ASCP BOC CORE MAIN EXAMINATION ALL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Which of the following electrolytes is the chief plasma cation whose main function is
maintaining osmotic pressure?
a. chloride
b. calcium
c. potassium
d. sodium - ✔✔d. sodium
✔✔A potassium level of 6.8 mmol/L is obtained. Before reporting the results, the first
step the technologist should take is to:
a. check the serum for hemolysis
b. rerun the test
c. check the age of the patient
d. do nothing, simply report out the result - ✔✔a. check the serum for hemolysis
✔✔The solute that contributes the most to the total serum osmolality is:
a. glucose
b. sodium
,c. chloride
d. urea - ✔✔b. sodium
✔✔A sweat chloride result of 55 mmol/L and a sweat sodium of 52 mmol/L were
obtained on a patient who has a history of respiratory problems. The best interpretation
of these results is:
a. normal
b. normal sodium and an abnormal chloride test should be repeated
c. abnormal results
d. borderline results, the test should be repeated - ✔✔d. borderline results, the test
should be repeated
✔✔Which of the following is true about direct ion selective electrodes for electrolytes?
a. whole blood specimens are acceptable
b. elevated lipids cause falsely decreased results
c. elevated proteins cause falsely decreased results
d. elevated platelets cause falsely increased results - ✔✔a. whole blood specimens are
acceptable
✔✔Sodium determination by indirect ion selective electrode is falsely decreased by:
a. elevated chloride levels
b. elevated lipid levels
c. decreased protein levels
d. decreased albumin levels - ✔✔b. elevated lipid levels
✔✔A physician requested that electrolytes on multiple myeloma patient specimen be
run by direct ISE and not indirect ISE because:
a. excess protein binds Na in indirect ISE
b. Na is falsely increased by indirect ISE
c. Na is falsely decreased by indirect ISE
d. excess protein reacts with diluent in indirect ISE - ✔✔c. Na is falsely decreased by
indirect ISE
✔✔Which percentage of total serum calcium is nondiffusible protein bound?
a. 80-90%
b. 51-60%
c. 40-50%
d. 10-30% - ✔✔c. 40-50%
✔✔Calcium concentration in the serum is regulated by:
,a.insulin
b. parathyroid hormone
c. thyroxine
d. vitamin C - ✔✔b. parathyroid hormone
✔✔The regulation of calcium and phosphorous metabolism is accomplished by which of
the following glands?
a. thyroid
b. parathyroid
c. adrenal glands
d. pituitary - ✔✔b. parathyroid
✔✔A patient has the following test results:
Increased serum calcium levels
decreased serum phosphate levels
increased levels of parathyroid hormone
This patient most likely has:
a. hyperparathyroidism
b. hypoparathyroidism
c. nephrosis
d. steatorrhea - ✔✔a. hyperparathyroidism
✔✔A hospitalized patient is experiencing increased neuromuscular irritability (tetany).
Which of the following test should be ordered immediately?
a. calcium
b. phosphate
c. BUN
d. glucose - ✔✔a. calcium
✔✔Which of the following is most likely to be ordered in addition to serum calcium to
determine the cause of tetany?
a. magnesium
b. phosphate
c. sodium
d. vitamin D - ✔✔a. magnesium
✔✔A reciprocal relationship exists between:
, a. sodium and potassium
b. calcium and phosphate
c. chloride and CO2
d. calcium and magnesium - ✔✔b. calcium and phosphate
✔✔Fasting serum phosphate concentration is controlled primarily by the:
a. pancreas
b. skeleton
c. parathyroid glands
d. small intestine - ✔✔c. parathyroid glands
✔✔A low concentration of serum phosphorus is commonly found in:
a. patients who are receiving carbohydrate hyperalimentation
b. chronic renal disease
c. hypoparathyroidism
d. patients with pituitary tumors - ✔✔a. patients who are receiving carbohydrate
hyperalimentation
✔✔The following lab results were obtained:
Serum calcium- increased
Serum Alk Phosphate- decreased
Serum Alk Phosphatase- normal/increased
Urine calcium- increased
Urine Alk Phosphate- increased
These results are most compatible with:
a. multiple myeloma
b. milk-alkali syndrome
c. sarcoidosis
d. primary hyperparathyroidism - ✔✔d. primary hyperparathyroidism
✔✔The most specific enzyme test for acute pancreatitis is:
a. acid phosphatase
b. trypsin
c. amylase
d. lipase - ✔✔d. lipase
✔✔Which of the following enzymes are used in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis?
a. amylase (AMS) and lipase (LPS)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Which of the following electrolytes is the chief plasma cation whose main function is
maintaining osmotic pressure?
a. chloride
b. calcium
c. potassium
d. sodium - ✔✔d. sodium
✔✔A potassium level of 6.8 mmol/L is obtained. Before reporting the results, the first
step the technologist should take is to:
a. check the serum for hemolysis
b. rerun the test
c. check the age of the patient
d. do nothing, simply report out the result - ✔✔a. check the serum for hemolysis
✔✔The solute that contributes the most to the total serum osmolality is:
a. glucose
b. sodium
,c. chloride
d. urea - ✔✔b. sodium
✔✔A sweat chloride result of 55 mmol/L and a sweat sodium of 52 mmol/L were
obtained on a patient who has a history of respiratory problems. The best interpretation
of these results is:
a. normal
b. normal sodium and an abnormal chloride test should be repeated
c. abnormal results
d. borderline results, the test should be repeated - ✔✔d. borderline results, the test
should be repeated
✔✔Which of the following is true about direct ion selective electrodes for electrolytes?
a. whole blood specimens are acceptable
b. elevated lipids cause falsely decreased results
c. elevated proteins cause falsely decreased results
d. elevated platelets cause falsely increased results - ✔✔a. whole blood specimens are
acceptable
✔✔Sodium determination by indirect ion selective electrode is falsely decreased by:
a. elevated chloride levels
b. elevated lipid levels
c. decreased protein levels
d. decreased albumin levels - ✔✔b. elevated lipid levels
✔✔A physician requested that electrolytes on multiple myeloma patient specimen be
run by direct ISE and not indirect ISE because:
a. excess protein binds Na in indirect ISE
b. Na is falsely increased by indirect ISE
c. Na is falsely decreased by indirect ISE
d. excess protein reacts with diluent in indirect ISE - ✔✔c. Na is falsely decreased by
indirect ISE
✔✔Which percentage of total serum calcium is nondiffusible protein bound?
a. 80-90%
b. 51-60%
c. 40-50%
d. 10-30% - ✔✔c. 40-50%
✔✔Calcium concentration in the serum is regulated by:
,a.insulin
b. parathyroid hormone
c. thyroxine
d. vitamin C - ✔✔b. parathyroid hormone
✔✔The regulation of calcium and phosphorous metabolism is accomplished by which of
the following glands?
a. thyroid
b. parathyroid
c. adrenal glands
d. pituitary - ✔✔b. parathyroid
✔✔A patient has the following test results:
Increased serum calcium levels
decreased serum phosphate levels
increased levels of parathyroid hormone
This patient most likely has:
a. hyperparathyroidism
b. hypoparathyroidism
c. nephrosis
d. steatorrhea - ✔✔a. hyperparathyroidism
✔✔A hospitalized patient is experiencing increased neuromuscular irritability (tetany).
Which of the following test should be ordered immediately?
a. calcium
b. phosphate
c. BUN
d. glucose - ✔✔a. calcium
✔✔Which of the following is most likely to be ordered in addition to serum calcium to
determine the cause of tetany?
a. magnesium
b. phosphate
c. sodium
d. vitamin D - ✔✔a. magnesium
✔✔A reciprocal relationship exists between:
, a. sodium and potassium
b. calcium and phosphate
c. chloride and CO2
d. calcium and magnesium - ✔✔b. calcium and phosphate
✔✔Fasting serum phosphate concentration is controlled primarily by the:
a. pancreas
b. skeleton
c. parathyroid glands
d. small intestine - ✔✔c. parathyroid glands
✔✔A low concentration of serum phosphorus is commonly found in:
a. patients who are receiving carbohydrate hyperalimentation
b. chronic renal disease
c. hypoparathyroidism
d. patients with pituitary tumors - ✔✔a. patients who are receiving carbohydrate
hyperalimentation
✔✔The following lab results were obtained:
Serum calcium- increased
Serum Alk Phosphate- decreased
Serum Alk Phosphatase- normal/increased
Urine calcium- increased
Urine Alk Phosphate- increased
These results are most compatible with:
a. multiple myeloma
b. milk-alkali syndrome
c. sarcoidosis
d. primary hyperparathyroidism - ✔✔d. primary hyperparathyroidism
✔✔The most specific enzyme test for acute pancreatitis is:
a. acid phosphatase
b. trypsin
c. amylase
d. lipase - ✔✔d. lipase
✔✔Which of the following enzymes are used in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis?
a. amylase (AMS) and lipase (LPS)
