ASCP BOC UPDATED EXAMS COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔11) Pregnant women with symptoms of thirst, frequent urination or unexplained weight
loos should have which of the following tests performed?
a. tolbutamide test
b. lactose tolerance test
c. epinephrine tolerance test
d. glucose tolerance test - ✔✔d (Gestational diabetes.)
✔✔12) In the fasting state, the arterial and capillary blood glucose concentration varies
from the venous glucose concentration by approximately how many mg/dL (mmol/L)
a. 1 mg/dL (0.05 mmol/L)
b. 5 mg/dL (0.27 mmol/L)
c. 10 mg/dL (0.55 mmol/L)
d. 15 mg/dL (0.82 mmol/L) - ✔✔b (Arterial vs venous glucose values.)
✔✔13) The conversion of glucose or other hexoses into lactate or pyruvate is called:
a. glycogenesis
b. glycogenolysis
c. gluconeogenesis
d. glycolysis - ✔✔d (Definition of glycolysis)
,✔✔14) Which of the following values obtained during a glucose tolerance test are
diagnostic of diabetes mellitus?
a. 2 hr. specimen = 150 mg/dL (8.3 mmol/L)
b. fasting plasma glucose = 126 mg/dL (6.9 mmol/L)
c. fasting plasma glucose = 110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L)
d. 2 hr. specimen = 180 mg/dL (9.9 mmol/L) - ✔✔b (Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus)
✔✔15) The glycated hemoglobin value represents the integrated values of glucose
concentration during the preceding:
a. 1-3 weeks
b. 4-5 weeks
c. 6-8 weeks
d. 16-20 weeks - ✔✔c (Definition of glycated hemoglobin.)
✔✔16) Monitoring long term glucose control in patients with adult onset diabetes
mellitus can best be accomplished by measuring:
a. weekly fasting 7 am serum glucose
b. glucose tolerance testing
c. 2 hr. postprandial serum glucose
d. hemoglobin A1c - ✔✔d (Average glucose over time is best predictor.)
✔✔18) Total glycosylated hemoglobin levels in a hemolysate reflect the:
a. average blood glucose levels of the past 2-3 months
b. average blood glucose levels for the past week
c. blood glucose level at the time the sample is drawn
d. hemoglobin A1c level at the time the sample is drawn - ✔✔a (Interpretation of
glycated hemoglobin.)
✔✔19) Which of the following hemoglobins has glucose-6-phosphate on the amino-
terminal valine of the beta chain?
a. S
b. C
c. A2
d. A1c - ✔✔d (Hgb A1C structure.)
✔✔20) A patient with hemolytic anemia will:
a. show a decrease in glycated Hgb value
b. show a increase in glycated Hgb value
c. show little or no change in glycated Hgb value
d. demonstrate an elevated Hgb A1 - ✔✔a (Glycated hemoglobin directly related to life
of RBC.)
✔✔21) In using ion-exchange chromatographic methods, falsely increased levels of
Hgb A1c might be demonstrated in the presence of:
,a. iron deficiency anemia
b. pernicious anemia
c. thalassemias
d. Hgb S - ✔✔d (Interference HgbA1C.)
✔✔22) An increase in serum acetone is indicative of a defect in the metabolism of:
a. carbohydrates
b. fats
c. urea nitrogen
d. uric acid - ✔✔a (Acetone in carbohydrate metabolism.)
✔✔23) An infant with diarrhea is being evaluated for a carbohydrate intolerance. His
stool yields a positive copper reduction test and a pH of 5.0. It should be concluded that:
a. further tests are indicated
b. results are inconsistent-repeat both tests
c. the diarrhea is not due to carbohydrate intolerance
d. the tests provided no useful information - ✔✔a (Copper reduction reaction detects
many reducing substances.)
✔✔24) Blood samples were collected at the beginning of an exercise class and after
thirty mins. of aerobic activity. Which of the following would be most consistent with the
post exercise sample?
a. normal lactic acid, low pyruvate
b. low lactic acid, elevated pyruvate
c. elevated lactic acid, low pyruvate
d. elevate lactic acid, elevated pyruvate - ✔✔d (Products of glycolysis.)
✔✔25) What is the best method to diagnose lactase deficiency?
a. H2 breath test
b. plasma aldolase level
c. LDH level
d. d-xylose test - ✔✔a (Diagnosis of lactase deficiency.)
✔✔26) The expected blood gas results for a patient in chronic renal failure would match
the pattern of:
a. metabolic acidosis
b. respiratory acidosis
c. metabolic alkalosis
d. respiratory alkalosis - ✔✔a (Reduced excretion of acids.)
✔✔27) Severe diarrhea causes:
a. metabolic acidosis
b. metabolic alkalosis
c. respiratory acidosis
, d. respiratory alkalosis - ✔✔a (Excessive loss of bicarbonate.)
✔✔29) Factors that contribute to a PCO2 electrode requiring 60-120 seconds to reach
equilibrium include the:
a. diffusion characteristics of the membrane
b. actual blood PO2
c. type of calibrating standard
d. potential of the polarizing mercury cell - ✔✔a (Blood gas instrumentation.)
✔✔30) An emphysema patient suffering from fluid accumulation in the alveolar spaces
is likely to be in what metabolic state?
a. respiratory acidosis
b. respiratory alkalosis
c. metabolic acidosis
d. metabolic alkalosis - ✔✔a (Diseases causing respiratory acidosis.)
✔✔31) At blood pH 7.40, what is the ratio of bicarbonate to carbonic acid?
a. 15:1
b. 20:1
c. 25:1
d. 30:1 - ✔✔b (Normal ratio bicarbonate/carbonic acid.)
✔✔32) The reference range for the pH of arterial blood measured at 37C is:
a. 7.28-7.34
b. 7.33-7.37
c. 7.35-7.45
d. 7.45-7.50 - ✔✔c (Arterial pH reference range.)
✔✔33) A 68 yr. old man arrives in the emergency room with a glucose level of 722
mg/dL (39.7 mmol/L) and serum acetone of 4+ undiluted. An arterial blood gas from this
patient is likely to be:
a. low pH
b. high pH
c. low PO2
d. high PO2 - ✔✔a (Interpretation of metabolic acidosis.)
✔✔34) A patient is admitted to the emergency room in a state of metabolic alkalosis.
Which of the following would be consistent with this diagnosis?
a. high PCO2, increased HCO3
b. low PCO2, increased HCO3
c. high PCO2, decreased HCO3
d. low PCO2, decreased HCO3 - ✔✔a (HCO3 and TCO2 in metabolic alkalosis.)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔11) Pregnant women with symptoms of thirst, frequent urination or unexplained weight
loos should have which of the following tests performed?
a. tolbutamide test
b. lactose tolerance test
c. epinephrine tolerance test
d. glucose tolerance test - ✔✔d (Gestational diabetes.)
✔✔12) In the fasting state, the arterial and capillary blood glucose concentration varies
from the venous glucose concentration by approximately how many mg/dL (mmol/L)
a. 1 mg/dL (0.05 mmol/L)
b. 5 mg/dL (0.27 mmol/L)
c. 10 mg/dL (0.55 mmol/L)
d. 15 mg/dL (0.82 mmol/L) - ✔✔b (Arterial vs venous glucose values.)
✔✔13) The conversion of glucose or other hexoses into lactate or pyruvate is called:
a. glycogenesis
b. glycogenolysis
c. gluconeogenesis
d. glycolysis - ✔✔d (Definition of glycolysis)
,✔✔14) Which of the following values obtained during a glucose tolerance test are
diagnostic of diabetes mellitus?
a. 2 hr. specimen = 150 mg/dL (8.3 mmol/L)
b. fasting plasma glucose = 126 mg/dL (6.9 mmol/L)
c. fasting plasma glucose = 110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L)
d. 2 hr. specimen = 180 mg/dL (9.9 mmol/L) - ✔✔b (Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus)
✔✔15) The glycated hemoglobin value represents the integrated values of glucose
concentration during the preceding:
a. 1-3 weeks
b. 4-5 weeks
c. 6-8 weeks
d. 16-20 weeks - ✔✔c (Definition of glycated hemoglobin.)
✔✔16) Monitoring long term glucose control in patients with adult onset diabetes
mellitus can best be accomplished by measuring:
a. weekly fasting 7 am serum glucose
b. glucose tolerance testing
c. 2 hr. postprandial serum glucose
d. hemoglobin A1c - ✔✔d (Average glucose over time is best predictor.)
✔✔18) Total glycosylated hemoglobin levels in a hemolysate reflect the:
a. average blood glucose levels of the past 2-3 months
b. average blood glucose levels for the past week
c. blood glucose level at the time the sample is drawn
d. hemoglobin A1c level at the time the sample is drawn - ✔✔a (Interpretation of
glycated hemoglobin.)
✔✔19) Which of the following hemoglobins has glucose-6-phosphate on the amino-
terminal valine of the beta chain?
a. S
b. C
c. A2
d. A1c - ✔✔d (Hgb A1C structure.)
✔✔20) A patient with hemolytic anemia will:
a. show a decrease in glycated Hgb value
b. show a increase in glycated Hgb value
c. show little or no change in glycated Hgb value
d. demonstrate an elevated Hgb A1 - ✔✔a (Glycated hemoglobin directly related to life
of RBC.)
✔✔21) In using ion-exchange chromatographic methods, falsely increased levels of
Hgb A1c might be demonstrated in the presence of:
,a. iron deficiency anemia
b. pernicious anemia
c. thalassemias
d. Hgb S - ✔✔d (Interference HgbA1C.)
✔✔22) An increase in serum acetone is indicative of a defect in the metabolism of:
a. carbohydrates
b. fats
c. urea nitrogen
d. uric acid - ✔✔a (Acetone in carbohydrate metabolism.)
✔✔23) An infant with diarrhea is being evaluated for a carbohydrate intolerance. His
stool yields a positive copper reduction test and a pH of 5.0. It should be concluded that:
a. further tests are indicated
b. results are inconsistent-repeat both tests
c. the diarrhea is not due to carbohydrate intolerance
d. the tests provided no useful information - ✔✔a (Copper reduction reaction detects
many reducing substances.)
✔✔24) Blood samples were collected at the beginning of an exercise class and after
thirty mins. of aerobic activity. Which of the following would be most consistent with the
post exercise sample?
a. normal lactic acid, low pyruvate
b. low lactic acid, elevated pyruvate
c. elevated lactic acid, low pyruvate
d. elevate lactic acid, elevated pyruvate - ✔✔d (Products of glycolysis.)
✔✔25) What is the best method to diagnose lactase deficiency?
a. H2 breath test
b. plasma aldolase level
c. LDH level
d. d-xylose test - ✔✔a (Diagnosis of lactase deficiency.)
✔✔26) The expected blood gas results for a patient in chronic renal failure would match
the pattern of:
a. metabolic acidosis
b. respiratory acidosis
c. metabolic alkalosis
d. respiratory alkalosis - ✔✔a (Reduced excretion of acids.)
✔✔27) Severe diarrhea causes:
a. metabolic acidosis
b. metabolic alkalosis
c. respiratory acidosis
, d. respiratory alkalosis - ✔✔a (Excessive loss of bicarbonate.)
✔✔29) Factors that contribute to a PCO2 electrode requiring 60-120 seconds to reach
equilibrium include the:
a. diffusion characteristics of the membrane
b. actual blood PO2
c. type of calibrating standard
d. potential of the polarizing mercury cell - ✔✔a (Blood gas instrumentation.)
✔✔30) An emphysema patient suffering from fluid accumulation in the alveolar spaces
is likely to be in what metabolic state?
a. respiratory acidosis
b. respiratory alkalosis
c. metabolic acidosis
d. metabolic alkalosis - ✔✔a (Diseases causing respiratory acidosis.)
✔✔31) At blood pH 7.40, what is the ratio of bicarbonate to carbonic acid?
a. 15:1
b. 20:1
c. 25:1
d. 30:1 - ✔✔b (Normal ratio bicarbonate/carbonic acid.)
✔✔32) The reference range for the pH of arterial blood measured at 37C is:
a. 7.28-7.34
b. 7.33-7.37
c. 7.35-7.45
d. 7.45-7.50 - ✔✔c (Arterial pH reference range.)
✔✔33) A 68 yr. old man arrives in the emergency room with a glucose level of 722
mg/dL (39.7 mmol/L) and serum acetone of 4+ undiluted. An arterial blood gas from this
patient is likely to be:
a. low pH
b. high pH
c. low PO2
d. high PO2 - ✔✔a (Interpretation of metabolic acidosis.)
✔✔34) A patient is admitted to the emergency room in a state of metabolic alkalosis.
Which of the following would be consistent with this diagnosis?
a. high PCO2, increased HCO3
b. low PCO2, increased HCO3
c. high PCO2, decreased HCO3
d. low PCO2, decreased HCO3 - ✔✔a (HCO3 and TCO2 in metabolic alkalosis.)
