AACC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield AACC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which type of electrode is most commonly used in blood gas analyzers to measure pH? → Glass pH electrode
2. In a clinical chemistry analyzer, what does a reagent blank correct for? → Absorbance contributed by the reagent itself
3. In American Association for Clinical Chemistry, what is the MOST appropriate response when a potential compliance violation is discovered? → Report it immediately through established channels and document findings
4. How does ongoing professional development support professional ethics & legal standards in American Association for Clinical Chemistry? → It keeps professionals informed of evolving standards and best practices
5. D-dimer is a specific fibrin degradation product measured in clinical laboratories. What is its primary clinical utility? → Ruling out venous thromboembolism (VTE) in low-probability patients
6. Which laboratory management principle involves tracking supplies from receipt to use and disposal to prevent stockouts and reduce waste? → Inventory management
7. A patient receiving streptokinase therapy for acute myocardial infarction will likely show which laboratory pattern? → Prolonged PT/aPTT, decreased fibrinogen, and elevated FDPs
8. What is the primary function of platelets in the hemostatic process? → Forming the initial platelet plug at sites of vascular injury
9. A laboratory is evaluating a new glucose analyzer. Which statistical measure is used to assess the agreement between the new method and the reference method? → Passing-Bablok regression
10. What can affect the accuracy of photometric readings? → Scratched cuvette
11. Which competency is MOST essential for professionals working in emergency response & critical care in American Association for Clinical Chemistry? → Critical thinking combined with practical application of knowledge
12. What does elevated blood glucose typically indicate? → Diabetes
13. Which pre-analytical variable is most likely to cause falsely elevated serum potassium levels? → Hemolysis releasing intracellular potassium into the sample
14. In American Association for Clinical Chemistry, how should diagnostic procedures & interpretation results be communicated to stakeholders? → Through clear, structured reports with actionable recommendations
15. In American Association for Clinical Chemistry, how does infection control & prevention contribute to professional credibility? → By demonstrating competence, maintaining standards, and delivering consistent results
16. Which competency is MOST essential for professionals working in infection control & prevention in American Association for Clinical Chemistry? → Critical thinking combined with practical application of knowledge
17. A laboratory director receives a critical value result. What is the FIRST action that must be taken? → Notify the ordering physician or responsible clinician immediately
18. What is a Levey-Jennings chart used for? → Monitoring quality control
19. When facing an unfamiliar challenge in emergency response & critical care within American Association for Clinical Chemistry, what is the BEST approach? → Research established best practices, consult colleagues, and document the approach
20. Which electrolyte is crucial for muscle and nerve function? → Potassium
21. Which hematologic parameter directly measures the average volume of individual red blood cells? → MCV
22. Which documentation & health records practice is MOST critical for maintaining data integrity in American Association for Clinical Chemistry? → Standardized input procedures with validation checks and regular audits
23. Who enforces laboratory compliance with OSHA standards? → OSHA
24. In American Association for Clinical Chemistry, how should sensitive documentation & health records be protected? → Through role-based access controls, encryption, and compliance with privacy regulations
25. In American Association for Clinical Chemistry, how does emergency response & critical care contribute to professional credibility? → By demonstrating competence, maintaining standards, and delivering consistent results
26. In American Association for Clinical Chemistry, how does pharmacology & treatment protocols contribute to professional credibility? → By demonstrating competence, maintaining standards, and delivering consistent results
27. What is the main goal of quality assurance in laboratories? → Ensuring reliable results
28. What does Beer's Law relate? → Absorbance to concentration
29. Which combination of laboratory findings is most characteristic of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)? → Decreased platelets, prolonged PT/aPTT, elevated D-dimer, decreased fibrinogen
30. In electrophoresis used for protein separation in clinical labs, what property primarily determines the migration rate of proteins? → Charge-to-mass ratio of the protein