ASCP Chemistry Section Study Guide 2025 –
Comprehensive Review & Practice Support
Description:
A complete review resource for the ASCP Chemistry section, covering key
laboratory chemistry principles, analytical techniques, instrumentation, quality
control, and troubleshooting. Designed to support exam preparation with clear
explanations and practice-focused content.
Keywords:
ASCP Chemistry, clinical chemistry review,
lab science exam prep, chemistry
instrumentation, quality control, ASCP study
guide 2025
ASCP Clinical Chemistry Practice Questions (1-25)
1. A patient's arterial blood gas results are: pH 7.28, pCO2 55 mm Hg, HCO3- 26 mEq/L. What
is the most likely interpretation?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis ✓
D. Respiratory alkalosis
2. Which of the following analytes is most indicative of glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
A. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
B. Creatinine ✓
C. Uric Acid
D. Cystatin C
3. The "double antibody" technique is a classic description of which immunoassay method?
A. Chemiluminescence
B. Fluorescence Polarization
,C. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) ✓
D. Immunoturbidimetry
4. A lipemic sample is most likely to cause significant interference in which laboratory
method?
A. Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE)
B. Spectrophotometry ✓
C. Osmometry
D. Electrophoresis
5. The primary function of lactate dehydrogenase (LD) in clinical chemistry is as a:
A. Cardiac-specific marker
B. Non-specific marker of cellular injury ✓
C. Liver function test
D. Marker of bone turnover
6. A patient with untreated pernicious anemia would be expected to have a high
concentration of:
A. Methylmalonic acid ✓
B. Intrinsic Factor
C. Vitamin B12
D. Homocysteine
7. Which electrolyte is the major cation in the intracellular fluid?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium ✓
C. Chloride
D. Calcium
8. The Jaffe reaction is the classic method used to measure:
A. Glucose
B. Urea
C. Creatinine ✓
D. Uric Acid
9. Which lipoprotein is often referred to as "good cholesterol" due to its role in reverse
cholesterol transport?
A. Chylomicron
B. Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL)
,C. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
D. High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) ✓
10. In the context of quality control, a "shift" most likely indicates:
A. An increase in random error
B. A sudden, dramatic failure
C. A gradual change in accuracy
D. A sustained change in the mean ✓
11. Which hormone is directly responsible for the reabsorption of sodium in the distal tubule
of the kidney?
A. Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
B. Aldosterone ✓
C. Renin
D. Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)
12. A thyrotoxic patient with a low TSH and high T3/T4 most likely has:
A. Primary hypothyroidism
B. Secondary hypothyroidism
C. Primary hyperthyroidism ✓
D. Secondary hyperthyroidism
13. The most common cause of elevated plasma ammonia levels is:
A. Renal Failure
B. Reye's Syndrome
C. Liver Failure ✓
D. High-Protein Diet
14. Which tumor marker is most associated with colorectal cancer and is used for monitoring
therapy?
A. CA-125
B. PSA
C. CEA ✓
D. AFP
15. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation defines the relationship between:
A. Sodium and Potassium
B. pH, pCO2, and HCO3- ✓
C. Anion Gap and Osmolal Gap
D. LDL and HDL
, 16. Which of the following is a cardiac troponin?
A. TnC
B. TnI ✓
C. TnT
D. Both B and C ✓
17. The presence of Bence Jones protein in urine is a classic finding in:
A. Multiple Myeloma ✓
B. Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia
C. Lupus Nephritis
D. Diabetic Nephropathy
18. In method comparison, constant systematic error is revealed by a change in:
A. Standard deviation
B. Slope
C. Y-intercept ✓
D. Correlation coefficient (r)
19. A patient has a serum calcium of 6.0 mg/dL (low) and a phosphate of 6.5 mg/dL (high).
This pattern is most suggestive of:
A. Hyperparathyroidism
B. Hypoparathyroidism ✓
C. Vitamin D intoxication
D. Metastatic bone disease
20. Which enzyme is most elevated in acute pancreatitis?
A. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
B. Amylase or Lipase ✓
C. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
D. Creatine Kinase (CK)
21. The Watson-Schwartz test is a qualitative test for:
A. Ketones
B. Glucose
C. Porphobilinogen ✓
D. Myoglobin
22. What is the primary source of lactate in the body?
A. Beta-oxidation of fatty acids
B. Anaerobic glycolysis ✓
Comprehensive Review & Practice Support
Description:
A complete review resource for the ASCP Chemistry section, covering key
laboratory chemistry principles, analytical techniques, instrumentation, quality
control, and troubleshooting. Designed to support exam preparation with clear
explanations and practice-focused content.
Keywords:
ASCP Chemistry, clinical chemistry review,
lab science exam prep, chemistry
instrumentation, quality control, ASCP study
guide 2025
ASCP Clinical Chemistry Practice Questions (1-25)
1. A patient's arterial blood gas results are: pH 7.28, pCO2 55 mm Hg, HCO3- 26 mEq/L. What
is the most likely interpretation?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis ✓
D. Respiratory alkalosis
2. Which of the following analytes is most indicative of glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
A. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
B. Creatinine ✓
C. Uric Acid
D. Cystatin C
3. The "double antibody" technique is a classic description of which immunoassay method?
A. Chemiluminescence
B. Fluorescence Polarization
,C. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) ✓
D. Immunoturbidimetry
4. A lipemic sample is most likely to cause significant interference in which laboratory
method?
A. Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE)
B. Spectrophotometry ✓
C. Osmometry
D. Electrophoresis
5. The primary function of lactate dehydrogenase (LD) in clinical chemistry is as a:
A. Cardiac-specific marker
B. Non-specific marker of cellular injury ✓
C. Liver function test
D. Marker of bone turnover
6. A patient with untreated pernicious anemia would be expected to have a high
concentration of:
A. Methylmalonic acid ✓
B. Intrinsic Factor
C. Vitamin B12
D. Homocysteine
7. Which electrolyte is the major cation in the intracellular fluid?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium ✓
C. Chloride
D. Calcium
8. The Jaffe reaction is the classic method used to measure:
A. Glucose
B. Urea
C. Creatinine ✓
D. Uric Acid
9. Which lipoprotein is often referred to as "good cholesterol" due to its role in reverse
cholesterol transport?
A. Chylomicron
B. Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL)
,C. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
D. High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) ✓
10. In the context of quality control, a "shift" most likely indicates:
A. An increase in random error
B. A sudden, dramatic failure
C. A gradual change in accuracy
D. A sustained change in the mean ✓
11. Which hormone is directly responsible for the reabsorption of sodium in the distal tubule
of the kidney?
A. Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
B. Aldosterone ✓
C. Renin
D. Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)
12. A thyrotoxic patient with a low TSH and high T3/T4 most likely has:
A. Primary hypothyroidism
B. Secondary hypothyroidism
C. Primary hyperthyroidism ✓
D. Secondary hyperthyroidism
13. The most common cause of elevated plasma ammonia levels is:
A. Renal Failure
B. Reye's Syndrome
C. Liver Failure ✓
D. High-Protein Diet
14. Which tumor marker is most associated with colorectal cancer and is used for monitoring
therapy?
A. CA-125
B. PSA
C. CEA ✓
D. AFP
15. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation defines the relationship between:
A. Sodium and Potassium
B. pH, pCO2, and HCO3- ✓
C. Anion Gap and Osmolal Gap
D. LDL and HDL
, 16. Which of the following is a cardiac troponin?
A. TnC
B. TnI ✓
C. TnT
D. Both B and C ✓
17. The presence of Bence Jones protein in urine is a classic finding in:
A. Multiple Myeloma ✓
B. Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia
C. Lupus Nephritis
D. Diabetic Nephropathy
18. In method comparison, constant systematic error is revealed by a change in:
A. Standard deviation
B. Slope
C. Y-intercept ✓
D. Correlation coefficient (r)
19. A patient has a serum calcium of 6.0 mg/dL (low) and a phosphate of 6.5 mg/dL (high).
This pattern is most suggestive of:
A. Hyperparathyroidism
B. Hypoparathyroidism ✓
C. Vitamin D intoxication
D. Metastatic bone disease
20. Which enzyme is most elevated in acute pancreatitis?
A. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
B. Amylase or Lipase ✓
C. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
D. Creatine Kinase (CK)
21. The Watson-Schwartz test is a qualitative test for:
A. Ketones
B. Glucose
C. Porphobilinogen ✓
D. Myoglobin
22. What is the primary source of lactate in the body?
A. Beta-oxidation of fatty acids
B. Anaerobic glycolysis ✓
