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CSMLS MLA Certification Exam: Practice Test 3

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CSMLS MLA Certification Exam: Practice Test 3

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183
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About these practice questions

These practice questions will help you prepare for the CSMLS MLA exam.

This practice test contains 183 practice questions covering the eight sections of the CSMLS MLA exam:

  1. Safe Work Practices
  2. Data and Specimen Collection and Handling
  3. Pre-analytical Procedures
  4. Reagent Preparation
  5. Communication and Interaction
  6. Quality Management
  7. Professional Practice
  8. Critical Thinking

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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Section 1: Safe Work Practices

1) What should you do if a patient faints during a venipuncture?
  1. Continue the procedure until all blood is collected
  2. Leave the needle in the vein and call the physician
  3. Remove the needle and attend to the patient
    If a patient faints during a venipuncture, the immediate priority is the patient's safety. Removing the needle prevents injury.
  4. Yell loudly at the patient to keep him conscious
2) Which worldwide system gives recommendations on how to label hazardous chemicals?
  1. GHS
    GHS stands for Globally Harmonized System. It is the worldwide set of best practices for classifying and labelling chemicals. The other answers are incorrect because they are not worldwide:
  2. HCS
    The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is only used in the United States.
  3. HPR
    The Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) are only used in Canada.
  4. HazCom
    HazCom is only used in the United States.
3) Which acid cannot be stored in glass containers?
  1. Acetic acid
  2. Hydrofluoric acid
    Glass is resistant to the action of almost all acids. The exception is hydrofluoric acid, which cannot be kept in glass bottles because it dissolves glass.
  3. Nitric acid
  4. Sulfuric acid
4) What is the term for the destruction of all microorganisms, including spores?
  1. Disinfection
    Disinfection destroys microorganisms, but not usually spores.
  2. Eradication
  3. Sanitation
  4. Sterilization
    Sterilization destroys all forms of life, including spores.
5) A disinfectant may become ineffective if:
  1. it is kept in a dark place
  2. it is left at room temperature
  3. it is not diluted properly
    Disinfectants are often supplied as concentrated solutions, which need to be diluted to the correct concentration before use. If a disinfectant is not diluted correctly, it may not be effective.
  4. the container is kept tightly sealed during storage
6) Which method of sterilization uses steam under pressure?
  1. Dry heat autoclaving
  2. Filtration
  3. Microwaving
  4. Moist heat autoclaving
    Moist heat autoclaving uses steam to kill microorganisms. The steam is pressurized to increase its effectiveness. This combination of heat, steam, and pressure ensures rapid and thorough sterilization.
7) Ethanol can NOT kill:
  1. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  2. fungi
  3. spores
    Spores are difficult to kill. Methods that normally kill bacteria, such as ethanol, are ineffective at killing them.
  4. vegetative bacteria
8) Which of these liquids is flammable?
  1. Bleach
  2. Ethanol
    Ethanol has a low flash point, meaning it can easily catch fire at room temperature. It is commonly used in laboratories and must be handled with care to avoid fire hazards.
  3. Nitric acid
  4. Saline
9) How do fire blankets extinguish fires?
  1. Breaking the chemical reaction chain
  2. Cooling the fuel below ignition temperature
  3. Removing the fuel source
  4. Smothering by removing oxygen
    A fire blanket is a blanket made from flame-resistant materials. It works by physically smothering small, contained fires, primarily by cutting off the oxygen supply required for combustion.
10) A fire extinguisher has the following symbol. This fire extinguisher:
  1. can be used on fires involving flammable liquids or gases
    The Class B symbol means an extinguisher can be used on fires involving flammable liquids or flammable gases (Class B fires).
  2. requires annual top-ups of type B fuel
  3. should be stored in a separate room from flammable chemicals
  4. uses kerosene to extinguish fires
11) Which fire extinguisher is preferred for electrical fires because it leaves no residue?
  1. ABC powder
  2. AFFF foam
  3. Carbon dioxide
    Carbon dioxide (CO₂) fire extinguishers are used for electrical fires because CO₂ gas is clean and non-conductive. In contrast, water or foam extinguishers can damage electrical equipment or cause electric shock.
  4. Dry powder
12) What are the three components of the fire triangle?
  1. Oxygen, heat, and fuel
    The fire triangle is the three components a fire needs to sustain itself: oxygen, heat, and fuel. If one of these elements is missing, a fire cannot start or will be extinguished.
  2. Oxygen, ignition, and fuel
  3. Rescue, Alarm, Escape
  4. Rescue, Alarm, Extinguish
13) Which of these is a danger of dry ice?
  1. Flammability
  2. Radioactivity
  3. Suffocation
    Dry ice has three main dangers:
    • Cold burns: Direct contact with dry ice can cause frostbite.
    • Suffocation: As dry ice turns from a solid into a gas, it releases carbon dioxide gas. In confined spaces, this can displace oxygen, leading to suffocation.
    • Explosion: If dry ice is stored in airtight containers, the pressure buildup from the gas can cause the container to explode.
  4. Toxicity
14) A 500 mL bottle of 35% formaldehyde falls on the floor and breaks. What should be your first action?
  1. Dilute the spill with water
  2. Evacuate the area
    Formaldehyde is a highly toxic chemical. It irritates the eyes, nose, and throat. It is also a known carcinogen. 35% formaldehyde is extremely concentrated, and a major spill, such as 500 mL, is dangerous because it can quickly fill the room with hazardous fumes. The priority is to evacuate the area and keep people away from the vapour.
  3. Put on PPE
  4. Record the incident in the incident log
15) Which of these is PPE?
  1. Fire extinguisher
  2. First aid kit
  3. Hand-washing station
  4. Lab coat
    PPE (personal protective equipment) protects you against health or safety risks. Examples of PPE are lab coats, goggles, and gloves.
16) In which of these situations should a lab technician remove their gloves?
  1. Before loading the autoclave
  2. Before opening a specimen container
  3. Before using a restroom
    You should remove your gloves and wash your hands before using the restroom to prevent transferring laboratory contaminants to yourself.
  4. For cleaning a chemical spill
17) Why are nitrile gloves commonly used instead of latex gloves?
  1. Nitrile gloves are biodegradable
  2. Nitrile gloves are cheaper than latex gloves
  3. Nitrile gloves are resistant to all organic solvents
  4. Nitrile gloves do not cause allergic reactions
    Unlike latex gloves, nitrile gloves have no proteins that may cause an allergic reaction, making them a good alternative for people with latex allergies. Nitrile gloves also provide similar protection against biological and chemical exposure and are suitable for most areas of laboratory work.
18) Which gloves should be worn when handling liquid nitrogen?
  1. Cryogenic
    Cryogenic gloves are specifically designed for handling cold substances, like liquid nitrogen.
  2. Latex
  3. Nitrile
  4. Vinyl
19) What is post-exposure prophylaxis?
  1. An autoimmune disease
  2. The inability to breathe after exposure to an allergen
  3. The protocol for cleaning a laboratory after the release of a dangerous pathogen
  4. Treatment after exposure to a pathogen to prevent infection from occurring
    Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is medication taken after potential exposure to a pathogen. The medication prevents the pathogen from establishing itself in the body and causing infection. The most common type of PEP is against HIV.
20) A technician sustains a needlestick from the blood sample of an HIV-positive patient. Which medical intervention should be initiated as soon as possible?
  1. Active immunotherapy
  2. Empirical antibiotic therapy
  3. Palliative viral suppression
  4. Post-exposure prophylaxis
    The technician requires HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP involves a course of antiretroviral medications that stop the virus from replicating itself. It should be started as soon as possible, ideally within a few hours of exposure and no later than 72 hours.

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About the CSMLS MLA exam

What is the CSMLS MLA exam?

The CSMLS MLA Certification Exam is a national exam for medical laboratory assistants (MLAs) in Canada. It tests the basic knowledge and skills needed to work as an MLA.

If you pass the exam, you become certified by the CSMLS. This can help show employers that you have the knowledge to work as an MLA. The exam is not required by law, but many employers may ask for it or prefer it.

The exam is set by the CSMLS (Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science).

Who can take the CSMLS MLA exam?

There are four routes to qualify for the CSMLS MLA exam:

  1. Route 1 is for people who have completed a Canadian MLA educational program. This program must be EQual-accredited and you must take the CSMLS exam within twelve months of graduating from the program. If you graduated more than twelve months ago, then you will need to complete a prior learning assessment (PLA).
  2. Route 2 is for people who have completed the CSMLS prior learning assessment (PLA) process. The PLA process will assess your eligibility for the exam based on your education, clinical training, and work experience. For more details on the PLA process, go to the CSMLS website (www.csmls.org).
  3. Route 3 is for people who are already certified as MLAs in British Columbia by the BCSLS or in Ontario by the MLPAO. You must have been certified by BCSLS or MLPAO within the last 5 years.
  4. Route 4 is for certain internationally-educated General MLT candidates recognised by CSMLS or CAMLPR. These candidates must have tried an MLT route but failed the MLT exam.

You must take the CSMLS MLA exam in Canada, regardless of the eligibility route and testing method (in-person or remotely).

How do I apply for the CSMLS MLA exam?

To apply for the exam, you will need to fill out the exam application form on the CSMLS website.

The CSMLS MLA exam is held several times each year, typically in February, June, August, and October. The registration deadline is around two months before each exam. Check the current exam schedule on the CSMLS website at www.csmls.org.

How much does the CSMLS MLA exam cost?

For Canadian residents, the exam fee is:

  • $235 for CSMLS members
  • $435 for non-members

For non-Canadian residents, the exam fee is:

  • $315 for CSMLS members
  • $595 for non-members

(These fees are correct for the 2026 exams. See www.csmls.org for the latest fees.)

Note there is a late fee if you book the exam within the last two weeks of registration. The late fee is $140 for CSMLS members and $145 for non-members.

A CSMLS Student MLA Membership costs just $26 and reduces the cost of the CSMLS MLA exam by $200.

What is the format of the CSMLS MLA exam?

The CSMLS MLA exam is a computer-based test. It has a 10-minute introduction, followed by 103 minutes to answer the questions. There are 115 questions, which means you have less than a minute to answer each question.

You can take the exam either:

  • in-person at a test centre
  • remotely at home
Aim to spend about 50 seconds per question. If a question is taking too long, make your best choice and move on so you have time to answer the other questions.

What grade do I need to pass the CSMLS MLA exam?

The passing grade is usually 67–68% (see the following table). However, the passing grade differs from exam to exam depending on the difficulty of each exam. Therefore, there is no way to know the passing grade in advance.

Scores required to pass recent CSMLS MLA exams
Exam date Score needed to pass
February 2024 67.2%
June 2024 68.0%
August 2024 67.2%
October 2024 67.2%
February 2025 68.0%
June 2025 67.2%
August 2025 67.2%
October 2025 67.1%
February 2026 67.3%