Question 1

Rh-positive babies born to mothers with Rh-negative blood are at risk of developing what condition?

Accepted Answer

Babies born to mothers with Rh-negative blood are at risk of developing HDN.

Question 2

AST and ALT testing is done to monitor potential liver damage in patients receiving statin drugs.

Accepted Answer

Certain drugs can impair liver function and require monitoring of liver enzymes. These drugs include statins and fibrates, pharmaceutical agents used to lower blood cholesterol, and certain antidiabetic and antihypertensive drugs. Liver function must be monitored during therapy with drugs that may cause liver malfunction. Two liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), can be useful for monitoring homeostasis during drug therapy.

Question 3

Increases in the WBC count that are not related to disease are seen in pregnant women and individuals facing extreme stress.

Accepted Answer

An increase in the number of normal WBCs is a condition called leukocytosis. Increased WBC counts may normally be seen with pregnancy, stress, anesthesia, exercise, exposure to temperature extremes, and after treatment with corticosteroids

Question 4

Lavender-topped tubes are used for routine CBC tests.

Accepted Answer

For a complete blood cell count, venous blood is collected in a tube containing an anticoagulant that prevents clotting. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is the anticoagulant of choice for hematology testing. It is important to make sure the blood is not hemolyzed during collection.

Question 5

If a capillary tube is not plugged, it must be filled with a special clay before centrifugation.

Accepted Answer

The tube must be sealed to prevent blood splatter during centrifuging.

Question 6

An RBC with a normal amount of hemoglobin is said to be hyperchromic.

Accepted Answer

An RBC with a normal amount of hemoglobin is said to be normochromic. Pale-staining cells are hypochromic and have less hemoglobin than normal.

Question 7

If the shape of RBCs shows significant variation from normal, the alteration in shape is called thrombocytopenia.

Accepted Answer

Normal RBCs are round or slightly oval. Cells may be shaped like sickles, targets, crescents, or burrs. Poikilocytosis is a significant variation in the shape of RBCs.

Question 8

Hemoglobin A_1c determination is more useful than blood glucose measurement in the management of diabetes, because it provides information on the average blood sugar level over a 2- to 3-month period.

Accepted Answer

Because RBCs have a life span of approximately 90 days, measuring the amount of glucose bound to hemoglobin can provide an assessment of average blood sugar control during the 60 to 90 days preceding the test.

Question 9

An HDL cholesterol level over 20 mg/dL is abnormal.

Accepted Answer

An HDL cholesterol level of 35 mg/dL is considered acceptable. Values below 35 mg/dL are abnormal.

Question 10

The life span of an erythrocyte is approximately 120 days.

Accepted Answer

The life span of an erythrocyte is approximately 120 days.

Question 11

Blood type O is considered the "universal donor," because no anti-A or anti-B antibodies are found in the plasma.

Accepted Answer

Blood type O negative is referred to as the universal donor because it has no circulating antibodies to the ABO antigen nor any Rh antigens that might sensitize an Rh-negative recipient.

Question 12

The WBC count is lowest in newborns and highest in adults.

Accepted Answer

The normal WBC count varies with age. It is higher in newborns and declines throughout life.

Question 13

Plasma makes up approximately 45% of blood by volume.

Accepted Answer

Plasma makes up approximately 55% of blood by volume. Whole blood is composed of formed elements suspended in a clear yellow, liquid portion called plasma.

Question 14

A test that determines long-range blood glucose control is the

Accepted Answer

A method of determining long-range blood glucose control is with the A1c or glycosylated hemoglobin test.

Question 15

Eosinophils are associated with allergic reactions.

Accepted Answer

Eosinophils are phagocytic and are closely associated with allergic reactions (e.g., hay fever), asthma, and certain parasitic infestations (e.g., tapeworm infestation and amoebic dysentery).

Question 16

B cells produce specific antibodies against a particular antigen.

Accepted Answer

When stimulated, B cells produce specific antibodies against a specific antigen.

Quiz 44: Assisting in the Analysis of Blood

Rh-positive babies born to mothers with Rh-negative blood are at risk of developing what condition?

AST and ALT testing is done to monitor potential liver damage in patients receiving statin drugs.

Increases in the WBC count that are not related to disease are seen in pregnant women and individuals facing extreme stress.

Lavender-topped tubes are used for routine CBC tests.

If a capillary tube is not plugged, it must be filled with a special clay before centrifugation.

An RBC with a normal amount of hemoglobin is said to be hyperchromic.

If the shape of RBCs shows significant variation from normal, the alteration in shape is called thrombocytopenia.

Hemoglobin A1c determination is more useful than blood glucose measurement in the management of diabetes, because it provides information on the average blood sugar level over a 2- to 3-month period.

An HDL cholesterol level over 20 mg/dL is abnormal.

The life span of an erythrocyte is approximately 120 days.

Blood type O is considered the "universal donor," because no anti-A or anti-B antibodies are found in the plasma.

The WBC count is lowest in newborns and highest in adults.

Plasma makes up approximately 45% of blood by volume.

A test that determines long-range blood glucose control is the

Eosinophils are associated with allergic reactions.

B cells produce specific antibodies against a particular antigen.

Hemoglobin A_1c determination is more useful than blood glucose measurement in the management of diabetes, because it provides information on the average blood sugar level over a 2- to 3-month period.