ABPath Clinical Pathology

Question 1

Which of the following is the most common cause of acquired hemolytic anemia?

Accepted Answer

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Answer

Acquired hemolytic anemias are conditions where red blood cells are prematurely destroyed due to factors outside of inherited defects. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is the most common acquired form, where the body's immune system mistakenly produces antibodies that target and destroy its own red blood cells. This immune-mediated destruction can be primary or secondary to other diseases.

Question 2

Which laboratory test is primarily used to assess liver function?

Accepted Answer

Liver function tests (LFTs)

Answer

Liver function tests (LFTs) are a panel of blood tests specifically designed to assess the health and function of the liver. These tests measure various enzymes (like ALT, AST, ALP, GGT) and proteins (like albumin, bilirubin) that are produced by the liver or are released when liver cells are damaged. They provide crucial information about liver inflammation, damage, and synthetic capacity.

Question 3

A patient presents with a high white blood cell count. Which condition is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Chronic myelogenous leukemia

Answer

While acute leukemia can present with a high WBC count, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is classically associated with extremely high, often markedly elevated, white blood cell counts, sometimes exceeding 100,000 cells/µL. This is due to the uncontrolled proliferation of mature and immature myeloid cells, particularly neutrophils, in the bone marrow and peripheral blood.

Question 4

What is the primary function of platelets in the blood?

Accepted Answer

Blood clotting

Answer

Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are small, anucleated cell fragments crucial for hemostasis, the process of stopping bleeding. Their primary function is to form a platelet plug at sites of vascular injury and to provide a surface for the activation of coagulation factors, ultimately leading to the formation of a stable fibrin clot.

Question 5

Which of the following tests is most appropriate for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB)?

Accepted Answer

Sputum smear for acid-fast bacilli

Answer

While a chest X-ray can suggest TB, the definitive diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis relies on identifying the causative organism, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A sputum smear for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) directly visualizes these bacteria under a microscope, and a sputum culture provides confirmation and drug susceptibility testing, making it the most appropriate diagnostic test.

American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test

American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test

ABPath Clinical Pathology