CMT CMT Urinalysis and Body Fluids 2

Question 1

In a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, a markedly elevated protein with normal glucose most likely indicates:

Accepted Answer

Guillain-Barré syndrome

Answer

Guillain-Barré syndrome classically presents with albuminocytologic dissociation: very high CSF protein with a normal cell count and normal glucose.

Question 2

Which finding in CSF is most consistent with bacterial meningitis?

Accepted Answer

Increased protein, decreased glucose, neutrophilia

Answer

Bacterial meningitis typically causes elevated CSF protein, reduced glucose (bacteria consume it), and a predominance of neutrophils.

Question 3

Xanthochromia of CSF refers to:

Accepted Answer

Yellow or orange discoloration

Answer

Xanthochromia is the yellow or orange pigmentation of CSF due to hemoglobin breakdown products (oxyhemoglobin, bilirubin) after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Question 4

When differentiating a traumatic tap from true subarachnoid hemorrhage, which finding supports subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Accepted Answer

Uniform RBC count across all tubes

Answer

In subarachnoid hemorrhage, blood is uniformly distributed throughout all CSF collection tubes, while a traumatic tap shows decreasing RBCs in successive tubes.

Question 5

The reference method for synovial fluid crystal identification is:

Accepted Answer

Compensated polarized light microscopy

Answer

Compensated polarized light microscopy distinguishes monosodium urate (gout, negatively birefringent) from calcium pyrophosphate (pseudogout, positively birefringent) crystals.

CMT - Certified Medical Technologist Practice Test

CMT - Certified Medical Technologist Practice Test

CMT CMT Urinalysis and Body Fluids 2