Question 1

RA cells are ________________________.

Accepted Answer

RA cells, or Rheumatoid Arthritis cells, are neutrophils that have phagocytosed immune complexes, typically containing IgG and IgM.

Question 2

What type of light is used to determine birefringence?

Accepted Answer

Birefringence is the property of a material to split a single incident ray of light into two rays, with different refractive indices. To determine birefringence, polarized light is used. The polarized light is passed through the material and the rotation of the plane of polarization is measured. The amount of rotation is directly related to the birefringence of the material.

Question 3

The presence of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals is typically found in patients with __________________.

Accepted Answer

The presence of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals is typically found in patients with chondrocalcinosis, which is a condition characterized by the deposition of these crystals in the cartilage of joints. It may result in joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, and is commonly associated with osteoarthritis. Gout, on the other hand, is caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints, while ankylosing spondylitis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine.

Question 4

For crystal examination in body fluids, which type of tube should the specimen be collected in?

Accepted Answer

Heparin and liquid EDTA are the preferred anticoagulants for crystal examination in body fluids as they do not interfere with crystal formation or shape. Sodium fluoride and nonadditive tubes are not suitable for this purpose. Heparin can also be used to differentiate calcium oxalate crystals from uric acid crystals. Therefore, heparinized or liquid EDTA tubes are the best choices for crystal examination in body fluids.

Question 5

For cerebrospinal fluid analysis, which tube is used for chemical analysis?

Accepted Answer

Tube 1 is used for chemical analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

Question 6

Which type of crystals typically appear as rectangles with notched corners and also as Maltese crosses under polarized light?

Accepted Answer

Cholesterol crystals typically appear as rectangles with notched corners and exhibit a Maltese cross pattern under polarized light.

Question 7

Which type of crystal contains hydroxyapatite?

Accepted Answer

Basic calcium phosphate crystals contain hydroxyapatite.

Question 8

For cerebrospinal fluid analysis, which tube is used for cell counts?

Accepted Answer

The answer of For cerebrospinal fluid analysis, which tube is...

Question 9

For body fluid analysis, which tube is observed for clot formation?

Accepted Answer

The Plain tube, also known as the Serum tube, is observed for clot formation. This is because when blood is collected in a plain tube, it is allowed to clot naturally, and the serum (liquid portion of the blood) is separated from the clot. Other tubes like EDTA, Heparinized, and Fluoride tubes are used for specific tests that require the blood to be kept in a non-clotted state.

Question 10

The presence of monosodium urate crystals is typically found in patients with _______.

Accepted Answer

Monosodium urate crystals are characteristic of gout, a form of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in joints and soft tissues. Chondrocalcinosis is characterized by calcium pyrophosphate crystals in joints, Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine, and osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease.

Question 11

In the mucin clot test, synovial fluid would clot due to polymerization of __________.

Accepted Answer

The mucin clot test is used to assess the viscosity and mucin content of synovial fluid. Hyaluronic acid is the main component of mucin in synovial fluid, and it undergoes polymerization to form a clot in response to chemical changes induced by acetic acid. Therefore, choice letter D, hyaluronic acid, is the correct answer.

Question 12

Which type of crystal typically appears as short rectangular shapes but can also appear as rods and rhomboids and is weakly birefringent?

Accepted Answer

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals typically appear as short rectangular shapes but can also appear as rods and rhomboids. They are weakly birefringent under polarized light microscopy, which helps in their identification in synovial fluid analysis for conditions like pseudogout.

Question 13

Which type of crystal suggests that a significant hemarthrosis has occurred?

Accepted Answer

Hematoidin crystals can suggest a significant hemarthrosis (bleeding into a joint space) because they are related to the breakdown of hemoglobin and can be found in areas of old hemorrhages.

Question 14

Which type of crystal is typically long, thin, and needle-like with pointed ends and also strongly birefringent?

Accepted Answer

Monosodium urate crystals are typically long, thin, and needle-like with pointed ends and are strongly birefringent, characteristic of gout.

Question 15

Which type of crystal appears as small, bipyramidal or pleomorphic shapes?

Accepted Answer

Calcium oxalate crystals can appear as small, bipyramidal or pleomorphic shapes, often seen in conditions such as kidney stones.

Question 16

For cerebrospinal fluid analysis, which tube is used for microbiological culture?

Accepted Answer

Tube 2, the culture tube, is used for microbiological culture. Tube 1 is used for cell count, tube 3 is used for chemistry, and tube 4 is used for serology.

Quiz 30: Body Fluid Examination: the Qualitative, Quantitative, and Morphologic Analysis of Serous, Cerebrospinal, and Synovial Fluids