Hematology Basics Flashcards
7 cards from real CMLA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Hematology Basics flashcards as text
Which test is used to diagnose hereditary spherocytosis?
Answer: Osmotic fragility test
Hereditary spherocytosis is diagnosed using the osmotic fragility test, which shows increased lysis in hypotonic saline.
A CBC shows WBC 2.1 × 10³/μL, RBC 1.8 × 10⁶/μL, and platelets 45 × 10³/μL. This pancytopenia pattern is MOST consistent with:
Answer: Aplastic anemia
Pancytopenia (low WBC, RBC, and platelets) across all cell lines is characteristic of aplastic anemia due to bone marrow failure.
In the ABO blood group system, a person with type O blood has:
Answer: No antigens on RBCs and both anti-A and anti-B antibodies
Type O individuals have no A or B antigens on their red cells but carry both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in their plasma.
Which morphology is characteristic of iron deficiency anemia on a peripheral smear?
Answer: Microcytic, hypochromic cells
Iron deficiency anemia produces small (microcytic), pale (hypochromic) red blood cells due to inadequate hemoglobin synthesis.
The buffy coat layer in a centrifuged blood sample contains:
Answer: White blood cells and platelets
The buffy coat is the thin white layer between packed RBCs and plasma that contains leukocytes and platelets.
Which WBC differential finding is MOST consistent with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)?
Answer: Marked lymphocytosis with smudge cells
CLL classically presents with markedly elevated mature lymphocytes and smudge cells (fragile lymphocytes disrupted during smear preparation).
What is the normal reference range for hemoglobin in adult males?
Answer: 13.5–17.5 g/dL
The normal hemoglobin range for adult males is 13.5–17.5 g/dL, which is higher than the female reference range.