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Medical Lab Tech ASCP Questions
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Q1Which red cell index is calculated as (hemoglobin / hematocrit) x 100 and reflects the average concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of packed red cells?
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✓ Correct answer: MCHC
MCHC = (Hgb/Hct) x 100, reported in g/dL; it describes hemoglobin concentration per unit of packed cell volume, unlike MCV (size) or MCH (content per cell).
Q2A patient has a hemoglobin of 12 g/dL and a hematocrit of 36%. What is the MCHC?
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✓ Correct answer: 33.3 g/dL
MCHC = (Hgb/Hct) x 100 = (12/36) x 100 = 33.3 g/dL, within the normal reference range of roughly 32-36 g/dL.
Q3A red cell count of 4.0 x 10^12/L and a hematocrit of 36% give which MCV?
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✓ Correct answer: 90 fL
MCV = (Hct% x 10) / RBC(x10^12/L) = (36 x 10)/4.0 = 90 fL, a normocytic value within the 80-100 fL reference interval.
Q4Microcytic, hypochromic red cells with a low MCV and elevated RDW most classically suggest which condition?
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✓ Correct answer: Iron deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency produces small (low MCV), pale (low MCHC) cells with increased size variation (high RDW); megaloblastic anemias from folate/B12 deficiency are macrocytic instead.
Q5Which leukocyte is the primary mediator of acute bacterial infection and is the most numerous WBC in normal adult peripheral blood?
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✓ Correct answer: Neutrophil
Neutrophils (segmented forms) normally make up 50-70% of circulating leukocytes and are first responders to acute bacterial infection through phagocytosis.
Q6Increased eosinophils in the peripheral blood are most characteristically associated with which of the following?
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✓ Correct answer: Parasitic infection and allergic reactions
Eosinophilia classically accompanies parasitic (helminth) infections and allergic/hypersensitivity states; bacterial infection drives neutrophilia instead.
Q7Which cell fragment is chiefly responsible for primary hemostasis through adhesion and aggregation at sites of vascular injury?
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✓ Correct answer: Platelet
Platelets (thrombocytes) adhere to exposed subendothelial collagen via von Willebrand factor and aggregate to form the primary platelet plug.
Q8Platelet clumping caused by EDTA-dependent agglutinins typically produces what spurious result on an automated analyzer?
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✓ Correct answer: Falsely decreased platelet count (pseudothrombocytopenia)
EDTA-induced clumps are counted as single large particles or excluded, lowering the reported count; redrawing in sodium citrate and correcting for dilution resolves the pseudothrombocytopenia.
Q9A reticulocyte count is best used to assess which of the following?
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✓ Correct answer: Bone marrow erythropoietic response
Reticulocytes are young anucleate red cells containing residual RNA; an elevated count indicates active marrow red-cell production, as in hemolysis or response to blood loss.
Q10Residual ribosomal RNA in reticulocytes is demonstrated with which type of stain?
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✓ Correct answer: Supravital stain such as new methylene blue
Reticulocyte RNA is precipitated only by supravital stains (new methylene blue or brilliant cresyl blue) applied to living cells; Wright stain does not reliably show the reticulum.
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