Practice Test Geeks(MLS) Medical Laboratory Scientist Practice Test
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Clinical Procedures & Protocols Flashcards

7 cards from real MLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Clinical Procedures & Protocols flashcards as text

  1. A patient's PT is 45 seconds and the laboratory mean normal PT is 12 seconds. What is the INR if the ISI of the thromboplastin used is 1.2?

    Answer: 3.75

    INR = (PT patient / PT mean normal)^ISI = (45/12)^1.2 = (3.75)^1.2 ≈ 3.75; since ISI=1.2, the calculation yields approximately 3.75.

  2. Which condition is MOST likely if osmotic fragility testing shows increased RBC resistance to hemolysis in hypotonic saline?

    Answer: Iron deficiency anemia

    Iron deficiency produces hypochromic, microcytic RBCs with a larger surface-to-volume ratio, making them more resistant to osmotic lysis (decreased fragility).

  3. A lab's LIS interface drops and pending results cannot be auto-verified. What is the correct downtime procedure?

    Answer: Manually phone all critical values and log on paper per downtime policy

    Downtime procedures require manual reporting of critical values by phone and paper logging to ensure patient care is not interrupted.

  4. Which reagent strip test on a urine dipstick detects hydrogen peroxide produced by peroxidase-like activity of hemoglobin?

    Answer: Blood/hemoglobin

    The blood pad on a dipstick uses a peroxidase reaction: hemoglobin catalyzes oxidation of a chromogen by hydrogen peroxide, producing a color change.

  5. During a crossmatch, an unexpected antibody is detected in the patient's serum. What is the NEXT step?

    Answer: Perform an antibody identification panel

    An unexpected antibody requires an antibody identification panel to determine the specificity before selecting antigen-negative compatible blood.

  6. A 2+ positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is found on a routine pretransfusion sample. This finding is MOST consistent with:

    Answer: IgG antibody or complement coating the patient's RBCs in vivo

    A positive DAT indicates IgG antibodies or complement components (C3d) are coating patient RBCs in vivo, which can occur in AIHA, HDN, or drug-induced hemolysis.

  7. Which action is required when a pipette calibration check shows a systematic error of 3% at all volume settings?

    Answer: Remove the pipette from service and recalibrate or repair it

    A systematic 3% error at all volumes exceeds most laboratory tolerance limits and requires the pipette to be removed from service for recalibration or repair.