PAP Quality Control and Laboratory Standards 2

Question 1

In liquid-based cytology quality control, which step verifies that the automated imager is correctly identifying cellular regions on the slide?

Accepted Answer

Imaging system calibration

Answer

Stain batch logging

Answer

Patient identifier matching

Answer

Centrifuge speed verification

Question 2

Which document must a cytology laboratory maintain to demonstrate ongoing compliance with CLIA proficiency testing requirements?

Accepted Answer

Proficiency testing enrollment and performance records

Answer

Patient consent forms

Answer

Insurance billing logs

Answer

Colposcopy referral records

Question 3

What is the purpose of maintaining a cytology case logbook that records the number of cases screened per cytotechnologist daily?

Accepted Answer

To enforce the CLIA 100-slide workload limit

Answer

To bill insurance accurately

Answer

To track vacation days

Answer

To assign cytotechnologist bonuses

Question 4

A cytotechnology student's false-negative rate on a mock proficiency test is 7%. According to most QC benchmarks, this result is:

Accepted Answer

Within acceptable limits (below 10%)

Answer

Excellent and requires no follow-up

Answer

Cause for immediate dismissal from training

Answer

Not relevant until formal CLIA testing

Question 5

Which action is required when a cytology laboratory's proficiency testing score falls below the passing threshold under CLIA?

Accepted Answer

Immediate suspension of testing and mandatory remedial training

Answer

No action; one failure is tolerated

Answer

Notify the patient directly

Answer

Submit results to the state health department only

Question 6

Which quality assurance metric measures how often a laboratory diagnoses HSIL on Pap, verified by subsequent CIN 2+ biopsy?

Accepted Answer

Positive predictive value

Answer

Sensitivity

Answer

Specificity

Answer

Negative predictive value

Question 7

A laboratory adopts a rapid prescreening protocol where slides are reviewed at a rapid rate before full screening. The primary goal of this protocol is to:

Accepted Answer

Identify cases that need priority full review

Answer

Replace full cytotechnologist screening

Answer

Reduce staining costs

Answer

Speed up automated imaging