AMCA Diagnostic Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which tube color is used for coagulation studies such as PT and aPTT?
- Red
- Light blue (Correct answer)
- Green
- Lavender
Correct answer: Light blue
Light blue (sodium citrate) tubes are used for coagulation studies and must be filled to exactly the correct volume.
Question 2: A fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dL on two separate tests is diagnostic of which condition?
- Hypoglycemia
- Prediabetes
- Diabetes mellitus (Correct answer)
- Metabolic syndrome
Correct answer: Diabetes mellitus
A fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL on two occasions meets the ADA diagnostic criterion for diabetes mellitus.
Question 3: Which imaging modality uses sound waves to create real-time images of soft tissue structures?
- CT scan
- MRI
- Ultrasound (Correct answer)
- PET scan
Correct answer: Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves and is particularly useful for visualizing soft tissues, organs, and blood flow.
Question 4: The normal reference range for adult hemoglobin in males is approximately:
- 8–10 g/dL
- 10–12 g/dL
- 13.5–17.5 g/dL (Correct answer)
- 18–22 g/dL
Correct answer: 13.5–17.5 g/dL
Normal adult male hemoglobin is 13.5–17.5 g/dL; values below this range indicate anemia.
Question 5: Which blood test is the best indicator of long-term glycemic control over approximately 3 months?
- Fasting glucose
- Postprandial glucose
- Hemoglobin A1c (Correct answer)
- C-peptide
Correct answer: Hemoglobin A1c
Hemoglobin A1c reflects average blood glucose over the lifespan of red blood cells (~90 days).
Question 6: When collecting a 24-hour urine specimen, which instruction is correct?
- Collect the first morning void and include it
- Discard the first morning void, then collect all urine for 24 hours (Correct answer)
- Refrigerate nothing; keep at room temperature
- Stop collecting 2 hours before the period ends
Correct answer: Discard the first morning void, then collect all urine for 24 hours
The first void is discarded to establish a baseline; all subsequent urine for 24 hours is collected and refrigerated.
Question 7: An ECG finding of a prolonged PR interval (>0.20 seconds) indicates:
- Bundle branch block
- First-degree AV block (Correct answer)
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Sinus tachycardia
Correct answer: First-degree AV block
A PR interval longer than 0.20 seconds (one large box) indicates first-degree AV block, a delay in conduction through the AV node.
AMCA Diagnostic Procedures 2
Which tube color is used for coagulation studies such as PT and aPTT?