ASCP Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which specimen handling error would falsely elevate serum potassium results? → Hemolysis of the specimen
2. What does the delta check in laboratory testing evaluate? → The comparison of a patient's current result with their previous result
3. Which culture media are commonly used to cultivate different species of Mycobacterium? → Lowenstein-Jensen and Middlebrook agar
4. Which antibiotic, by binding to D-alanyl D-alanine, inhibits the formation of peptidoglycans and hence inhibits the growth of bacteria? → Vancomycin
5. Which of the following best describes a mutation involving base substitution? AGTCGA is the initial DNA sequence. → AGTAGA
6. Which hospital department offers mobility therapy to patients? → physical therapy
7. What specimen type is required for a lipid panel, and what patient preparation is recommended? → Serum in a red or gold tube after 9-12 hours fasting
8. Which analyte is MOST significantly affected by hemolysis, producing a falsely elevated result? → Potassium
9. Small pinpoint hemorrhages (petechiae) appearing on the forearm after tourniquet application may indicate: → A coagulation or platelet disorder
10. Which ethical principle requires a phlebotomist to obtain a patient's agreement before performing a blood draw? → Informed consent
11. Which ASCP certification exam covers all areas of the clinical laboratory at the technician level? → MLT(ASCP)
12. What does MRSA stand for, and why is it clinically significant? → Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics
13. In capillary blood collection, which specimen is collected FIRST when multiple collection devices are used? → EDTA (lavender) tubes
14. Which of the following is broken down into amino acids by hydrochloric acid and pepsin? → Proteins
15. A chemistry analyzer reports a critically low glucose of 30 mg/dL. What is the laboratory technician's immediate responsibility? → Report the result and immediately notify the ordering physician
16. What kind of anticoagulant is contained in a tube with a light-blue stopper? → sodium citrate
17. What federal agency oversees the accreditation of phlebotomists? → None of the above.
18. When collecting from an inpatient, the phlebotomist should compare the requisition with: → The patient's armband
19. What is FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) used for? → Detecting specific DNA/RNA sequences in cells using fluorescent-labeled probes
20. Which specimen requires immediate transport on ice after collection? → Arterial blood gas specimen
21. What does the term 'aliquot' mean in laboratory processing? → A portion of a specimen transferred to a separate container for testing
22. What is the clinical significance of elevated troponin levels? → Myocardial injury or infarction
23. What is the purpose of discarding the first drop of blood during capillary collection? → It may be contaminated with tissue fluid that can cause erroneous results
24. What is the maximum recommended puncture depth for a neonate heel stick per CLSI guidelines? → 2.0 mm
25. Which statement best sums up platelets? → the blood clotting cells
26. Which microscopic finding on a peripheral blood smear indicates iron deficiency anemia? → Hypochromic, microcytic red blood cells
27. When using a winged blood collection (butterfly) set, what is the first tube in the order of draw if coagulation tests are ordered? → A discard tube
28. Which group of functional groups is present in sugars all the time? → Hydroxyl qroups
29. What kind of material ought to be thrown away in a biohazard bag? → All of these
30. A phlebotomist notices that their QC result is 2.5 standard deviations above the mean. According to Westgard rules, what action should be taken? → Reject the run and troubleshoot before testing patients