Medical Technologist Test Medical Technologist Terminology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The term 'leukocytosis' is defined as:
- A decrease in white blood cell count below normal
- An increase in white blood cell count above normal (Correct answer)
- Abnormal morphology of white blood cells
- Absence of white blood cells in circulation
Correct answer: An increase in white blood cell count above normal
Leukocytosis refers to a white blood cell count above the upper reference limit, often indicating infection or inflammation.
Question 2: Which term describes the process by which bacteria are rendered susceptible to phagocytosis by coating with antibodies or complement?
- Agglutination
- Opsonization (Correct answer)
- Precipitation
- Lysis
Correct answer: Opsonization
Opsonization is the coating of pathogens with opsonins (antibodies/complement) to enhance phagocytosis.
Question 3: What does the medical abbreviation 'STAT' indicate?
- Standard testing after two hours
- Scheduled testing at timed intervals
- Immediate, urgent testing (Correct answer)
- Specimen transport and tracking
Correct answer: Immediate, urgent testing
STAT (from Latin 'statim') means immediately, signaling that a test result is needed urgently.
Question 4: The term 'polycythemia' refers to:
- A decrease in red blood cell mass
- An increase in red blood cell mass or concentration (Correct answer)
- Immature red blood cell release
- Abnormal red cell shape
Correct answer: An increase in red blood cell mass or concentration
Polycythemia is characterized by an elevated red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.
Question 5: In urinalysis terminology, 'glucosuria' means:
- High blood glucose level
- Presence of glucose in urine (Correct answer)
- Glucose in cerebrospinal fluid
- Absence of glucose in plasma
Correct answer: Presence of glucose in urine
Glucosuria is the excretion of glucose in the urine, often indicating diabetes mellitus or a low renal threshold.
Question 6: What is an 'antigen' in immunological terms?
- A protein that destroys foreign cells directly
- A molecule that triggers an immune response and binds to antibodies (Correct answer)
- A white blood cell that produces cytokines
- A complement protein that lyses cells
Correct answer: A molecule that triggers an immune response and binds to antibodies
An antigen is any substance that stimulates an immune response and specifically binds to antibodies or T-cell receptors.
Question 7: The term 'centrifugation' in the clinical laboratory primarily refers to:
- Heating specimens to destroy pathogens
- Using centrifugal force to separate specimen components by density (Correct answer)
- Filtering specimens through a membrane
- Precipitating proteins with chemical agents
Correct answer: Using centrifugal force to separate specimen components by density
Centrifugation separates blood into layers (plasma/serum, buffy coat, red cells) based on differences in density.
Medical Technologist Test Medical Technologist Terminology 3
The term 'leukocytosis' is defined as: