Mock CG(ASCP) Certification exam 1 - Part 1 with correct answers 2025
What effects does sodium heparin have on cells?
a. Swells cells
b. Removes water from cells
c. Stimulates mitotic activity
d. Precipitates nucleic acid
e. prevents clotting - correct answerPrevents clotting
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be toxic to cells?
a. Sodium heparin
b. Lithium heparin
c. Sodium hydroxide
d. Gentamycin - correct answerSodium heparin
The optimal temperature for transport of amniotic fluid specimens is?
a. 37 'C
b. 40 'C
c. 0 'C
d. 20 'C - correct answer20 'C
A pathologist is sending solid tumor specimens to a cytogenetic laboratory for analysis. What
instructions should be given to the pathologist concerning the preparation and transport of the
specimen to insure the highest chance of successful culture?
a. Ensure the sterility of the specimen by placing it in formalin until it reaches the laboratory.
b. Ensure that the specimen does not contain necrotic or fatty tissue.
c. Ensure that the specimen is transported on dry ice to prevent decomposition.
d. All of the above. - correct answerEnsure the specimen does not contain necrotic or fatty acid
,Why is the villi obtained in CVS procedures cleaned by the technologists?
a. To remove the blood from the sample.
b. To remove dead tissue from the sample.
c. To remove maternal tissue from the sample
d. To expose the rapidly growing cells in the villi. - correct answerTo remove maternal tissue
from the sample
A solid tumor specimen can NOT be shipped from the hospital to a
cytogenetics laboratory in another city due to a major holiday which will not allow the sample
to be shipped via Federal Express Overnight delivery. How should the sample be stored so that
the cells will remain alive until they can be delivered and placed in culture?
a. The specimen should be preserved by placing it in formalin until it reaches the laboratory.
b. The specimen should be placed in media and then in a a 37 'C incubator until it can be
shipped.
c. The specimen should be stored in at -20 'C or on dry ice to prevent cellular decay.
d. The specimen should be placed in media and then refrigerated until it can be shipped. -
correct answerThe specimen should be placed in media and then refrigerated until it can be
shipped.
Lab C noticed that patient samples from one of their doctors had poor or no growth as
compared to their other doctor's samples. No evidence of contamination was observed and all
material needed for sample collection and transportation is provided to the doctors by the
laboratory. What could cause this discrepancy in culture viability?
a. Collection technique
b. Incubator systems
c. Toxic plastic containers
d. Culture media - correct answerCollection technique
Which statement about maternal cell contamination is FALSE?
, a. The incidence of MCC is greater when cultures are established from bloody amniotic fluid
samples.
b. The risk of MCC can be reduced by using a larger bone core needle for the amniocentesis
procedure.
c. The use of maternal Q-polymorphisms may be helpful in identifying cases of MCC.
d. The risk of MCC can be reduced by discarding the first 2-3 cc of aspirated amniotic fluid. -
correct answerThe risk of MCC can be reduced by using a larger bone core needle for the
amniocentesis procedure.
Your laboratory receives specimens form the following cases. Which case would you assign the
highest priority?
a. A 24 year old woman who has had three miscarriages and one normal child.
b. The 28 year old husband of the woman above.
c. Amnoitc fluid from a 36 year old women's current pregnancy of 18 weeks gestation.
d. A baby who is in the NICU with a myelomeningocele, a heart defect, intrauterine growth
deficiency, a tightly clenched fist and an unusually positioned great toe.
e. A 10 year old boy who is small for his age and has small hands, moderate mental retardation,
protruding ears, "droppy" eyelids and a small mouth. - correct answerA baby who is in the NICU
with a myelomeningocele, a heart defect, intrauterine growth deficiency, a tightly clenched fist
and an unusually positioned great toe.
Not all cells received by a Cytogenetics laboratory will grow well in culture for any number of
reasons. When amniotic fluid specimens are collected for culture, which of the following are
safeguards against culture failure?
s. Samples are collected in one syringe
b. The first 2 cc of amniotic fluid are discarded
c. Two flasks are set up with two different media types
d. T12 1/2 flasks are used - correct answerTwo flasks are set up with two different media types
Which of the following is NOT an advantage that in situ coverslip amniotic cultures have over
flask amniotic fluid cultures?
a. Decreased the turnaround time.
What effects does sodium heparin have on cells?
a. Swells cells
b. Removes water from cells
c. Stimulates mitotic activity
d. Precipitates nucleic acid
e. prevents clotting - correct answerPrevents clotting
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be toxic to cells?
a. Sodium heparin
b. Lithium heparin
c. Sodium hydroxide
d. Gentamycin - correct answerSodium heparin
The optimal temperature for transport of amniotic fluid specimens is?
a. 37 'C
b. 40 'C
c. 0 'C
d. 20 'C - correct answer20 'C
A pathologist is sending solid tumor specimens to a cytogenetic laboratory for analysis. What
instructions should be given to the pathologist concerning the preparation and transport of the
specimen to insure the highest chance of successful culture?
a. Ensure the sterility of the specimen by placing it in formalin until it reaches the laboratory.
b. Ensure that the specimen does not contain necrotic or fatty tissue.
c. Ensure that the specimen is transported on dry ice to prevent decomposition.
d. All of the above. - correct answerEnsure the specimen does not contain necrotic or fatty acid
,Why is the villi obtained in CVS procedures cleaned by the technologists?
a. To remove the blood from the sample.
b. To remove dead tissue from the sample.
c. To remove maternal tissue from the sample
d. To expose the rapidly growing cells in the villi. - correct answerTo remove maternal tissue
from the sample
A solid tumor specimen can NOT be shipped from the hospital to a
cytogenetics laboratory in another city due to a major holiday which will not allow the sample
to be shipped via Federal Express Overnight delivery. How should the sample be stored so that
the cells will remain alive until they can be delivered and placed in culture?
a. The specimen should be preserved by placing it in formalin until it reaches the laboratory.
b. The specimen should be placed in media and then in a a 37 'C incubator until it can be
shipped.
c. The specimen should be stored in at -20 'C or on dry ice to prevent cellular decay.
d. The specimen should be placed in media and then refrigerated until it can be shipped. -
correct answerThe specimen should be placed in media and then refrigerated until it can be
shipped.
Lab C noticed that patient samples from one of their doctors had poor or no growth as
compared to their other doctor's samples. No evidence of contamination was observed and all
material needed for sample collection and transportation is provided to the doctors by the
laboratory. What could cause this discrepancy in culture viability?
a. Collection technique
b. Incubator systems
c. Toxic plastic containers
d. Culture media - correct answerCollection technique
Which statement about maternal cell contamination is FALSE?
, a. The incidence of MCC is greater when cultures are established from bloody amniotic fluid
samples.
b. The risk of MCC can be reduced by using a larger bone core needle for the amniocentesis
procedure.
c. The use of maternal Q-polymorphisms may be helpful in identifying cases of MCC.
d. The risk of MCC can be reduced by discarding the first 2-3 cc of aspirated amniotic fluid. -
correct answerThe risk of MCC can be reduced by using a larger bone core needle for the
amniocentesis procedure.
Your laboratory receives specimens form the following cases. Which case would you assign the
highest priority?
a. A 24 year old woman who has had three miscarriages and one normal child.
b. The 28 year old husband of the woman above.
c. Amnoitc fluid from a 36 year old women's current pregnancy of 18 weeks gestation.
d. A baby who is in the NICU with a myelomeningocele, a heart defect, intrauterine growth
deficiency, a tightly clenched fist and an unusually positioned great toe.
e. A 10 year old boy who is small for his age and has small hands, moderate mental retardation,
protruding ears, "droppy" eyelids and a small mouth. - correct answerA baby who is in the NICU
with a myelomeningocele, a heart defect, intrauterine growth deficiency, a tightly clenched fist
and an unusually positioned great toe.
Not all cells received by a Cytogenetics laboratory will grow well in culture for any number of
reasons. When amniotic fluid specimens are collected for culture, which of the following are
safeguards against culture failure?
s. Samples are collected in one syringe
b. The first 2 cc of amniotic fluid are discarded
c. Two flasks are set up with two different media types
d. T12 1/2 flasks are used - correct answerTwo flasks are set up with two different media types
Which of the following is NOT an advantage that in situ coverslip amniotic cultures have over
flask amniotic fluid cultures?
a. Decreased the turnaround time.
