BOC HEMATOLOGY ACTUAL EXIT EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A 2026
1) The light-coloured zone adjacent to the nucleus in a plasmacyte is the:
a. ribosome
b. chromatin
c. mitochondria
d. Golgi area -ANSWER-d (Morphological identifiable perinuclear halo.)
3) The majority of the iron in an adult is found as a constituent of:
a. haemoglobin
b. hemosiderin
c. myoglobin
d. transferrin -ANSWER-a (2/3 iron in body bound to Hgb.)
4) The main function of the hexose monophosphate shunt in the erythrocyte is to:
a. regulate the level of 2,3-DPG
b. provide reduced glutathione to prevent oxidation of haemoglobin
c. prevent the reduction of heme iron
d. provide energy for membrane maintenance -ANSWER-b (Maintains in Fe++ form by way
of reduced glutathione.)
10) In order for haemoglobin to combine reversibly with oxygen, the iron must be:
a. complexed with haptoglobin
b. freely circulating in the cytoplasm
c. attached to transferrin
d. in the ferrous state -ANSWER-d (Functional form of Fe [reduced].)
,11) In which of the following disease states are teardrop cells and abnormal platelets most
characteristically seen?
a. haemolytic anaemia
b. multiple myeloma
c. G-6-PD deficiency
d. myeloid metaplasia -ANSWER-d (RBC morphology; disease state identification.)
13) In the normal adult, the spleen acts as a site for:
a. storage of RBCs
b. production of RBCs
c. synthesis of erythropoietin
d. removal of imperfect and aging cells -ANSWER-d (Major site of destruction of senescent
red blood cells.)
14) After the removal of RBCs from the circulation haemoglobin is broken down into:
a. iron, prophyrin, amino acids
b. iron, protoporphyrin, globin
c. heme, protoporphyrin, amino acids
d. heme, hemosiderin, globin -ANSWER-b (Normal degradation products of red blood cells.)
15) Heinz bodies are:
a. readily identified with polychrome stains
b. rarely found in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient erythrocytes
c. closely associated with spherocytes
d. denatured haemoglobin inclusion that are readily removed by the spleen -ANSWER-d
(Formed with oxidization of Fe and formation of methaemoglobin.)
17) Cells for the transport of O2 and CO2 are:
a. erythrocytes
,b. granulocytes
c. lymphocytes
d. thrombocytes -ANSWER-a (Primary functions of red blood cells.)
18) Erythropoietin acts as:
a. shorten the replication time of the granulocytes
b. stimulate RNA synthesis of erythroid cells
c. increase colony-stimulating factors produced by the B-lymphs
d. decrease the release of marrow reticulocytes -ANSWER-b (Erythropoietin action.)
19) What cell shape is most commonly associated with an increased MCHC?
a. teardrop cells
b. target cells
c. spherocytes
d. sickle cells -ANSWER-c (May be referred to as hyperchromic because of decreased MCHC.)
27) Which of the following characteristics are common to hereditary spherocytosis,
hereditary elliptocytosis, hereditary stomatocytosis, and paroxysmal nocturnal
haemoglobinuria?
a. autosomal dominant inheritance
b. red cell membrane defect
c. positive DAT
d. measured platelet count -ANSWER-b (RBC membrane defects are common to PNH, HS,
and HE.)
30) Which of the following is most closely associated with iron deficiency anaemia?
a. iron overload in tissue
b. target cells
c. basophilic stippling
, d. chronic blood loss -ANSWER-d (Chronic blood loss frequently results in iron deficiency
anaemia.)
32) Evidence indicates that the genetic defect in thalassemia usually results in:
a. the production of abnormal globin chains
b. a quantitative deficiency in RNA resulting in decreased globin chain production
c. a structural change in the heme portion of the haemoglobin
d. an abnormality in the alpha- or beta- chain binding or affinity -ANSWER-b (Mechanism of
genetic abnormality in thalassemia reduces globin chain production.)
36) An enzyme deficiency associated with a moderate to severe hemolytic anaemia after the
patient is exposed to certain drugs and characterized by red cell inclusions formed by
denatured haemoglobin is:
a. LD deficiency
b. G-6-PD deficiency
c. pyruvate kinase deficiency
d. hexokinase deficiency -ANSWER-b (G-6-PD deficiency.)
37) Patients with A(-) type G-6-PD deficiency are least likely to have hemolytic episodes in
which of the following situations?
a. following the administration of oxidizing drugs
b. following the ingestion of fava beans
c. during infections
d. spontaneously -ANSWER-d (G-6-PD deficiency-hemolytic stimulus.)
38) A patient has a congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anaemia. After exposure to anti-
malarial drugs the patient experiences a severe hemolytic episode. This episode is
characterized by red cell inclusions caused by haemoglobin denaturation. Which of the
following conditions is consistent with these findings?
a. G-6-PD deficiency
ANSWERS GRADED A 2026
1) The light-coloured zone adjacent to the nucleus in a plasmacyte is the:
a. ribosome
b. chromatin
c. mitochondria
d. Golgi area -ANSWER-d (Morphological identifiable perinuclear halo.)
3) The majority of the iron in an adult is found as a constituent of:
a. haemoglobin
b. hemosiderin
c. myoglobin
d. transferrin -ANSWER-a (2/3 iron in body bound to Hgb.)
4) The main function of the hexose monophosphate shunt in the erythrocyte is to:
a. regulate the level of 2,3-DPG
b. provide reduced glutathione to prevent oxidation of haemoglobin
c. prevent the reduction of heme iron
d. provide energy for membrane maintenance -ANSWER-b (Maintains in Fe++ form by way
of reduced glutathione.)
10) In order for haemoglobin to combine reversibly with oxygen, the iron must be:
a. complexed with haptoglobin
b. freely circulating in the cytoplasm
c. attached to transferrin
d. in the ferrous state -ANSWER-d (Functional form of Fe [reduced].)
,11) In which of the following disease states are teardrop cells and abnormal platelets most
characteristically seen?
a. haemolytic anaemia
b. multiple myeloma
c. G-6-PD deficiency
d. myeloid metaplasia -ANSWER-d (RBC morphology; disease state identification.)
13) In the normal adult, the spleen acts as a site for:
a. storage of RBCs
b. production of RBCs
c. synthesis of erythropoietin
d. removal of imperfect and aging cells -ANSWER-d (Major site of destruction of senescent
red blood cells.)
14) After the removal of RBCs from the circulation haemoglobin is broken down into:
a. iron, prophyrin, amino acids
b. iron, protoporphyrin, globin
c. heme, protoporphyrin, amino acids
d. heme, hemosiderin, globin -ANSWER-b (Normal degradation products of red blood cells.)
15) Heinz bodies are:
a. readily identified with polychrome stains
b. rarely found in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient erythrocytes
c. closely associated with spherocytes
d. denatured haemoglobin inclusion that are readily removed by the spleen -ANSWER-d
(Formed with oxidization of Fe and formation of methaemoglobin.)
17) Cells for the transport of O2 and CO2 are:
a. erythrocytes
,b. granulocytes
c. lymphocytes
d. thrombocytes -ANSWER-a (Primary functions of red blood cells.)
18) Erythropoietin acts as:
a. shorten the replication time of the granulocytes
b. stimulate RNA synthesis of erythroid cells
c. increase colony-stimulating factors produced by the B-lymphs
d. decrease the release of marrow reticulocytes -ANSWER-b (Erythropoietin action.)
19) What cell shape is most commonly associated with an increased MCHC?
a. teardrop cells
b. target cells
c. spherocytes
d. sickle cells -ANSWER-c (May be referred to as hyperchromic because of decreased MCHC.)
27) Which of the following characteristics are common to hereditary spherocytosis,
hereditary elliptocytosis, hereditary stomatocytosis, and paroxysmal nocturnal
haemoglobinuria?
a. autosomal dominant inheritance
b. red cell membrane defect
c. positive DAT
d. measured platelet count -ANSWER-b (RBC membrane defects are common to PNH, HS,
and HE.)
30) Which of the following is most closely associated with iron deficiency anaemia?
a. iron overload in tissue
b. target cells
c. basophilic stippling
, d. chronic blood loss -ANSWER-d (Chronic blood loss frequently results in iron deficiency
anaemia.)
32) Evidence indicates that the genetic defect in thalassemia usually results in:
a. the production of abnormal globin chains
b. a quantitative deficiency in RNA resulting in decreased globin chain production
c. a structural change in the heme portion of the haemoglobin
d. an abnormality in the alpha- or beta- chain binding or affinity -ANSWER-b (Mechanism of
genetic abnormality in thalassemia reduces globin chain production.)
36) An enzyme deficiency associated with a moderate to severe hemolytic anaemia after the
patient is exposed to certain drugs and characterized by red cell inclusions formed by
denatured haemoglobin is:
a. LD deficiency
b. G-6-PD deficiency
c. pyruvate kinase deficiency
d. hexokinase deficiency -ANSWER-b (G-6-PD deficiency.)
37) Patients with A(-) type G-6-PD deficiency are least likely to have hemolytic episodes in
which of the following situations?
a. following the administration of oxidizing drugs
b. following the ingestion of fava beans
c. during infections
d. spontaneously -ANSWER-d (G-6-PD deficiency-hemolytic stimulus.)
38) A patient has a congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anaemia. After exposure to anti-
malarial drugs the patient experiences a severe hemolytic episode. This episode is
characterized by red cell inclusions caused by haemoglobin denaturation. Which of the
following conditions is consistent with these findings?
a. G-6-PD deficiency
