FREE ASCP Medical Laboratory Technician Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real Medical Laboratory Technician Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 FREE ASCP Medical Laboratory Technician Questions and Answers flashcards as text
A patient's blood sample shows microcytic, hypochromic red blood cells with an elevated red cell distribution width (RDW). Which condition is most consistent with these findings?
Answer: Iron deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency anemia classically presents with microcytic, hypochromic cells and an elevated RDW due to progressive iron depletion causing variable cell sizes.
Which anticoagulant is preferred for routine coagulation studies such as PT and aPTT?
Answer: Sodium citrate
Sodium citrate (3.2%) is the standard anticoagulant for coagulation testing because it reversibly binds calcium and preserves coagulation factor activity.
A Gram stain of a sputum specimen reveals gram-positive cocci in pairs surrounded by a clear zone. Which organism is most likely?
Answer: Streptococcus pneumoniae
Gram-positive diplococci with a capsular clear zone (quellung reaction appearance) on Gram stain is characteristic of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
In quality control, what does a Westgard 2-2s rule violation indicate?
Answer: Systematic error or shift in the analytical process
The 2-2s rule flags systematic error when two consecutive controls exceed 2 standard deviations in the same direction, indicating a shift or trend.
Which immunoglobulin class is the first to be produced during a primary immune response?
Answer: IgM
IgM is the first antibody produced during a primary immune response and is the largest immunoglobulin, existing as a pentamer in serum.
A urine specimen tested with a reagent strip shows a positive nitrite result but negative leukocyte esterase. What is the most appropriate interpretation?
Answer: Bacteriuria may be present, likely from gram-negative organisms
A positive nitrite indicates bacteria capable of reducing nitrate to nitrite, which are typically gram-negative organisms, even when leukocyte esterase is negative.