ISAC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ISAC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which of the following is essential for all documentation entries? → Date, time, signature, and credentials of the person documenting
2. In absolute cell counting using flow cytometry with counting beads, the calculation requires knowing: → The bead concentration and the ratio of target cell events to bead events
3. What is the purpose of running an 'unstained' control in a flow cytometry experiment? → To measure intrinsic autofluorescence of the cell population
4. Which of the following is an example of protecting data confidentiality? → Encrypting sensitive files
5. What is the purpose of conducting a post-incident analysis? → To identify lessons learned and improve future responses
6. Which methodology uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle? → Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
7. A cytometry lab receives a new fluorochrome-conjugated antibody with the GHS flammable liquid pictogram. What is the minimum storage precaution required? → Store away from ignition sources in a flammable materials cabinet
8. What is the primary goal of an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)? → Gain long-term unauthorized access to a target network for espionage or data theft
9. What is typically required to maintain ISAC certification? → Completing continuing education credits and meeting renewal requirements
10. What is the significance of performing a red blood cell (RBC) lysis step using ammonium chloride (ACK) buffer before staining leukocytes from whole blood? → Removing RBCs reduces sample viscosity and enriches leukocytes for easier gating
11. What is 'session hijacking'? → Stealing or forging a valid session token to impersonate an authenticated user
12. A security policy prevents any single employee from being able to both initiate and approve a financial transaction. This is an example of: → Separation of Duties
13. Which fixative is most commonly used to preserve cell surface antigen integrity while allowing subsequent intracellular staining? → Paraformaldehyde
14. What is the primary purpose of the ISAC certification program? → To validate professional competence and knowledge in the field
15. Which practice BEST reduces the risk of needlestick injury when aspirating cell samples with a syringe for flow cytometer loading? → Using a blunt-tip cannula or needle-free connector instead of a sharp needle
16. What does a high coefficient of variation (CV) in a peak separation experiment indicate? → Poor precision in measuring that fluorescence parameter
17. Which biosafety level (BSL) is required to process unfixed specimens from HIV-positive patients on a flow cytometer? → BSL-2
18. What does 'backflushing' the flow cytometer accomplish during maintenance? → It reverses the flow direction to clear clogs from the sample line
19. A sample shows unexpectedly high forward scatter (FSC) values and many events in the doublet gate. Which sample preparation error most likely caused this? → Failure to adequately dissociate cell clumps before acquisition
20. What is the purpose of lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures? → To ensure equipment is properly shut down and cannot be restarted during maintenance
21. Which parameter is used to measure cell granularity in flow cytometry? → Side scatter (SSC)
22. What is the primary purpose of performing a fluorescence minus one (FMO) control? → To set the gate boundary for a specific marker by showing background spread
23. Which laboratory accreditation standard specifically addresses flow cytometry QC requirements through its cytometry checklist? → College of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory Accreditation Program
24. Under GCP (ICH E6 R2), when flow cytometry is used as a biomarker assay in a clinical trial, the assay must be conducted in a laboratory that: → Is CAP-accredited or meets equivalent quality standards, and follows the trial protocol
25. Which light source is most commonly used in modern cell sorters for high-speed applications? → Solid-state diode laser
26. Which of the following best describes a 'botnet'? → A collection of compromised computers controlled remotely by an attacker
27. Which gating strategy best reduces doublet contamination in cell cycle analysis? → Gating on FSC-A vs FSC-H or FSC-W
28. A flow cytometer's CV (coefficient of variation) for a fluorescent bead population is suddenly much higher than usual. What is the MOST likely cause? → Partial clogging of the flow cell or sample injection tube
29. What is benchmarking in the context of quality improvement? → Comparing performance against best practices or industry standards
30. What is the primary purpose of data visualization? → To communicate complex data clearly and effectively through visual representations