CCMA Laboratory Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following urine sediment findings is MOST consistent with a bacterial urinary tract infection?
- Bacteria and WBC casts (Correct answer)
- Hyaline casts and RBCs
- Waxy casts and granular casts
- Epithelial cells and mucus threads
Correct answer: Bacteria and WBC casts
Bacteria combined with WBC casts in urine sediment strongly indicate a bacterial infection involving the renal tubules or upper urinary tract.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a differential white blood cell count?
- To identify the percentage of each type of WBC present (Correct answer)
- To measure the total number of red blood cells
- To determine hemoglobin concentration
- To calculate the mean corpuscular volume
Correct answer: To identify the percentage of each type of WBC present
A differential WBC count classifies the proportion of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils to help diagnose infections, allergies, and hematologic conditions.
Question 3: A blood glucose result of 52 mg/dL in a fasting patient is classified as:
- Hypoglycemia (Correct answer)
- Hyperglycemia
- Normal fasting glucose
- Impaired fasting glucose
Correct answer: Hypoglycemia
A fasting blood glucose below 70 mg/dL is classified as hypoglycemia and requires immediate clinical attention.
Question 4: Which specimen type is required for a fecal occult blood test (FOBT)?
- Random stool sample (Correct answer)
- Midstream clean-catch urine
- Venous whole blood in EDTA tube
- Capillary blood from fingerstick
Correct answer: Random stool sample
FOBT requires a stool (fecal) specimen to detect hidden (occult) blood that may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding or colorectal cancer.
Question 5: When performing a pregnancy test using a urine specimen, the test detects which hormone?
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (Correct answer)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Progesterone
Correct answer: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Urine pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is produced by the placenta shortly after implantation.
Question 6: Which of the following is the BEST action when a phlebotomist notices petechiae on a patient's arm during venipuncture preparation?
- Document the finding and notify the provider before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Proceed with venipuncture immediately without documentation
- Apply a tourniquet tighter to reduce bleeding risk
- Perform a capillary puncture instead without notifying anyone
Correct answer: Document the finding and notify the provider before proceeding
Petechiae can indicate a clotting disorder or fragile capillaries; the finding should be documented and reported to the provider before proceeding with the procedure.
Question 7: Which laboratory test is used to monitor long-term blood glucose control in diabetic patients over the past 2–3 months?
- Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (Correct answer)
- Fasting plasma glucose
- Random blood glucose
- Oral glucose tolerance test
Correct answer: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
HbA1c measures the percentage of glycated hemoglobin and reflects average blood glucose levels over the preceding 2–3 months, making it the standard for long-term diabetes management.
CCMA Laboratory Procedures 5
Which of the following urine sediment findings is MOST consistent with a bacterial urinary tract infection?