ASCP MLA Exam: Practice Questions

Prepare for the ASCP BOC Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) exam with this unofficial book of practice questions.

This book contains:

• 400 multiple-choice questions divided into the five content areas of the exam
• Information about the ASCP MLA exam. You'll learn what topics you need to study, what to bring on exam day, and how to get your exam results.

Just like the real ASCP MLA exam, the questions are based on five content areas:

1. Patient registration and specimen collection
2. Specimen preparation and processing
3. Support for clinical testing
4. Waived and point-of-care testing
5. Laboratory operations

Answers and explanations are provided at the end of each content area.

1) PATIENT REGISTRATION AND SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Which specimen request has the highest priority?
a. Fasting
b. Post-op
c. Stat
d. Urgent

2) SPECIMEN PREPARATION AND PROCESSING
Why must pipette tips be changed after each sample?
a. To prevent bubbles from forming in the pipette
b. To prevent cross-contamination between samples
c. To prevent wear and tear on the pipette
d. To reduce the time spent pipetting

3) SUPPORT FOR CLINICAL TESTING
For which test are Westergren tubes used?
a. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
b. Hematocrit
c. Microhematocrit
d. Reticulocyte count

4) WAIVED AND POINT-OF-CARE TESTING
A false negative result on a pregnancy test may be caused by urine that is:
a. high in glucose
b. high in ketones
c. too concentrated
d. too diluted

5) LABORATORY OPERATIONS
What are standards of practice?
a. A definition of competent behavior for professionals
b. Measures to ensure work is accurate
c. Rules for how organizations must treat their employees
d. Rules for students on work placements

Answers
1) c. Stat
Stat test requests have the highest priority. These tests are needed for the immediate management of life-threatening situations.

2) b. To prevent cross-contamination between samples
Using the same pipette tip can cause sample carryover, where residual droplets from the previous sample contaminate the next sample. In the laboratory, you must change tips after every sample to prevent this.

3) a. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
The Westergren tube is a type of sedimentation rate tube.

4) d. too diluted
If urine is diluted (for example, if the patient has drunk a lot of fluids), the concentration of the pregnancy hormone (hCG) may be too low for the test to detect.

5) a. A definition of competent behavior for professionals
Standards of practice define the expected behaviors, skills, and competencies for professionals within a specific field. They ensure workers meet a certain level of performance and quality.