VTNE Lab Questions set 1
When performing a direct fecal smear to look for "swimmers" or parasitic trophozoites, the feces
cannot be older than which of the following?
12 hours
5 minutes
1 hour
24 hours if not refrigerated
1 Hour
Explanation
Fresh feces are needed for a direct smear. The smear should be made and read within 1 hour of fecal
collection for most accurate results. Also, serial samples are ideal. Sometimes 4 to 5 smears are
needed to find an organism. A negative direct smear does not rule out a parasite.
Which of these are used in the minor cross-match for blood products when looking for a compatible
blood donor for a dog?
Donor red blood cells, donor plasma
Recipient red blood cells, donor plasma
Recipient red blood cells, recipient plasma
Donor red blood cells, recipient plasma
Recipient red blood cells, donor plasma
Explanation
The correct answer is recipient red blood cells, donor plasma. In a minor crossmatch, you are looking
to see if the factors in the plasma of the donor are going to react to the recipient's red blood cells.
Which of the following is not a typical constituent of a urine sediment sample?
Mast cells
Red blood cells
Squamous cells
White blood cells
Mast cells
Explanation
Mast cells would not be expected in a urine sediment sample.
Squamous cells, transitional cells, and renal cells may be found in urine sediment. Squamous cells will
likely be the largest cell visualized in a urine sample. They are usually derived from the vagina, vulva,
or urethra.
Red blood cells are a normal finding when in small numbers. Excessive red blood cells may be a sign of
disease.
White blood cells should also be present in a small number and large numbers of these cells are
associated with disease.
You are doing a fecal flotation and observe these eggs under the microscope. They have bipolar plugs;
one plug on each end (see image). What are these?
Whipworm eggs
Hookworm eggs
Tapeworm eggs
Roundworm eggs
Whipworm eggs
Explanation
The bipolar plugs on the eggs are typical of Trichuris vulpis (whipworm).
,A blood smear is evaluated and is noted to have a large variation in cell size as well as a decrease in
cell color. What is the appropriate terminology to describe this blood smear?
Anisokaryosis and macrochromasia
Microcytosis and microchromasia
Anisocytosis and hypochromasia
Macrocytosis and hyperchromasia
Anisocytosis and hypochromasia
Explanation
Anisocytosis is the descriptive term for cell size variation. Red blood cells that have less color than is
normally anticipated are said to by hypochromic. Cells with decreased pallor are likely deficient in
hemoglobin. Cells with increased color are hyperchromic. Macrocytes are cells that are larger than
typical, while microcytes are the opposite. Varying degrees of color among cells is termed
polychromasia and is usually an indication of different aged (young and old) red blood cells present.
Younger cells will have ribosomes which give them a different color.
PowerPage
Hematology
Which test would provide the best measure of liver function?
Serum phosphorus level
Bile acids
Serum BUN level
Ultrasound
Bile acids
Explanation
When a meal is consumed, the gall bladder contracts and releases bile into the upper small intestine
as needed for digestion. The bile acids break down lipids during this process of digestion. The bile
acids are then absorbed by the intestine and into the portal bloodstream and returned back to the
liver. If the liver is functioning well, the bile acids are removed from the bloodstream and returned to
the gall bladder until they are needed again.
Comparing the two blood levels (pre- and post-prandial bile acids) allows the veterinarian to see how
well the liver is functioning. Bile acids are removed from portal blood by the hepatocytes (liver cells).
If the liver cells are not working as they should, the bile acids remain in circulation and enter the
systemic circulation where the elevated levels are measured by the bile acids test.
Ultrasound is good for looking at architecture of the liver, but does not evaluate function of the
hepatocytes.
BUN and phosphorus are most often looked at when evaluating kidney disease.
What minimum quantity of feces is required to run a reliable fecal test for ova and parasites?
2 grams
0.5 grams
10 grams
5 grams
2 grams
Explanation
Two grams of feces, about the size of a garbanzo bean, is the smallest quantity of feces that would be
acceptable to run a reliable fecal flotation with zinc centrifugation. Five grams is ideal.
What instrument is used to measure the urine specific gravity?
Refractometer
, Glucometer
Barometer
Manometer
Refractometer
Explanation
A refractometer is used to measure urine specific gravity. The same refractometer is used to measure
the protein level of blood samples.
Which of the following is not an anticipated finding when evaluating a urine sample after performing
a cystocentesis?
Erythrocytes
Struvite crystals
Calcium oxalate crystals
5-10 white blood cells per high-powered field
5-10 white blood cells per high-powered field
Explanation
There should be less than 0-5 white blood cells per high-powered field in a urine sample.
Erythrocytes are not uncommon when performing a cystocentesis. This can occur secondary to
trauma to the bladder wall when performing urine collection. Keep in mind that an excessive
presence of blood can be abnormal.
Struvite and calcium oxalate crystaluria is not necessarily abnormal.
What is a round or spherical shaped bacteria called?
Bacillus
Nematode
Spirochete
Coccus
Pleomorphic
Coccus
Explanation
Cocci are spherical bacteria. Bacilli are rods. Spirochetes are spiral shaped. A nematode is a parasite,
not a bacterium. Pleomorphic describes variably shaped organisms.
Which of the following tests amplifies DNA?
ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)
Cytology
Histopathology
PCR (Polymerase chain reaction)
Flow cytometry
PCR (Polymerase chain reaction)
Explanation
PCR is a method of amplifying a segment of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) segments. ELISA is a test that
detects the presence of antibodies or antigens. Flow cytometry is a technique used to sort cells.
Cytology and histopathology are qualitative tests to look at cellular morphology under the
microscope.
Where on a primate's body are they tested for tuberculosis?
Eyelid
Leg
Foot
Arm
When performing a direct fecal smear to look for "swimmers" or parasitic trophozoites, the feces
cannot be older than which of the following?
12 hours
5 minutes
1 hour
24 hours if not refrigerated
1 Hour
Explanation
Fresh feces are needed for a direct smear. The smear should be made and read within 1 hour of fecal
collection for most accurate results. Also, serial samples are ideal. Sometimes 4 to 5 smears are
needed to find an organism. A negative direct smear does not rule out a parasite.
Which of these are used in the minor cross-match for blood products when looking for a compatible
blood donor for a dog?
Donor red blood cells, donor plasma
Recipient red blood cells, donor plasma
Recipient red blood cells, recipient plasma
Donor red blood cells, recipient plasma
Recipient red blood cells, donor plasma
Explanation
The correct answer is recipient red blood cells, donor plasma. In a minor crossmatch, you are looking
to see if the factors in the plasma of the donor are going to react to the recipient's red blood cells.
Which of the following is not a typical constituent of a urine sediment sample?
Mast cells
Red blood cells
Squamous cells
White blood cells
Mast cells
Explanation
Mast cells would not be expected in a urine sediment sample.
Squamous cells, transitional cells, and renal cells may be found in urine sediment. Squamous cells will
likely be the largest cell visualized in a urine sample. They are usually derived from the vagina, vulva,
or urethra.
Red blood cells are a normal finding when in small numbers. Excessive red blood cells may be a sign of
disease.
White blood cells should also be present in a small number and large numbers of these cells are
associated with disease.
You are doing a fecal flotation and observe these eggs under the microscope. They have bipolar plugs;
one plug on each end (see image). What are these?
Whipworm eggs
Hookworm eggs
Tapeworm eggs
Roundworm eggs
Whipworm eggs
Explanation
The bipolar plugs on the eggs are typical of Trichuris vulpis (whipworm).
,A blood smear is evaluated and is noted to have a large variation in cell size as well as a decrease in
cell color. What is the appropriate terminology to describe this blood smear?
Anisokaryosis and macrochromasia
Microcytosis and microchromasia
Anisocytosis and hypochromasia
Macrocytosis and hyperchromasia
Anisocytosis and hypochromasia
Explanation
Anisocytosis is the descriptive term for cell size variation. Red blood cells that have less color than is
normally anticipated are said to by hypochromic. Cells with decreased pallor are likely deficient in
hemoglobin. Cells with increased color are hyperchromic. Macrocytes are cells that are larger than
typical, while microcytes are the opposite. Varying degrees of color among cells is termed
polychromasia and is usually an indication of different aged (young and old) red blood cells present.
Younger cells will have ribosomes which give them a different color.
PowerPage
Hematology
Which test would provide the best measure of liver function?
Serum phosphorus level
Bile acids
Serum BUN level
Ultrasound
Bile acids
Explanation
When a meal is consumed, the gall bladder contracts and releases bile into the upper small intestine
as needed for digestion. The bile acids break down lipids during this process of digestion. The bile
acids are then absorbed by the intestine and into the portal bloodstream and returned back to the
liver. If the liver is functioning well, the bile acids are removed from the bloodstream and returned to
the gall bladder until they are needed again.
Comparing the two blood levels (pre- and post-prandial bile acids) allows the veterinarian to see how
well the liver is functioning. Bile acids are removed from portal blood by the hepatocytes (liver cells).
If the liver cells are not working as they should, the bile acids remain in circulation and enter the
systemic circulation where the elevated levels are measured by the bile acids test.
Ultrasound is good for looking at architecture of the liver, but does not evaluate function of the
hepatocytes.
BUN and phosphorus are most often looked at when evaluating kidney disease.
What minimum quantity of feces is required to run a reliable fecal test for ova and parasites?
2 grams
0.5 grams
10 grams
5 grams
2 grams
Explanation
Two grams of feces, about the size of a garbanzo bean, is the smallest quantity of feces that would be
acceptable to run a reliable fecal flotation with zinc centrifugation. Five grams is ideal.
What instrument is used to measure the urine specific gravity?
Refractometer
, Glucometer
Barometer
Manometer
Refractometer
Explanation
A refractometer is used to measure urine specific gravity. The same refractometer is used to measure
the protein level of blood samples.
Which of the following is not an anticipated finding when evaluating a urine sample after performing
a cystocentesis?
Erythrocytes
Struvite crystals
Calcium oxalate crystals
5-10 white blood cells per high-powered field
5-10 white blood cells per high-powered field
Explanation
There should be less than 0-5 white blood cells per high-powered field in a urine sample.
Erythrocytes are not uncommon when performing a cystocentesis. This can occur secondary to
trauma to the bladder wall when performing urine collection. Keep in mind that an excessive
presence of blood can be abnormal.
Struvite and calcium oxalate crystaluria is not necessarily abnormal.
What is a round or spherical shaped bacteria called?
Bacillus
Nematode
Spirochete
Coccus
Pleomorphic
Coccus
Explanation
Cocci are spherical bacteria. Bacilli are rods. Spirochetes are spiral shaped. A nematode is a parasite,
not a bacterium. Pleomorphic describes variably shaped organisms.
Which of the following tests amplifies DNA?
ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)
Cytology
Histopathology
PCR (Polymerase chain reaction)
Flow cytometry
PCR (Polymerase chain reaction)
Explanation
PCR is a method of amplifying a segment of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) segments. ELISA is a test that
detects the presence of antibodies or antigens. Flow cytometry is a technique used to sort cells.
Cytology and histopathology are qualitative tests to look at cellular morphology under the
microscope.
Where on a primate's body are they tested for tuberculosis?
Eyelid
Leg
Foot
Arm
