THE PRACTICE TEST
Practice test at a glance
- Questions
- 210
- Format
- Multiple choice
- Access
- 2 years
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- Answers
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- Explanations
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About these practice questions
These practice questions will help you prepare for the AMT MLT exam.
This practice test contains 210 practice questions covering the nine sections of the AMT MLT exam:
- General Laboratory
- Chemistry
- Hematology
- Coagulation and Hemostasis
- Immunology and Serology
- Immunohematology
- Blood Banking and Transfusion Services
- Microbiology
- Urinalysis and Body Fluids
All questions have been carefully designed to reflect the questions on the real exam, to help you prepare and get a passing grade.
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Sample practice questions
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Section 1: General Laboratory
EDTA lithium heparin Plasma separation tubes (PST) contain lithium heparin as an anticoagulant and a gel for plasma separation.silica sodium citrate
21-gauge straight needle A 21-gauge needle is too big for a small hand vein. This needle is used to collect blood from an antecubital vein in the arm instead.22-gauge straight needle 23-gauge butterfly needle The veins of the hand are small and fragile. A winged blood collection set with a 23-gauge needle (also referred to as the butterfly) is the best choice for hand veins since it lets the phlebotomist control access to fragile veins easier.27-gauge butterfly needle A 27-gauge needle is too small for collecting blood. The hole in the needle is too small for blood cells to pass without getting damaged.
1/20 1/80 1/8,000 1/160,000 1/20 × 1/20 × 1/20 × 1/20 = 1/160,000
Plan-do-check-act Plan-do-check-act (PDCA) is a four-stage model for continuous improvement in process management.Predict-determine-compare-adjust Prepare-develop-check-adjust Propose-design-compare-act
are caused by random errors are close to the true value Accurate values are close to the true value, not precise values.are the same as the true value fall within a narrow range Precision describes how close repeated measurements are to each other, while accuracy refers to how close those values are to the true value.
Accuracy Precision The coefficient of variation measures the degree of dispersion around the mean of a dataset. Therefore, it measures precision (how close the values are to each other).Sensitivity Specificity
Immediately performing first aid on someone who has been exposed to blood Recapping used needles using both hands Never recap a needle with two hands (using one hand to hold the cap and the other to hold the needle). You could slip and accidentally puncture yourself.Securing used sharps containers during transport Using plasticware instead of glass
Plasma Serum Urine Whole blood The glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) test measures the amount of hemoglobin A1c in the blood. Hemoglobin A1c is found in red blood cells, so whole blood is needed for the test. Serum and plasma cannot be used as they do not contain red blood cells.
Date of collection Patient name Patient identifiers are items of information that can be used to identify a patient. Examples are patient name, patient birth date, and patient medical record number.Specimen type Time of collection
24-hour glucose test Culture and susceptibility Midstream urine samples are collected to avoid contamination from bacteria in the urethra or genital area. This type of sample is most often used for urine culture and sensitivity testing. ‘Culture’ refers to identifying the bacteria, and ‘susceptibility’ refers to determining which antibiotic will be effective against it.Mononucleosis testing Pregnancy testing
Ear Fingertip The fingertip is the preferred site for obtaining capillary blood in adults.Heel Toe
To delay clotting To increase blood flow Warming the site of a capillary puncture increases blood flow by dilating the capillaries. This makes it easier to collect a blood sample.To minimize contamination To reduce hemoconcentration
To avoid puncturing a vein To prevent bacterial contamination To prevent bone injury It is important to control the depth of heel punctures. Puncturing too deeply can injure the calcaneus (heel bone) and may lead to bone infection.To prevent excessive bleeding
Blood agar Cary-Blair medium Cary-Blair medium is used to collect and transport stool samples. The medium contains ingredients that help preserve the bacteria in the stool sample during transport to the laboratory.Lowenstein-Jensen agar MacConkey agar
Iron Magnesium Vitamin A Vitamin A is very sensitive to light. Light can degrade vitamin A, thereby causing falsely low results. For this reason, specimens for vitamin A testing must be protected from light using aluminum foil or amber tubes.Vitamin D
Immediately Within 12 hours Within 24 hours Employers must report any amputation, loss of an eye, or inpatient hospitalization of a worker to OSHA within 24 hours. Work-related fatalities are more serious and must be reported within 8 hours.Within 8 hours
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) CLIA is a federal law that sets laboratory testing standards to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of test results. It requires laboratories to document their personnel's competency to ensure they are qualified to perform specific tests.Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Health Care Consent Act (HCCA) Occupational Safety and Health Act The Hazard Communication Standard of the Occupational Safety and Health Act gives workers the right to know about workplace hazards. It requires employers to inform and train employees about potential dangers and safety practices.Privacy Act SAFETY Act
High complexity Moderate complexity Provider performed microscopy Waived Urinalysis dipsticks fall into the CLIA-waived category because they are simple to use and easy to interpret.
How spread out the set of data is The average value in the dataset The mean is the average of a dataset. It is calculated by summing all the values in the dataset and then dividing by the number of values.The difference between the largest and smallest values The most common value in the dataset
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About the AMT MLT exam
What is the AMT MLT exam?
The AMT MLT (Medical Laboratory Technician) certification exam is set by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). Passing the exam proves to employers that you can work in a laboratory as a medical technologist.
The exam contains 210 questions and lasts 3 hours. All questions are multiple-choice.
Applying for the exam
The easiest way to apply to take the AMT MLT exam is online. Go to the AMT website (americanmedtech.org), and under Certification, click Apply/Check Status. Scroll down and click the Apply Today button to begin the application process. After approval, AMT will send you a Pearson VUE authorization letter that lets you schedule your exam with Pearson VUE.
The exam fee is $220 if you're living in North America and $225 if you're living outside North America.
Once you have submitted your application, AMT will review your before allowing you to schedule the exam. Approval can take several weeks, so apply early. From application to exam day, the process typically takes 4–8 weeks, depending on how quickly your application is approved and how soon testing appointments are available.
Exam eligibilty
To take the AMT MLT exam, you must meet one of AMT’s eligibility routes: Education, Military, or Alternate Education.
Education route
To be eligible for the education route, You must have completed:
- an accredited MLT associate degree (for example, a NAACLS-accredited program) within the last 5 years
- OR an accredited MLT program more than 5 years ago and have at least 6 months (1,040 hours) of clinical laboratory work experience within the last 5 years
Military Route
To be eligible for the military route, you must have completed:
- a U.S. military Medical Laboratory Training program (at least 50 weeks long) within the last 5 years
- the military program more than 5 years ago and have at least 6 months (1,040 hours) of recent clinical laboratory experience within the last 5 years
Alternate Education Route
- To be eligible for the alternate education route, you must have:
- an associate degree from an accredited institution (or an equivalent foreign degree),
- OR at least two years of college (60 semester hours) that include 24 semester hours in medical laboratory technology, clinical laboratory science, or relevant science courses
- AND at least 6 months (1,040 hours) of approved clinical laboratory experience completed within the last 5 years
What if I need to cancel or reschedule the exam?
You can cancel or reschedule your exam by contacting Pearson Vue at least 24 hours before your exam starts. There is no charge for canceling or rescheduling. However, the exam fee is non-refundable.
If you cancel too late or miss your appointment, you’ll forfeit your testing opportunity and must pay a retesting fee if you want to schedule your again exam.
What to bring to the exam
You must bring two valid forms of ID with you, one of which must have your photo.
Acceptable photo IDs are:
- Driver’s License
- Passport
- Military Identification
- State Identification Card
Calculators aren't allowed in the exam.
What's the exam like?
On the exam day, you'll need to go to your Pearson VUE testing center. Make sure to arrive 30 minutes before the exam starts because you'll need time to check in and show your ID.
You'll be taken to a computer where you'll do the exam. The exam is 3 hours and consists of 210 multiple-choice questions. There are no breaks. All questions are multiple choice with only one correct answer.
What score do I need to pass?
There is no set number of questions you must answer to pass. Instead, each question is worth a certain number of points depending on its difficulty. Easy questions are worth fewer points and hard questions are worth more points. To pass, you must earn 70 points out of 100.
In 2024, 62% of people who took AMT MLT exam passed. This was the lowest pass rate of all AMT exams, suggesting that the AMT MLT is one of the more challenging exams.
How do I get my results?
You'll get your result immediately after finishing the exam. The computer will tell you if you passed or failed.
The testing center will also give you a paper copy of your results before you leave.
What happens after I've passed the exam?
After passing the exam, you will receive your official AMT certification and credential (MLT). You may then use the MLT designation and apply for jobs that require AMT certification.What if I fail the exam?
If you fail the exam, you can take it again after 45 days. To retake the exam, contact AMT at 847/823-5169 or complete the Examination Retake Form and email it to AMT. You'll also need to pay a retesting fee. You are only allowed to attempt the exam four times.
Failing the exam does not mean you are not capable of being an MLT. Many candidates pass on their second attempt after identifying weak areas and focusing their study on their weak areas.
Topics on the AMT MLT exam
The AMT MLT exam is divided into nine Work Areas:
- General Laboratory
- Clinical Chemistry
- Hematology
- Coagulation and Hemostasis
- Immunology and Serology
- Immunohematology
- Blood Banking and Transfusion Services
- Microbiology
- Urinalysis and Body Fluids
Work Area 1. General Laboratory
The first Work Area, General Laboratory, is worth 13% of the AMT MLT exam. It will test your knowledge of:
- Laboratory quality
- Quality control (QC) for laboratory procedures; accept/reject results using QC rules
- Proficiency testing
- QC terminology (e.g., linearity, mean, normal distribution, accuracy, precision, reliability, standard deviation, CV, confidence limits, SDI, Levey-Jennings charts, shift/trend, skewness, Delta OD)
- Quality improvement (TQM, CQI, PIC)
- Laboratory laws and regulations
- Laws/regulations affecting laboratories (OSHA, CLIA, HIPAA)
- Laboratory safety
- General laboratory safety
- Chemical hazard safety and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Infection control; Universal/Standard Precautions
- Equipment safety (including sharps disposal)
- Instrumentation, maintenance, and principles of operation
- Manual instrumentation (glassware/pipettes; cleaning and maintenance)
- Calibration vs. QC-only checks (know which technologies require which)
- Centrifuge setup/balancing/operation (time, RPM, RCF)
- Automated instrumentation
- Laboratory mathematics
- Lab math and key indices (mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation)
- Solutions (normal, molar, % w/w, w/v, v/v); equivalent weights and common dilutions
- Weights and measures abbreviations/designations
- Microscopy
- Microscopy basics (types of microscopes; parts of the binocular microscope)
- Use, clean, and maintain the binocular microscope
- Calibrate an ocular micrometer
- Phlebotomy and specimen collection (handling and integrity)
- Collect, handle, and process specimens (including infant collection)
- Serum vs. plasma vs. whole blood
- Prevent hemolysis; apply safety precautions during collection
- Collect into appropriate tubes (clotted vs. anticoagulated); choose proper anticoagulants and know effects of errors
- Clotting time basics
- Order of draw for multiple vacuum tubes
- Blood culture collection procedure
- Infant heel puncture collection
- Correct labeling (including blood bank armbands and sentinel-event risk)
- Handle/preserve body fluids for chemical analysis; preserve urine specimens
- Perform glucose tolerance testing
- Process irretrievable specimens (e.g., CSF, tissue)
- Assess specimen suitability; identify preanalytical/analytical/postanalytical causes of erroneous results
- Patient identification
- Maintain accurate patient identification (including STAT and call reports)
- Match identifiers (name, MR, DOB, registration number, etc.) with orders/tests
- Waived testing
- Understand waived testing in the clinical laboratory
Work Area 2. Clinical Chemistry
The second Work Area, Clinical Chemistry, is worth 18% of the AMT MLT exam. It will test your knowledge of:
- General chemistry and instrumentation
- Clinical chemistry terminology and analytical methods (e.g., spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, immunoassays)
- Principles of laboratory instrumentation, including the visible spectrum, wavelength, and Beer-Lambert Law
- Operation and maintenance of common chemistry analyzers (e.g., osmometer, nephelometer)
- Renal and hepatic function
- Kidney and liver anatomy and physiology
- Common renal and hepatic function tests, reference ranges, and correlation with disease states
- Bilirubin metabolism and differentiation of types of jaundice
- Carbohydrates, proteins, and enzymes
- Carbohydrate metabolism, diabetes, glucose testing, and A1C analysis
- Protein structure, plasma proteins, and protein electrophoresis
- Clinically significant enzymes, isoenzymes, and cardiac markers
- Endocrinology and lipids
- Hormones, endocrine glands, feedback mechanisms, and related laboratory tests
- Thyroid, reproductive, pregnancy, and urine endocrinology testing
- Lipid metabolism, lipid testing, and cardiovascular risk assessment
- Water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance
- Electrolyte measurement, osmolality, and interpretation of imbalances
- Acid-base balance concepts, pH regulation, and common disorders
- Special chemistry procedures
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) formation and analysis
- Tumor markers, PSA, fetal wellness testing, and uric acid testing
- Therapeutic drug monitoring, toxicology, and drugs of abuse testing
- Analysis of body fluids for glucose, protein, and LDH
Work Area 3. Hematology
The third Work Area, Hematology, is worth 13% of the AMT MLT exam (32 questions). It will test your knowledge of:
- General hematology knowledge
- Hematology terminology, specimen types, anticoagulants, and common indices (CBC, RBC, WBC, PLT, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, ESR)
- Functions, structure, production, and destruction of blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes)
- Blood smear and bone marrow preparation, staining, and correlation with CBC results
- Erythrocyte procedures
- RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocyte counts, and RBC index calculations
- ESR testing and factors causing falsely elevated results
- Identification of malarial parasites on blood smears
- Leukocyte procedures
- WBC counts, differentials, absolute counts, and correction for NRBCs
- Leukocyte maturation, disorders, and correlation with differential findings
- Cytochemical staining and cytogenetic/molecular testing for hematologic neoplasms
- Thrombocyte procedures
- Platelet morphology, maturation, and counts (manual and automated)
- Identification of errors and corrective actions in platelet testing
- Special and body fluid procedures
- Sickle cell screening, eosinophil counts, and hemoglobinopathy evaluation
- Body fluid and semen analysis, including cell counts and morphology
- Molecular assays relevant to hematologic disorders
- Automated hematology instrumentation
- Automated CBC and differential testing; cell counter principles (impedance, flow cytometry)
- Interpretation of histograms/cytograms and identification of testing errors
- Quality control procedures and corrective actions
Work Area 4. Coagulation and Hemostasis
The fourth Work Area, Coagulation and Hemostasis, is worth 5% of the AMT MLT exam. It will test your knowledge of:
- General coagulation knowledge
- Key coagulation terminology and anticoagulants (e.g., hemostasis, PT/INR, APTT, fibrinogen, thrombin, heparin, warfarin, sodium citrate, FDP)
- Principles of hemostasis, including primary and secondary hemostasis and fibrinolysis
- Intrinsic, extrinsic, and common pathways and associated coagulation factors
- Specimen collection and processing, including correct anticoagulant-to-blood ratios
- Correlation of coagulation disorders with laboratory findings
- Basic understanding of molecular testing in coagulation
- Coagulation procedures
- PT/INR, APTT, fibrinogen, and D-dimer testing
- Fibrin degradation and split product testing (FDP/FSP)
- Heparin assays, mixing studies, and factor testing
- Platelet function testing
Work Area 5. Immunology and Serology
The fifth Work Area, Immunology and Serology, is worth 4% of the AMT MLT exam. It will test your knowledge of:
- General immunology and serology knowledge
- Immunology and serology terminology (e.g., antigens, antibodies, complement, monoclonal vs. polyclonal antibodies, hemolysis, serum vs. plasma)
- Principles of immunology, including antibody production, antigen–antibody reactions, and the roles of T and B cells
- Factors affecting antigen–antibody reactions (temperature, pH, incubation time, reagent concentration, and enhancement media)
- Serological testing for syphilis
- Stages of syphilitic infection
- Qualitative and quantitative syphilis tests (VDRL, RPR)
- Principles of treponemal testing (MHA-TP)
- Analytic serology procedures
- Heterophile agglutination (mono) and febrile agglutination tests
- CRP, ASO, RA, SLE/LE, and ANA testing
- Antigen detection and pregnancy testing
- Special serology procedures
- Testing for viral and infectious diseases (CMV, EBV, rubella, retroviruses)
- HIV testing, including rapid HIV-1/2 and extended HIV-1 and HIV-2 assays
Work Area 6. Immunohematology
The sixth Work Area, Immunohematology, is worth 10% of the AMT MLT exam. It will test your knowledge of the theoretical aspects of blood transfusions, such as:
- General immunohematology knowledge
- Core immunohematology terminology (antigens, antibodies, agglutination, hemolysis, AHG testing, phenotypes/genotypes, HDN)
- Principles of antigen–antibody reactions and immune-mediated red cell destruction
- Blood typing and antigen systems
- ABO and Rh (D) systems, including forward/reverse typing, weak D testing, and subgroup A
- RBC antigen phenotyping/genotyping and antigen frequency for transfusion support
- Immune response and antibody testing
- Immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA), phases of reactivity, and enhancement media
- Antibody screening and identification, DAT and IAT principles, and resolution of positive reactions
- Cold- and warm-reacting antibodies and their clinical significance
- Compatibility testing and transfusion practice
- Crossmatch methods, interpretation of results, and selection of antigen-negative blood
- Selection of ABO-compatible plasma and special products (e.g., irradiated, CMV-negative)
- Rh immune globulin and special procedures
- Antenatal and post-partum Rh immune globulin evaluation, including fetal screen and Kleihauer-Betke testing
- Detection of auto- and alloantibodies, elution studies, secretor testing, and management of cold agglutinins
Work Area 7. Blood Banking and Transfusion Services
The seventh Work Area, Blood Banking and Transfusion Services, is worth 6% of the AMT MLT exam. It will test your knowledge of:
- General blood banking knowledge
- Blood banking terminology, donation types, and blood components (whole blood, packed RBCs, plasma, platelets, cryoprecipitate)
- Special blood products and processing methods (leukocyte reduction, irradiation, washing, apheresis, frozen/deglycerolized RBCs)
- Blood donor requirements and component storage conditions
- Blood component use, management, and inspection of blood units
- Regulatory requirements, labeling systems (ISBT/codebar), and temperature monitoring
- Issuance and transfusion procedures
- Indications and minimum requirements for transfusion of RBCs, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate
- Patient identification, transfusion consent, and compatibility verification
- Return, quarantine, and documentation of blood products
- Transfusion-transmitted infections and look-back/recall procedures
- Recognition, investigation, and consequences of transfusion reactions
- Blood bank practices and quality control
- Donor blood collection and therapeutic phlebotomy
- Quality control of reagents and maintenance of blood bank records
- Computer crossmatch requirements and special product indications (e.g., CMV-negative, irradiated, leukocyte-reduced)
- Donor deferral criteria and transfusion administration protocols (routine and emergency)
Work Area 8. Microbiology
The eighth Work Area, Microbiology, is worth 15% of the AMT MLT exam. It will test your knowledge of:
- General bacteriology knowledge
- Bacteriology terminology, bacterial structures, metabolism, oxygen requirements, growth patterns, and pathogenicity
- Bacterial morphology, staining methods (Gram, acid-fast), and microscopic interpretation
- Quality control principles based on CLSI standards
- Media, culture techniques, and specimen processing
- Media preparation, additives, selective/differential media, and anaerobic techniques
- Proper specimen collection, rejection criteria, processing, and culture of common clinical specimens
- Isolation and differentiation of normal flora and pathogens
- Bacterial identification
- Biochemical, enzymatic, carbohydrate, and automated identification systems
- Differentiation of major gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, including Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobes
- Recognition of MRSA, VRE, and other multidrug-resistant organisms
- Special tests and susceptibility
- Antigen detection and toxin testing (e.g., Strep, C. difficile, H. pylori)
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (Kirby-Bauer, MIC, automated methods)
- Molecular assays in bacteriology
- Virology, parasitology, and mycology
- Basic laboratory procedures for viral diagnostics
- Identification of parasites in clinical specimens
- Identification of fungi using routine and advanced mycological methods
Work Area 9. Urinalysis and Body Fluids
The ninth and final Work Area, Urinalysis and Body Fluids, is worth 16% of the AMT MLT exam. It will test your knowledge of:
- General urinalysis knowledge
- Urinalysis terminology and key concepts (renal threshold, osmolality, proteins, pigments, and confirmatory reagents)
- Specimen collection, handling, preservation, and processing for random, timed, catheterized, and suprapubic specimens
- Renal function and urine characteristics
- Renal anatomy and physiology and the formation of urine
- Physical and chemical properties of urine and their clinical significance
- Urinalysis procedures
- Physical examination of urine (color, clarity, specific gravity)
- Chemical testing (pH, glucose, protein, ketones, bilirubin, blood, nitrite, leukocyte esterase) and confirmatory tests (Clinitest®, Ictotest®, Acetest®, SSA)
- Microscopic examination and identification of urinary sediment
- Correlation of urinalysis results with normal and disease states
- Special and body fluid tests
- Manual and special tests (refractometer, myoglobin, glucose, bilirubin, acetone, occult blood)
- Body fluid cell counts, semen analysis, and cytospin preparation with morphology review
Recommended reading
The AMT recommends the following books for studying for the AMT MLT exam. These texts are optional, not required.
