ASCP BOC EXAMS VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
.A 25 year old woman is seen by a physician because of Raynaud's phenomenon, myalgias, arthralgias,
and difficulty in swallowing. There is no evidence of renal disease. An ANA titer is 1:5120 with a speckled
pattern with mitotic. Which of the following is also likely to be found in this patient?
- ANSWERS-high-level ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibody
80 grams of NaOH (MW=40) are how many moles? a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
- ANSWERS-b) 2
a blood donor has the genotype: hh, AB. What is his red blood cell phenotype?
- ANSWERS-O
A blood gas sample was sent to the lab on ice, and a bubble was present in the syringe. The blood has
been exposed to room air for at least 30 minutes. The following change in blood gases will occur
- ANSWERS-PO2 increased/HCO3 decreased
a centrifuge head has a diameter of 60 cm and spins at 3,000 RPM. What is the maximum achievable G
force? (G=0,00001 x radius in cm x RPM)
- ANSWERS-2,700 G
A common cause of respiratory alkalosis is a) vomitting b) starvation c) asthma d) hyperventilation
- ANSWERS-d) hyperventilation
A community hospital microbiology laboratory is processing significant numbers of stool cultures because of
an outbreak of diarrhea following heavy rains and flooding in the county. A media that should be
incorporated in the plating protocol is: a) colistin nalidixic acid for listeria b) MacConckey agar with
sorbitol for Campylobacter c) mannitol salt agar for Enterococcus speices d) thiosulfate citrate bile salts
sucrose for Vibrio species
- ANSWERS-d) thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose for Vibrio species
A consistently and repeatedly negative IFA-ANA is:
- ANSWERS-strong evidence against5 untreated SLE
A first morning sputum is received for acid-fast culture. The specimen is centrifuged and the sediment is
inoculated on Two Lowenstein-Jensen slants, which are incubated at 35C with 5-10% CO2. After 1 week,
,the slants show abundant growth over the entire surface. Strains reveal gram-negative bacilli. To avoid this
problem:
- ANSWERS-decontaminate the specimen with sodium hydroxide
A first morning sputum is received for culture of acid-fast bacilli. It is digested and concentrated by the N-
acetyl-L-cysteine alkali method. Two Sabouraud dextrose slants are incubated in the dark at 35ºC with
5%-10% CO2. The smear reveal acid-fast bacilli, but the slants show no growth after 8 weeks. The
explanation is: a) improper media used b) incorrect concentration procedure used c) improper specimen
submitted d) exposure to CO2 prevents growth
- ANSWERS-a) improper media used
A first morning sputum is received for culture of mycobacteria. It is digested and concentrated by the N-
acetyl-L-cysteine alkali method. Two Lowenstein-Jensen slants are incubated in the dark at 35C with 5-
10% CO2. The smears revealed acid-fast bacilli, and after 7 days no growth appears on the slants. The
best explanation is:
- ANSWERS-Cultures held for insufficient length of time. (mycobacteria are slow growers and may take up
to 12 weeks)
A fluid sample waas collected by throcentesis. A serum sample was collected immediately afterward. The
LD fluid to serum ratio was 0.9. there were 5,000 WBC/uL, with 75% PMNs Which of the following
describes this fluid.
- ANSWERS-Plural effusion exudate
A low concentration of serum phosphorus is commonly found in
- ANSWERS-patients who are receiving carbohydrate hyperalimentation
A mass spectrometer detects which property of ionized molecules
- ANSWERS-mass to charge ration
A nonchromogen that grows best at 42 degree C and is highly resistant to antibiotics is:
- ANSWERS-Mycobaterium xenopi
A patient with a B-cell deficiency will most likely exhibit: a) decreased phagocytosis b) increased bacterial
infections c) decreased complement levels d) increased complement levels
- ANSWERS-b) increased bacterial infections
, A Patient with a coagulopathy was transfused with FP24 (plasma frozen within 24 hours of collection) After
infusion of 15mL, the patient experienced hypotension, shock, chest pain and difficulty in breathing. The
most likely cause of the reaction is:
- ANSWERS-anti-IgA
A patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus will most likely have:
- ANSWERS-a pale urine with a high specific gravity
A serum sample was assayed for bilirubin at 10 AM, and the result was 12 mg/dL (205.6 µmol/L). The
same sample was retested at 3 PM. The result now is 8 mg/dL (136.0 µmol/L). The most likely explanation
for this discrepancy is
- ANSWERS-the sample was exposed to light
A solution contains 20 g of solute dissolved in 0.5 L of water. What is the percentage of this solution?
- ANSWERS-4%
A sputum specimen from a patient with a known Klebsiella pneumonia infection is received in the lab for
fungus culture. The proper procedure for handling this specimen is to:
a. reject the current specimen and request a repeat culture when the bacterial organism is no longer
present
b. incubate culture tubes at RT in order to inhibit bacteria
c. include media that have cycloheximide and chloramphenicol to inhibit bacteria and saprophytic fungi
d. perform direct PAS stain; if no fungal organism seen, reject specimen
- ANSWERS-c. include media that have cycloheximide and chloramphenicol to inhibit bacteria and
saprophytic fungi
A technician is asked to clean out the chemical reagent storeroom and discard any reagents not used in the
past 5 years. How should the technician proceed?
- ANSWERS-consult MSDS sheets for proper disposal
A technologist spilled 10 gallons of formaldehyde on the floor. After determining the chemical poses a
significant health hazard, the first action step would be to:
- ANSWERS-Evacuate the area
.A 25 year old woman is seen by a physician because of Raynaud's phenomenon, myalgias, arthralgias,
and difficulty in swallowing. There is no evidence of renal disease. An ANA titer is 1:5120 with a speckled
pattern with mitotic. Which of the following is also likely to be found in this patient?
- ANSWERS-high-level ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibody
80 grams of NaOH (MW=40) are how many moles? a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
- ANSWERS-b) 2
a blood donor has the genotype: hh, AB. What is his red blood cell phenotype?
- ANSWERS-O
A blood gas sample was sent to the lab on ice, and a bubble was present in the syringe. The blood has
been exposed to room air for at least 30 minutes. The following change in blood gases will occur
- ANSWERS-PO2 increased/HCO3 decreased
a centrifuge head has a diameter of 60 cm and spins at 3,000 RPM. What is the maximum achievable G
force? (G=0,00001 x radius in cm x RPM)
- ANSWERS-2,700 G
A common cause of respiratory alkalosis is a) vomitting b) starvation c) asthma d) hyperventilation
- ANSWERS-d) hyperventilation
A community hospital microbiology laboratory is processing significant numbers of stool cultures because of
an outbreak of diarrhea following heavy rains and flooding in the county. A media that should be
incorporated in the plating protocol is: a) colistin nalidixic acid for listeria b) MacConckey agar with
sorbitol for Campylobacter c) mannitol salt agar for Enterococcus speices d) thiosulfate citrate bile salts
sucrose for Vibrio species
- ANSWERS-d) thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose for Vibrio species
A consistently and repeatedly negative IFA-ANA is:
- ANSWERS-strong evidence against5 untreated SLE
A first morning sputum is received for acid-fast culture. The specimen is centrifuged and the sediment is
inoculated on Two Lowenstein-Jensen slants, which are incubated at 35C with 5-10% CO2. After 1 week,
,the slants show abundant growth over the entire surface. Strains reveal gram-negative bacilli. To avoid this
problem:
- ANSWERS-decontaminate the specimen with sodium hydroxide
A first morning sputum is received for culture of acid-fast bacilli. It is digested and concentrated by the N-
acetyl-L-cysteine alkali method. Two Sabouraud dextrose slants are incubated in the dark at 35ºC with
5%-10% CO2. The smear reveal acid-fast bacilli, but the slants show no growth after 8 weeks. The
explanation is: a) improper media used b) incorrect concentration procedure used c) improper specimen
submitted d) exposure to CO2 prevents growth
- ANSWERS-a) improper media used
A first morning sputum is received for culture of mycobacteria. It is digested and concentrated by the N-
acetyl-L-cysteine alkali method. Two Lowenstein-Jensen slants are incubated in the dark at 35C with 5-
10% CO2. The smears revealed acid-fast bacilli, and after 7 days no growth appears on the slants. The
best explanation is:
- ANSWERS-Cultures held for insufficient length of time. (mycobacteria are slow growers and may take up
to 12 weeks)
A fluid sample waas collected by throcentesis. A serum sample was collected immediately afterward. The
LD fluid to serum ratio was 0.9. there were 5,000 WBC/uL, with 75% PMNs Which of the following
describes this fluid.
- ANSWERS-Plural effusion exudate
A low concentration of serum phosphorus is commonly found in
- ANSWERS-patients who are receiving carbohydrate hyperalimentation
A mass spectrometer detects which property of ionized molecules
- ANSWERS-mass to charge ration
A nonchromogen that grows best at 42 degree C and is highly resistant to antibiotics is:
- ANSWERS-Mycobaterium xenopi
A patient with a B-cell deficiency will most likely exhibit: a) decreased phagocytosis b) increased bacterial
infections c) decreased complement levels d) increased complement levels
- ANSWERS-b) increased bacterial infections
, A Patient with a coagulopathy was transfused with FP24 (plasma frozen within 24 hours of collection) After
infusion of 15mL, the patient experienced hypotension, shock, chest pain and difficulty in breathing. The
most likely cause of the reaction is:
- ANSWERS-anti-IgA
A patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus will most likely have:
- ANSWERS-a pale urine with a high specific gravity
A serum sample was assayed for bilirubin at 10 AM, and the result was 12 mg/dL (205.6 µmol/L). The
same sample was retested at 3 PM. The result now is 8 mg/dL (136.0 µmol/L). The most likely explanation
for this discrepancy is
- ANSWERS-the sample was exposed to light
A solution contains 20 g of solute dissolved in 0.5 L of water. What is the percentage of this solution?
- ANSWERS-4%
A sputum specimen from a patient with a known Klebsiella pneumonia infection is received in the lab for
fungus culture. The proper procedure for handling this specimen is to:
a. reject the current specimen and request a repeat culture when the bacterial organism is no longer
present
b. incubate culture tubes at RT in order to inhibit bacteria
c. include media that have cycloheximide and chloramphenicol to inhibit bacteria and saprophytic fungi
d. perform direct PAS stain; if no fungal organism seen, reject specimen
- ANSWERS-c. include media that have cycloheximide and chloramphenicol to inhibit bacteria and
saprophytic fungi
A technician is asked to clean out the chemical reagent storeroom and discard any reagents not used in the
past 5 years. How should the technician proceed?
- ANSWERS-consult MSDS sheets for proper disposal
A technologist spilled 10 gallons of formaldehyde on the floor. After determining the chemical poses a
significant health hazard, the first action step would be to:
- ANSWERS-Evacuate the area
