Practice Test Geeks(CLT) Clinical Laboratory Technologist Certification Practice Test
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Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation Flashcards

7 cards from real CLT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. A patient undergoing chemotherapy has a platelet count of 18,000/µL. According to standard critical value thresholds, the laboratory should:

    Answer: Report immediately as a critical value

    Platelet counts below 20,000–50,000/µL (institution-specific) are universally considered critical values requiring immediate notification due to spontaneous bleeding risk.

  2. Which serum protein electrophoresis finding is most associated with multiple myeloma?

    Answer: Monoclonal spike (M-protein) in the gamma region

    Multiple myeloma produces a sharp monoclonal immunoglobulin spike (M-protein or paraprotein) in the gamma region of serum protein electrophoresis.

  3. A postoperative patient's hemoglobin dropped from 12.3 to 7.1 g/dL in 4 hours. The most appropriate laboratory action is:

    Answer: Verify the result and notify the clinician as a critical value

    A rapid significant drop in hemoglobin, especially postoperatively, constitutes a critical delta check failure and must be verified then reported immediately.

  4. Elevated serum ferritin with low TIBC and normal serum iron is most consistent with which condition?

    Answer: Anemia of chronic disease

    Anemia of chronic disease shows elevated ferritin (acute phase reactant), decreased TIBC, and normal to low serum iron due to iron sequestration.

  5. A CSF specimen shows 850 WBCs/µL (95% neutrophils), glucose of 28 mg/dL, and protein of 320 mg/dL. This is most consistent with:

    Answer: Bacterial meningitis

    Bacterial meningitis classically presents with high neutrophilic pleocytosis, low glucose (due to bacterial consumption), and elevated protein in CSF.

  6. A patient's thyroid panel shows suppressed TSH (<0.01 mIU/L) with elevated free T4. This finding is most consistent with:

    Answer: Hyperthyroidism

    Suppressed TSH with elevated free T4 indicates excessive thyroid hormone production (hyperthyroidism), where negative feedback suppresses pituitary TSH.

  7. Which coagulation profile pattern is most characteristic of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)?

    Answer: Elevated PT, elevated aPTT, low fibrinogen, elevated D-dimer

    DIC causes simultaneous clot formation and fibrinolysis, consuming clotting factors (elevated PT/aPTT, low fibrinogen) and generating fibrin degradation products (elevated D-dimer).