MLPAO MLPAO Medical Laboratory Calculations

Question 1

A patient's serum glucose is reported as 5.6 mmol/L. What is the equivalent value in mg/dL?

Accepted Answer

100.8 mg/dL

Answer

To convert mmol/L to mg/dL for glucose, multiply by 18.016 (the molecular weight factor). 5.6 × 18.016 = 100.9 mg/dL ≈ 100.8 mg/dL.

Question 2

You need to prepare a 1:10 dilution of a patient serum sample. If the final volume required is 5 mL, how much serum do you need?

Accepted Answer

0.5 mL

Answer

A 1:10 dilution means 1 part sample in 10 parts total. Serum needed = 5 mL ÷ 10 = 0.5 mL, with 4.5 mL diluent.

Question 3

A urine specific gravity reading is 1.025. Which of the following best describes this specimen?

Accepted Answer

Concentrated urine with high solute content

Answer

Specific gravity of 1.025 is at the high end of the normal range (1.001–1.030), indicating concentrated urine with high solute content, suggesting dehydration or ADH activity.

Question 4

A laboratory uses a control with a target value of 4.0 mmol/L and a standard deviation (SD) of 0.1 mmol/L. What is the 2-SD warning limit?

Accepted Answer

3.8–4.2 mmol/L

Answer

The 2-SD warning limits are: mean ± 2SD = 4.0 ± 2(0.1) = 4.0 ± 0.2, giving a range of 3.8–4.2 mmol/L.

Question 5

A blood specimen collected in a plain red-top tube at 9:00 AM must be centrifuged within 30 minutes of collection. What is the latest acceptable centrifugation time?

Accepted Answer

9:30 AM

Answer

Adding 30 minutes to the 9:00 AM collection time gives 9:30 AM as the deadline for centrifugation.

MLPAO - Medical Laboratory Professionals Association of Ontario Practice Test

MLPAO - Medical Laboratory Professionals Association of Ontario Practice Test

MLPAO MLPAO Medical Laboratory Calculations