Question 1

Which procedure is used to collect the pleural fluid from the pleural cavity?
A)Pericardial aspiration
B)Paracentesis
C)Thoracentesis
D)Spinal tap

Accepted Answer

Thoracentesis is the procedure used to collect the pleural fluid from the pleural cavity. Pericardial aspiration is used to collect fluid from the pericardial sac surrounding the heart, paracentesis is used for collecting fluid from the abdominal cavity, and spinal tap is used to collect cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal cord.

Question 2

The most pathogenic yeasts are found in the CSF rather than in the other types of fluids.Which yeast is described as small and often intracellular with a distinct nonstaining cell wall?
A)Cryptococcus
B)Candida albicans
C)Candida tropicalis
D)Histoplasma

Accepted Answer

Histoplasma is a yeast that is small, often intracellular, and has a distinct nonstaining cell wall, commonly found in the CSF.

Question 3

What is the significance of micro-organisms present in the cytospin?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the significance of micro-organisms present...

Question 4

What morphological characteristics of the following cell types will help the technologist differentiate them?
a.Mesothelial cells
b.Adenocarcinoma
c.Leukemic blasts
d.Small-cell carcinoma

Accepted Answer

The answer of What morphological characteristics of the following cell...

Question 5

Explain how the following are formed:
a.Transudate
b.Exudate
c.Chylous fluid

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how the following are formed:
a.Transudate
b.Exudate
c.Chylous fluid...

Question 6

A technologist is performing a body fluid analysis on a CSF specimen recently received in the laboratory.Four CSF tubes were sent to the body fluids bench.The tech notices that all four specimens seem moderately blood tinged equally.Moderate xanthochromia was also noted.The tech performs the cytospin differential and notices many macrophages with black crystals and round,pink intracellular bodies.What is the most likely reason for these findings?
A)This was a traumatic specimen collection.
B)The patient has a CNS lymphoma.
C)The patient is suffering from a subdural hemorrhage.
D)The wrong patient was drawn.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A technologist is performing a body fluid...

Question 7

List common morphologic changes associated with cytocentrifugation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List common morphologic changes associated with cytocentrifugation....

Question 8

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis has fluid collected from his knee.The fluid has crystals that have a notched-plate shape.They are also birefringent.These crystals are most likely:
A)Calcium pyrophosphate
B)Monosodium urate
C)Steroid
D)Cholesterol

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient with rheumatoid arthritis has fluid...

Question 9

Cells found in fluids can be reactive mesothelial cells or malignant cells.Which features are found in reactive cells but not in malignant cells?
A)Smooth nuclear membranes
B)Chromatin unevenly distributed
C)Nucleoli prominent and frequently multiply
D)Nuclear molding

Accepted Answer

Reactive cells typically have smooth nuclear membranes, while malignant cells often have irregular or "raisin-like" nuclear outlines. The other options (B, C, D) are features that can be seen in malignant cells.

Question 10

The ability to bend light rays against both fixed and rotating filters is:
A)Xanthochromia
B)Birefringence
C)Thermal reactivity
D)Nephelometry

Accepted Answer

Birefringence is the ability to bend light rays against both fixed and rotating filters. Xanthochromia refers to a yellowish or orange color in cerebrospinal fluid due to the presence of bilirubin, red blood cells or degradation pigments. Thermal reactivity refers to the ability of a substance to react or change its properties when exposed to heat. Nephelometry is a method of measuring the concentration of particles in a solution based on the amount of light scattered by the particles.

Question 11

When evaluating a CSF for a hemorrhage or a traumatic tap,what laboratory results would be expected if it were a traumatic tap?
A)Tube 1 would have a lower red cell count than Tube 4.
B)Tube 1 would have a higher red cell count than Tube 4.
C)Tube 1 would show xanthochromia,and Tube 4 would show no xanthochromia.
D)Tube 1 would not have any cells,but tube 4 would have many crenated cells.

Accepted Answer

A traumatic tap is caused by injury to the meninges during the collection of the CSF. This causes blood from the surrounding tissues to enter the sample, leading to an artificially high red cell count in the initial tubes. As the technician progresses towards Tube 4, the red cell count decreases due to the dilution of the sample with each tube. In the case of a hemorrhage, the red cell count would remain consistently high across all tubes, while in a traumatic tap, the red cell count would decrease as the sample is collected. Therefore, Tube 1 would have a higher red cell count than Tube 4, indicating a traumatic tap.

Question 12

An exudative effusion can cause many different pathologic processes,such as bacterial infections,viral infections,neoplasms,and collagen vascular diseases.What are the typical laboratory results of an exudate? A)Specific gravity is less than 1.015,total protein is >3.0 g/dL,a ratio of total fluid protein to serum protein is >0.5,a ratio of fluid LD to serum LD is >0.6,and a total leukocyte count usually is >1000/mcL. B)Specific gravity is <1.015,a total protein is < 3.0 g/dL,a ratio of total fluid protein to serum protein is <0.5,ratio of fluid LD to serum LD is <6.0,and a total leukocyte count usually is <1000/mcL. C)Specific gravity is <1.015,a total protein is < 3.0 g/dL,a ratio of total fluid protein to serum protein is more than 0.5,ration of fluid LD to serum LD is <6.0,and a total leukocyte count usually is >5000/mcL. D)Specific gravity is >1.015,a total protein is >3.0 g/dL,a ratio of total fluid protein to serum protein is >0.5,a ratio of fluid LD to serum LD is >0.6,and a total leukocyte count usually is> 1000/mcL.

Accepted Answer

An exudate typically has a specific gravity greater than 1.015, a total protein greater than 3.0 g/dL, a ratio of total fluid protein to serum protein greater than 0.5, a ratio of fluid LD to serum LD greater than 0.6, and a total leukocyte count usually greater than 1000/mcL. Therefore, choice D is the best answer.

Question 13

An overweight 73-year-old man sees his orthopedic specialist because of recurrent right knee pain.The physician performs an arthrocentesis and sends it to the laboratory for analysis.The technologist notes many crystals with notched edges,exhibiting strong birefringence.Based on this information,from what is the patient most likely suffering?
A)Systemic lupus
B)Gout
C)Rheumatoid arthritis
D)Bacterial infection in the joint

Accepted Answer

The answer of An overweight 73-year-old man sees his orthopedic...

Question 14

The technique that should be performed to differentiate starch particles from pathogenic crystals in fluids is:
A)Examination with polarized light
B)Examination with fluorescent light
C)Examination with Wright stain
D)Calculation of RBC to WBC ratio

Accepted Answer

Examination with polarized light is the most appropriate technique for differentiation of starch particles from pathogenic crystals in fluids because the birefringent properties of starch will cause it to rotate polarized light waves in a specific direction, while pathogenic crystals will not have this effect. This property of polarized light can be used to differentiate between the two substances. Fluorescent light, Wright stain, and RBC to WBC ratio are not relevant for this differentiation.

Question 15

An unknown crystal exhibits positive birefringence.It is rhomboid in appearance.What is its most likely identification?
A)Monosodium urate
B)Starch particles
C)Cholesterol crystals
D)Calcium pyrophosphate

Accepted Answer

Rhomboid-shaped crystals with positive birefringence are characteristic of calcium pyrophosphate crystals, which are commonly found in pseudogout. Monosodium urate crystals typically have a needle-like appearance, while starch particles and cholesterol crystals do not exhibit birefringence.

Question 16

Which type of fluid is milky in appearance and is formed from long-standing effusions resulting from chronic conditions?
A)Transudate
B)Pseudochylous
C)Exudates
D)Chylous

Accepted Answer

Pseudochylous fluid is milky in appearance and results from the breakdown of cellular components in long-standing effusions, often associated with chronic conditions. Unlike chylous fluid, which is also milky but results from lymphatic disruption, pseudochylous fluid does not contain high levels of triglycerides.

Question 17

Interpret the following results: -Specimen: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
-Tubes sent: 1-4
-Tube 1 RBC count: 30,000/mcL
-Tube 2 RBC count: 1500/mcL
-Tube 3 RBC count: 200/mcL
-Tube 4 RBC count: 4/mcL
-Gross examination:
-Tube 1: moderate hemolysis,clear
-Tube 2: slight hemolysis,clear
-Tube 3: no hemolysis,clear
-Tube 4: no hemolysis,clear
-Xanthochromia: absent in all four tubes
-Microscopic findings:
-Many intact RBCs
-0-5 neutrophils
-0-5 lymphocytes
-0-5 MNCs
What do these data most likely represent?
A)A cerebral hemorrhage
B)A traumatic specimen collection
C)A possible infection in the CSF
D)A bacterial contamination from an external source

Accepted Answer

The high RBC count in the first tube and decreasing counts in subsequent tubes, along with the presence of intact RBCs and low numbers of white blood cells, suggest a traumatic specimen collection. Xanthochromia, a yellow discoloration in the CSF due to breakdown of red blood cells, is absent in all four tubes, further supporting a traumatic tap rather than a cerebral hemorrhage. The absence of significant hemolysis and bacterial contamination suggests that the sample is suitable for further analysis.

Question 18

One of the definitive signs of hemorrhage in the CNS is:
A)Increased RBC count
B)Significant increase in WBC
C)Erythrophagocytosis
D)Presence of histiocytes

Accepted Answer

Erythrophagocytosis, or the phagocytosis of red blood cells by macrophages, is a definitive sign of hemorrhage in the CNS. Increased RBC count or presence of histiocytes may indicate hemorrhage, but they are not definitive signs. A significant increase in WBC count is not typically associated with hemorrhage in the CNS.

Question 19

How would the technologist differentiate between a traumatic specimen collection tap and a cerebral hemorrhage?
 Provide at least three macroscopic and three microscopic findings.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would the technologist differentiate between a...

Quiz 30: Morphologic Analysis of Body Fluids in the Hematology Laboratory

Which procedure is used to collect the pleural fluid from the pleural cavity?

The most pathogenic yeasts are found in the CSF rather than in the other types of fluids.Which yeast is described as small and often intracellular with a distinct nonstaining cell wall?

What is the significance of micro-organisms present in the cytospin?

What morphological characteristics of the following cell types will help the technologist differentiate them? a.Mesothelial cells b.Adenocarcinoma c.Leukemic blasts d.Small-cell carcinoma

Explain how the following are formed: a.Transudate b.Exudate c.Chylous fluid

List common morphologic changes associated with cytocentrifugation.

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis has fluid collected from his knee.The fluid has crystals that have a notched-plate shape.They are also birefringent.These crystals are most likely:

Cells found in fluids can be reactive mesothelial cells or malignant cells.Which features are found in reactive cells but not in malignant cells?

The ability to bend light rays against both fixed and rotating filters is:

When evaluating a CSF for a hemorrhage or a traumatic tap,what laboratory results would be expected if it were a traumatic tap?

An exudative effusion can cause many different pathologic processes,such as bacterial infections,viral infections,neoplasms,and collagen vascular diseases.What are the typical laboratory results of an exudate?

The technique that should be performed to differentiate starch particles from pathogenic crystals in fluids is:

An unknown crystal exhibits positive birefringence.It is rhomboid in appearance.What is its most likely identification?

Which type of fluid is milky in appearance and is formed from long-standing effusions resulting from chronic conditions?

One of the definitive signs of hemorrhage in the CNS is:

How would the technologist differentiate between a traumatic specimen collection tap and a cerebral hemorrhage? Provide at least three macroscopic and three microscopic findings.