Laboratory Equipment and Quality Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real MLPAO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Laboratory Equipment and Quality Questions and Answers flashcards as text
What is the function of a micropipette calibration check using gravimetric analysis?
Answer: To verify the pipette delivers the correct volume by weighing dispensed water
Gravimetric calibration checks a micropipette's accuracy by weighing aliquots of distilled water dispensed at the set volume, using the known density of water (1.00 g/mL at 20°C) to calculate the delivered volume.
What is the purpose of the discriminator setting on a hematology analyzer for cell counting?
Answer: To define voltage thresholds that distinguish cell populations by size or electrical impedance
Discriminators are electronic threshold settings on hematology analyzers that define boundaries between cell populations (e.g., between RBCs and platelets, or between WBC populations) based on electrical impedance or light scatter characteristics.
Which of the following calibration materials is appropriate for calibrating a clinical chemistry analyzer?
Answer: Commercially prepared calibrators with established analyte concentrations traceable to reference methods
Calibrators are commercially prepared materials with certified analyte concentrations that are traceable to primary reference standards. They are used to set the analyzer's response curve, not QC materials.
What is the purpose of preventive maintenance on laboratory analyzers?
Answer: To ensure consistent analyzer performance, extend instrument life, and prevent unexpected failures
Preventive maintenance (PM) involves scheduled cleaning, inspection, and replacement of components to maintain consistent analyzer performance, prevent unexpected breakdowns, and extend instrument lifespan.
An autoclave is used for sterilization in medical laboratories. What is the minimum recommended temperature, pressure, and time for a standard gravity cycle sterilization?
Answer: 121°C, 15 psi, 15-20 minutes
Standard gravity displacement autoclave sterilization requires 121°C (250°F) at 15 psi steam pressure for a minimum of 15-20 minutes to achieve sterility (destruction of all microorganisms including resistant spores).
In flow cytometry, what does the parameter 'FSC' (forward scatter) primarily indicate about a cell?
Answer: Cell size (volume)
Forward scatter (FSC) in flow cytometry is primarily related to cell size (volume). Larger cells scatter more laser light in the forward direction than smaller cells.