Specialty Certified Medical Assistant Flashcards

A specialty MA working in oncology is preparing chemotherapy for administration. Which personal protective equipment is required when handling chemotherapy agents?

Answer: Gown, double chemotherapy gloves, and face shield

Hazardous drug handling requires double chemotherapy-rated gloves, a closed-front gown, and eye/face protection per USP 800 guidelines.

In a gastroenterology practice, a patient is positive for H. pylori via urea breath test. Standard first-line treatment typically includes:

Answer: Triple therapy: PPI + clarithromycin + amoxicillin

First-line H. pylori eradication is typically clarithromycin-based triple therapy: a PPI plus clarithromycin and amoxicillin for 14 days.

A specialty MA in a dermatology office is assisting with a punch biopsy. After the procedure, the specimen should be placed in:

Answer: 10% formalin fixative

Skin biopsy specimens are preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathological examination.

During a neurology visit, the specialty MA assists with a lumbar puncture. The patient is positioned in the lateral decubitus position. Why is this position used?

Answer: It widens the interspinous spaces to ease needle insertion

Curling into the lateral decubitus (fetal) position flexes the spine and widens interspinous spaces, facilitating lumbar puncture needle placement.

A patient in the endocrinology clinic has a fasting blood glucose of 118 mg/dL on two separate occasions. This result is classified as:

Answer: Prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose)

A fasting glucose of 100–125 mg/dL on two occasions is classified as impaired fasting glucose (prediabetes) per ADA criteria.

A specialty MA in a urology office prepares a patient for urodynamic testing. Which finding during this test indicates detrusor overactivity?

Answer: Involuntary detrusor contractions during filling phase

Detrusor overactivity is defined by involuntary detrusor muscle contractions during the bladder filling phase on urodynamic study.

When assisting in a gynecology office, the specialty MA prepares a liquid-based cervical cytology (ThinPrep) sample. After collecting the sample, the brush/spatula should be:

Answer: Rinsed in the liquid-based vial and discarded

For ThinPrep liquid-based cytology, the collection device is rinsed or swirled in the vial of preservative solution, not spread on a slide.