CMLA Hematology Basics 5

Question 1

Which test is used to diagnose hereditary spherocytosis?

Accepted Answer

Osmotic fragility test

Answer

Hereditary spherocytosis is diagnosed using the osmotic fragility test, which shows increased lysis in hypotonic saline.

Question 2

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:

Accepted Answer

Aplastic anemia

Answer

Pancytopenia (low WBC, RBC, and platelets) across all cell lines is characteristic of aplastic anemia due to bone marrow failure.

Question 3

In the ABO blood group system, a person with type O blood has:

Accepted Answer

No antigens on RBCs and both anti-A and anti-B antibodies

Answer

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.

Question 4

Which morphology is characteristic of iron deficiency anemia on a peripheral smear?

Accepted Answer

Microcytic, hypochromic cells

Answer

Iron deficiency anemia produces small (microcytic), pale (hypochromic) red blood cells due to inadequate hemoglobin synthesis.

Question 5

The buffy coat layer in a centrifuged blood sample contains:

Accepted Answer

White blood cells and platelets

Answer

The buffy coat is the thin white layer between packed RBCs and plasma that contains leukocytes and platelets.

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