotypingv thev redv cellsv ofv anv adultv whov hasv t
he
Le,v Se,v andv Hv genes?v -v CORRECTv ANSWERv -Leb
Thev Sev genev codesv forv thev enzyme,v a-2-L-fucosyltransferase,v whichv addsv L-
fucosev tov thev typev 1v precursorv Hv (typev 1).v Thev Lev genev codesv forv anotherv
L-
fucosev whichv formsv thev Lebv antigen.
Illustratedv inv thev topv photographv arev acid-fastv bacilliv asv theyv mayv appearv inv acid-
fastv stainsv preparedv fromv av directv mountv ofv infectedv tissue.v Thesev acidv fastv bacilliv arev thin,v slightly
vc
urved,v red-
pigmentedv andv beaded.v Thev acidv fastv bacilli,v asv illustratedv inv thev bottomv photograph,v aggregatev in
vs
erpentinev chordsv inv stainedv mountsv preparedv fromv coloniesv growingv onv agar.v Fromv thesev observati
o
ns,v selectv thev presumptivev identificationv ofv thisv mycobacterium.v -v CORRECTv ANSWERv -
Mycobacterium
Thev predominant v tuberculosis
v cellsv seenv onv thev CSFv smearv inv thisv illustrationv arev indicativev of:
v-
CORRECTv ANSWERv -Bacterialv meningitis
Av newbornv presentsv withv neonatalv alloimmunev thrombocytopenia.v Whatv isv thev mostv likelyv causev
of
thisv condition?v -v CORRECTv ANSWERv -Maternalv antibodiesv tov neonatalv plateletv antigens
Av lipidv panelv consistsv ofv whichv ofv thev followingv tests?v -
v CORRECTv ANSWERv -
Cholesterol,v Lipoprotein,v HDL,v Triglycerides
