General
General
30 mg/dl
45 mg/dl
60 mg/dl
70 mg/dl
100 mg/dl
Feedback
As a general rule, CSF glucose is about two thirds of the serum glucose measured in a
normal adult.
Ion selective electrodes are called selective rather than specific because they actually
measure the:
Feedback
Ion-selective electrodes are not completely ion-specific. All are sensitive to some
other ions to some extent.
Question Difficulty: Level 6
Feedback
Calculate the red cell indices from the following set of patient data:
Hematocrit = 35%
Feedback
Calculations:
Complement fixation
C-reactive proteins
RIA
RAST
Feedback
Which of the following is the proper storage temperature for whole blood:
- 20 degrees Celsius
- 12 degrees Celsius
12 degrees Celsius
4 degrees Celsius
Feedback
What is the BEST stock culture for quality control testing of oxidase production?
Feedback
Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa make excellent quality control choices
for the oxidase production test, as P. aeruginosa is oxidase positive, while E. coli is
oxidase negative.
Question Difficulty: Level 6
Feedback
Some elderly individuals can have poor dietary habits which can lead to decreased
nutrient absorption, including zinc.
K
S
Vw
N
Feedback
Which of the following urine chemical reagent strip tests is based on the Ehrlich-
aldehyde reaction?
pH
Protein
Glucose
Urobilinogen
Specific gravity
Feedback
The urobilinogen urine chemical reagent strip test is based on the Ehrlich-aldehyde
reaction. In this test, a pink-red color forms in proportion to the amount of
urobilinogen present.
The following results were obtained at delivery for a pregnant woman who received
antenatal RhIg.
ABO ABO
Rh
Forward Group Reverse Group
anti-A anti-B A1 cells B cells anti-D*
0 0 4+ 4+ 0
Antibody screen
Cells Gel IAT*
Screen cell l (R1R1) w+
Screen cell ll (R2R2) 1+
Screen cell lll (rr) 0
Which of the following are possible causes of the positive antibody screen?
Feedback
All causes are possible, although given the history of antenatal RhIg administration,
passive anti-D alone is the most likely cause.
Your answers are on the left. The correct answers are on the right and highlighted.
A Pappenheimer bodies
D Howell-Jolly bodies
C Cabot rings
B Basophilic stippling
Feedback
A= Pappenheimer bodies
B= Basophilic stippling
C= Cabot rings
D= Howell-Jolly bodies
Cholesterol crystals
Leucine crystals
Cystine crystals
Tyrosine crystals
Feedback
Tyrosine crystals appear as highly refractile brown to black needles; they occur as
clusters or "sheaves", which occur in acid urine. The can be found in patients with
severe liver disease. They are soluble in alkali. Their presence can be supported by the
addition of nitrosonaphthol to urine which forms a red insoluble complex in the
presence of tyrosine.
Which of the following set of results would be consistent for a patient with the
following findings: macrocytosis, anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia?
MCV 115 Hgb 9.5 gm/100ml WBC 6,500/mm' Platelets 75,000/ mm3
MCV 90 Hgb 7.5 gm/100ml WBC 6,500/mm‘ Platelets 175,000/ mm3
MCV 75 Hgb 7.5 gm/100ml WBC 2,500/mm’ Platelets 75,000/ mm3
MCV 75 Hgb 9.5 gm/100ml WBC 6,500/mm‘ Platelets 175,000/ mm3
MCV 115 Hgb 7.5 gm/100ml WBC 2,500/mm‘ Platelets 75,000/ mm3
Feedback
Macrocytosis (>100 fL MCV), Anemia (typically RBC <3.0 x 1012/L or Hgb <12
g/L), Leukopenia (typically WBC <4.0 x 109/L), Thrombocytocpenia (typically <100
x 109/L)
Therefore, choice 1 can be ruled-out due to the normal WBC count and hemoglobin
level. Choice 2 can be ruled-out due to the low MCV result and normal WBC and
platelet counts. Choice 3 can be ruled-out due to the low MCV result. Choice 4 can
be ruled-out due to the normal WBC and platelet counts.
A young man is experiencing difficult breathing after fainting. The physician orders a
blood gas analysis which shows the following results:
pH = 7.25
pCO2 = 62 mmHg
pO2 = 70 mmHg
HCO3 = 23 mEq/L
metabolic alkalosis
metabolic acidosis
respiratory alkalosis
respiratory acidosis
Feedback
Judging by the pH, which is acidic, this patient is experiencing acidosis. Recall that
the reference range for blood pH is 7.35-7.45. The patient's carbon dioxide (pCO2)
level is increased while the bicarbonate (HCO3) level is still within reference range.
This indicates that the acidosis is respiratory in nature. The fact that the bicarbonate is
not increased in response to the increase in acid, indicates that the respiratory acidosis
is uncompensated.
Feedback
Triiodothyronine
Parathyroid hormone
Thyroglobulin
Thyroxine
Feedback
What acid base disorder is most consistent with this patient's results and symptoms?
respiratory acidosis
respiratory alkalosis
metabolic acidosis
metabolic alkalosis
Feedback
The correct answer is metabolic acidosis. First, check the pH. In this case, the pH is
low, (less than 7.35) therefore by definition, patient must be in acidosis. Next,
evaluate the pCO2 and HCO3- (bicarbonate). A low PCO2 represents alkalosis and is
not consistent with the pH. A low HCO3- represents acidosis and is consistent with
the pH, therefore it must be the initial change. The low PCO2 must be the
compensatory response. Since the primary change involves HCO3-, this is a
metabolic process, hence the diagnosis of Metabolic Acidosis.
If the red cell count is known, which of the following MUST also be known in order
to calculate the mean corpuscular volume?
Hemoglobin
Leukocyte count
Color index
Hematocrit
Feedback
The white blood cell that can appear atypical or reactive on a Wright-stained smear is:
Basophil
Eosinophil
Neutrophil
Lymphocyte
Feedback
Atypical or reactive lymphocytes have more abundant cytoplasm and may approach
the size of neutrophils. They have a large range of morphologic differences, some
may even have the characteristics of early cells including the presence of nucleoli and
deeply basophilic cytoplasm. Most commonly, the scalloped edge of the cell
cytoplasm as well as a nucleus appearing "stretched" are displayed in atypical
lymphocytes.
Which of the following is not necessary for bacteria to grow successfully on artificial
media:
The correct answer is highlighted below
Pure isolate
Proper temperature
Proper pH
Proper moisture
Feedback
A mixture of bacteria can easily grow together on media as long as the other factors
are all maintained correctly.
Acanthocytosis
Polychromasia
Anisocytosis
Poikilocytosis
Feedback
G6PD deficiency
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Abetalipoproteinemia
Beta thalassemia
Feedback
These atypical erythrocytes are bite cells, associated with Heinz body formation. Note
the multiple nibbles in many of the erythrocytes. Heinz bodies represent the presence
of denatured hemoglobin associated with G6PD deficiency.
Schistocytes, keratocytes, and tear drop cells are more common in microangiopathic
anemia. Atypical RBCs in abetalipoproteineima are typically acanthocytes; the
predominant abnormal red cells in thalassemia are target cells(codocytes).
Feedback
The cause of the most severe life-threatening hemolytic transfusion reactions is:
Anti-D
Anti-M
Anti-A, Anti-B, Anti-A, B
Anti-Fya
Feedback
Incompatiblity involving the ABO blood group system can cause the most severe type
of transfusion reaction.
Reactive lymphocyte
Blast
Metamyelocyte
Plasma cell
Feedback
The nucleus is large, with delicate chromatin, prominent nucleoli, and scant
cytoplasm.
Which of the following laboratory results would be seen in a patient with acute
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)?
Feedback
Which animal was involved in the reassortment of influenza A viruses that led to the
2009 novel influenza A H1N1 virus?
Cows
Deer
Horses
Pigs
Feedback
Pigs are the animals that served as the virus reassortment vessel for the 2009 novel
influenza A H1N1 virus. Cows, deer, and horses were not the vessels for the
reassortment of the 2009 H1N1 virus.
Brain
Liver
Kidney
Blood
Lymph nodes
Feedback
Kernicterus literally means "yellow kern," with kern indicating the most commonly
afflicted portion of the brain;and is associated with severe jaundice. This condition is
caused by a build up of unconjugated bilirubin in the bloodstream from the
breakdown of red blood cells.
An abdominal wound culture grows E. coli on the aerobic culture. The anaerobic
culture has growth of two gram negative rods, one of which is aerobic. The other
gram negative rod has 2+ growth on BBE plate and is resistant to Kanamycin,
Colistin, and Vancomycin disc. This organism can be identified as:
Veillonella
Prevotella fragilis
Bacteroides fragilis group
Fusobacterium necrophorum
Feedback
Bacteroides Bile Esculin Agar (BBE) is an enriched selective and differential medium
for the isolation and presumptive identification of obligately anaerobic gram-negative
bacilli of the Bacteroides fragilis group. BBE contains gentamicin at a concentration
which inhibits most facultative anaerobes. With a few exceptions, Bacteroides species
are resistant to kanamycin and vancomycin and show variable susceptibility to
colistin.
Cylindroids
Mucus threads
Hyaline casts
Budding yeast
Feedback
Mucus thread appear as long, thin ribbon like threads that are generally transparent.
They are normal in small numbers in the urine.
Top Photo
Bottom Photo
Feedback
===========================================================
Match the type of media from the drop down box with the phrase listed below that
best describes that media:
Your answers are on the left. The correct answers are on the right and highlighted.
Differential Contains certain factors that allow colonies of specific organisms to
appear different than other colonies.
Selective Media that contains agents that inhibit all but one specific organism.
Enrichment Encourages the growth of specific types of organisms.
Feedback
Differential- Media which contains certain factors that allow colonies of specific
organisms to appear different than other colonies.
Selective- Media that contains agents that inhibit all but one specific organism.
Tube dilution
Kirby-Bauer
Gel diffusion
Tube titer
Feedback
Still widely used, the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique is a rapid, inexpensive
method of testing several antibiotics against a single isolate.
Renal disease
Diabetes
Hepatitis
Feedback
The detection of protein in the urine may be an early indicator of renal disease.
Normal physiologic criteria allow low molecular weight proteins, primarily albumin,
to be filtered through the glomerular capillary wall. Normally, the majority of the
filtered albumin is then reabsorbed by the tubules so that in a normal urine, albumin
content is below the threshold of detection (less than 15 mg/dL of albumin). Trace
protein is considered normal and in most circumstances does not require further
analysis.
Is a strict anaerobe
Transmitted by tick bites
Feedback
Which of the following methods is MOST reliable for determining the appropriate
dosage of Rh immune globulin to give to an identified Rh immune globulin candidate
after delivery?
Kleihauer-Betke method
Flow cytometry
Rosette test
No test is needed, the same dosage is given to all Rh immune globulin
candidates
Feedback
Flow cytometry is the most reliable method of those listed. It is a quantitative method,
whereas Keihauer-Betke and the rosette test are very subjective tests.
Which of the following antibodies will most likely not be detected on immediate
spin?
Anti-P1
Anti-Jka
Anti-A
Anti-M
Feedback
Jka and Jkb antibodies are nonagglutinating IgG antibodies, and are generally detected
during the antiglobulin phase.
Question Difficulty: Level 5
Which phase of the bacterial growth curve shows the greatest activity?
Death phase
Stationary Phase
Lag Phase
Log Phase
Feedback
Bacteria have a characteristic growth curve that all bacteria follow called lag phase,
log phase, stationary phase and death phase. In Lag Phase cultures of bacteria gain the
necessary nutrients from the growth medium, but have not started to grow or multiply.
In Log Phase the bacteria rapidly multiply. During Stationary Phase bacterial cells die
at the same approximate rate that they get produced, so no real growth is gained,
although cell are still being produced. Finally, in the Death Phase bacterial cells begin
to die faster than they are produced.
The immunoglobulin molecule is made up of both heavy and light chains - the light
chains can be comprised of which of the following:
Alpha or beta
Alpha or lambda
Kappa or beta
Kappa or lambda
Feedback
Only kappa or lambda chains can compose the light chains of an immunoglobulin
molecule.
An 87-year old patient had a foot wound that grew gram-negative rods on McConkey
agar as pink to dark pink oxidase-negative colonies along with the following results:
TSI: A/A
Indole: neg.
MR: neg.
VP: pos.
Citrate: pos.
H2S: neg.
Urea: pos.
Motility: neg.
Ornithine: neg.
Antibiotic susceptibility: Carboxicillin and ampicillin resistant, all others sensitive.
Serratia marcescens
Proteus vulgaris
E. coli
Klebsiella pneumonia
Feedback
Considering the reactions given in this case study, Klebsiella pneumonia would be the
best choice.
Serratia marcescens can be eliminated by the fact that it is motility + and urea
negative, as well as ornithine +.
Proteus vulgaris can be eliminated due to its production of H2S, the fact that it is
indole +, the MR/VP reaction is positive/negative, it is citrate +, and motility +.
E. coli can be eliminated due to its production of gas on the tsi slant. E. coli is also
indole +, MR/VP = positive/negative, citrate negative, urea negative, motility +,
ornithine +.
Viruses
Neisseria
Staphlyococci
Streptococci
Feedback
Various Streptococci are the most common causes of endocarditis, although many
other organisms have been implicated.
Feedback
Illustrated in this photomicrograph are multiple satellite centers of growth with radial
extensions of pseudohyphae, forming what have been called "spider" or "cross match
stick" colonies. This cornmeal agar picture is characteristic of Candida parapsilosis.
slow growth
cream to tan colored colonies when grown in the dark
development of yellow pigment upon exposure to light
Mycobacterium kansasii
Mycobacterium marinum
Mycobacterium avium
Mycobacterium scrofulaceum
Feedback
The correct answer which best fits the characteristics in this question is
Mycobacterium kansasii.
It is OK to talk about a patient's test results with a friend who works in a doctor's
office because you know you can trust them
Employees do not need to verify the identity of individuals requesting test result
information
It is OK to guess at the answers to questions from patients because they don't
know if the answer is correct and they don't like to wait while you check it out
Confidential medical information should never be discussed outside of the
laboratory
Feedback
False negative results may occur with both the direct and indirect antiglobulin tests as
a result of all of the following except:
Undercentrifugation
Delay in adding antiglobulin reagent
Failure to adequately wash cells
Agglutination of red cells prior to addition of antiglobulin reagent
Feedback
Cholesterol crystal
Triple phosphate crystal
Amorphous urate crystal
Ammonium biurate crystal
Feedback
Ammonium biurate crystals appear as yellow to brown spherical bodies with long
irregular spicules, known as "thorn apples". The can be normally present in alkaline
urine.