AHPC Licensure Examination — Medical Laboratory Science

Sample Medical Laboratory Science practice questions

Try these 12 questions from different topics. Open "Show answer" to check yourself and read the explanation.

1. Question 1 · Complete Blood Count & Blood Films

   An automated complete blood count is flagged for an abnormal cell population. What is the most appropriate next laboratory step?

   1. A.Review a well-prepared peripheral blood film according to procedure
   2. B.Delete the analyzer flag
   3. C.Report a normal differential without review
   4. D.Replace the patient result with the control value
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Review a well-prepared peripheral blood film according to procedure

   Blood-film review can verify counts and assess cell morphology when analyzer flags or clinical findings require it.

2. Question 2 · Haemostasis & Coagulation

   A citrate tube submitted for coagulation testing is visibly clotted. What should the laboratory do?

   1. A.Remove the clot and continue testing
   2. B.Reject the specimen and request recollection according to policy
   3. C.Add extra anticoagulant after collection
   4. D.Report a result estimated from another patient
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Reject the specimen and request recollection according to policy

   A clotted coagulation specimen no longer has a valid blood-to-anticoagulant relationship and can produce unreliable results.

3. Question 3 · Blood Groups, Compatibility & Transfusion Safety

   Agglutination is observed when a patient's serum is cross-matched with donor red cells. How should the unit be interpreted?

   1. A.Compatible because agglutination is expected
   2. B.Automatically group O
   3. C.Incompatible and not suitable for that patient
   4. D.Suitable if transfused slowly
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Incompatible and not suitable for that patient

   Agglutination or haemolysis in the cross-match indicates incompatibility and the unit must not be issued for that patient.

4. Question 4 · Renal, Liver & Cardiac Function Tests

   A serum specimen is markedly haemolysed. What should happen before reporting chemistry results that may be affected?

   1. A.Ignore the specimen condition
   2. B.Change all results into the reference interval
   3. C.Report results without documenting haemolysis
   4. D.Assess the interference and follow the laboratory's rejection or comment policy
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Assess the interference and follow the laboratory's rejection or comment policy

   Specimen integrity is part of pre-analytical quality; haemolysis may bias several analytes and must be managed consistently.

5. Question 5 · Glucose, Lipids & Endocrine Testing

   Internal quality control for a glucose assay is outside the acceptable range. What should the laboratory do?

   1. A.Do not release affected patient results until the problem is resolved
   2. B.Release results and investigate next month
   3. C.Adjust patient values to match the reference interval
   4. D.Delete the control result
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Do not release affected patient results until the problem is resolved

   An unacceptable control result means the analytical run may be unreliable and requires investigation before release.

6. Question 6 · Analytical Methods & Instrumentation

   Which statement best distinguishes calibration from internal quality control?

   1. A.They are identical processes
   2. B.Calibration establishes the measurement relationship; control material monitors ongoing performance
   3. C.Calibration replaces all control testing
   4. D.Quality control is performed only when an instrument breaks
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Calibration establishes the measurement relationship; control material monitors ongoing performance

   Calibration sets the analytical response, while routine controls help detect drift, imprecision or other performance problems.

7. Question 7 · Bacteriology & Antimicrobial Susceptibility

   Why must inoculum preparation be standardized for antimicrobial susceptibility testing?

   1. A.It changes the patient's identity
   2. B.It makes quality-control strains unnecessary
   3. C.Inoculum density affects inhibition zones or MIC results and therefore interpretation
   4. D.It guarantees every organism is susceptible
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   Answer: C. Inoculum density affects inhibition zones or MIC results and therefore interpretation

   Standardized inoculum and controlled methods are essential for reproducible, clinically useful susceptibility results.

8. Question 8 · Mycology & Virology

   A respiratory virus is suspected. Which method is generally more appropriate than routine culture on ordinary bacteriological agar?

   1. A.A routine Gram stain alone
   2. B.An oxidase test alone
   3. C.A bacterial disk-diffusion plate
   4. D.A validated viral nucleic-acid or antigen detection assay
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   Answer: D. A validated viral nucleic-acid or antigen detection assay

   Viruses require specialized detection systems; validated molecular or antigen methods are commonly used for diagnosis.

9. Question 9 · Sterilisation, Disinfection & Biosafety

   Before introducing a new laboratory procedure, what is the first biosafety planning step?

   1. A.Perform a risk assessment for the hazards and planned controls
   2. B.Assume every procedure has the same risk
   3. C.Wait for an exposure before selecting controls
   4. D.Use personal protective equipment as the only possible control
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   Answer: A. Perform a risk assessment for the hazards and planned controls

   Risk assessment identifies hazards, likelihood and consequences so layered controls can be selected appropriately.

10. Question 10 · Malaria & Blood Parasites

    Which blood film is most useful for sensitive screening for malaria parasites?

    1. A.An unstained urine sediment
    2. B.A properly prepared thick blood film
    3. C.A bacterial Gram-stain plate
    4. D.A cervical cytology smear
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    Answer: B. A properly prepared thick blood film

    Lysis of red cells concentrates parasites in a thick film, making it useful for screening; thin films support species identification.

11. Question 11 · Intestinal & Tissue Parasites

    Why may repeated stool examinations or concentration methods be needed when intestinal parasitic infection is suspected?

    1. A.Parasites are never visible microscopically
    2. B.Every preserved sample is unsuitable
    3. C.Eggs, cysts or oocysts may be passed intermittently or in small numbers
    4. D.One negative result proves every parasite is absent
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Eggs, cysts or oocysts may be passed intermittently or in small numbers

    Intermittent or low-level shedding can reduce sensitivity, so repeat or concentrated examination may improve detection.

12. Question 12 · Serology, Immunology & Molecular Diagnostics

    A PCR run has no amplification in its positive control. How should patient results from that run be handled?

    1. A.Report every patient as negative
    2. B.Ignore the control because patients amplified differently
    3. C.Change the positive control result manually
    4. D.Treat the run as invalid and investigate before reporting
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Treat the run as invalid and investigate before reporting

    A failed positive control means the run did not demonstrate that the assay could detect its target, so negative patient results are not valid.