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CSMLS MLA Certification Exam: Practice Test 5

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CSMLS MLA Certification Exam: Practice Test 5

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181
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About these practice questions

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

This practice test contains 181 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) The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals has two signal words for hazardous chemicals: "Danger" and:
  1. Attention
  2. Caution
  3. Notice
  4. Warning
    The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) uses two signal words to indicate hazard severity:
    • "Danger" for severe hazards
    • "Warning" for less severe hazards
2) How is diethyl ether stored?
  1. In airtight containers
    Ethers form explosive peroxides when exposed to air and light. Therefore, ethers must be stored in the dark and in airtight containers.
  2. In the light
  3. In the refrigerator
  4. Underwater
3) Where is methanol stored?
  1. In a fume hood
  2. In a flammables storage cabinet
    Methanol is highly flammable. It should be stored in an approved flammable liquid storage cabinet along with other flammable liquids.
  3. In a refrigerator
  4. On the bench top
4) Under WHMIS 2015, supplier labels must:
  1. be in English and French
    Under WHMIS 2015, supplier labels must be in both English and French. This ensures that all workers, regardless of their primary language, can understand the hazard information provided on the label.
  2. contain a photo of the hazardous product
  3. follow a set format
    While supplier labels must adhere to certain guidelines, there is no specific set format that they must follow. The label must include required elements, but the layout and design can vary.
  4. have a hatched border
    The hatched border was required under WHMIS 1988, but is no longer required under WHMIS 2015.
5) Which of these ethyl alcohol dilutions is the most effective disinfectant?
  1. 10% ethyl alcohol
  2. 40% ethyl alcohol
  3. 70% ethyl alcohol
    Alcohol is most effective as a disinfectant when it is diluted with water to a solution of 60–90% alcohol.
  4. 100% ethyl alcohol
6) What pressure and temperature are commonly used for steam sterilization in an autoclave?
  1. 12 psi at 115°C
  2. 12 psi at 120°C
  3. 15 psi at 112°C
  4. 15 psi at 121°C
    Autoclaves use saturated steam under a pressure of approximately 15 pounds per square inch (psi) to achieve a chamber temperature of at least 250°F (121°C).
7) Why must air be removed from an autoclave during sterilization?
  1. Air causes cold spots in the autoclave
    Air in an autoclave acts as an insulator and could cause cold spots. These cold spots can compromise the sterilization process.
  2. Air increases the risk of explosion
  3. Any water in the air will dilute the sterilizing agents
  4. Steam can break the glassware
8) Which item of lab equipment sterilizes using pressurized steam?
  1. Autoclave
    Autoclaves sterilize equipment by subjecting it to pressurized steam. In comparison, dry heat sterilizers and ovens use hot air for sterilization.
  2. Dry heat sterilizer
  3. Fume hood
  4. Oven
9) Why should a dry-heat sterilizer remain closed throughout the sterilization cycle?
  1. To avoid damaging the oven
  2. To ensure complete sterilization
    If you open a dry-heat sterilizer during sterilization, the sterilizer will cool slightly, and the temperature drop may interrupt sterilization. For this reason, it is important to keep a dry-heat sterilizer closed throughout the sterilization cycle.
  3. To prevent moisture from entering the chamber
  4. To prevent oxygen from entering the chamber
10) Which of these is the most flammable?
  1. Acids
  2. Organic solvents
    Most organic solvents are highly flammable. Examples include ethanol, acetone, benzene, and toluene.
  3. Strong oxidizers
  4. Strong reducers
11) Which of these is an example of passive fire protection?
  1. Fire alarms
  2. Fire extinguishers
  3. Fire-resistant walls
    Passive fire protection is built into the structure of the building and includes structural features such as fire-resistant walls, doors and floors. Active fire protection requires something to turn it on. Examples are alarms, sprinkler systems, and auto-closing ventilation in fume cupboards.
  4. Sprinklers
12) What is the term for a substance with the potential to produce cancer in humans or animals?
  1. Carcinogen
    A carcinogen is any substance that can cause cancer in humans or animals. The word comes from carcino meaning "cancer" and gen meaning "causing".
  2. Caustic substance
  3. Nosocomial substance
  4. Pathogenic substance
13) What is the minimum amount of time the eyes should be flushed with water in the event of a chemical splash?
  1. 1 minute
  2. 5 minutes
  3. 10 minutes
  4. 15 minutes
    In the event of a chemical splash to the eyes, the eyes should be flushed with water for at least 15 minutes. This is critical to prevent long-term damage to the eyes.
14) What is the single most important method of preventing infection?
  1. Proper handwashing
    Handwashing is the most important method for preventing infection. Hands come into contact with surfaces and objects throughout the day, picking up pathogens. Washing your hands with soap and water removes the pathogens, preventing their spread.
  2. Sneezing into your arm
  3. Thorough cleaning of equipment
  4. Wearing a lab coat
15) The six links in the chain of infection are infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and:
  1. behaviour
  2. hospital-acquired infection
  3. reagent
  4. susceptible host
    The chain of infection describes the process of how an infection spreads. The steps are
    1. infectious agent (virus, parasite, fungus, or bacterium)
    2. reservoir (the environment where a pathogen can live and multiply)
    3. portal of exit (how the pathogen leaves the reservoir)
    4. mode of transmission (how a pathogen moves from the reservoir to a host)
    5. portal of entry (where the pathogen enters the host, such as the mouth, the eyes, and wounds)
    6. susceptible host (the person at risk of infection)
    Breaking any link in this chain helps prevent the spread of infection.
16) What is the first step when a tube of blood breaks inside a spinning centrifuge?
  1. Remove any unbroken tubes from the centrifuge
  2. Remove the broken pieces with tweezers
  3. Turn off the centrifuge
    You should first turn off the centrifuge and leave the lid closed for 30 minutes to allow any escaped aerosols to settle.
  4. Wipe the inner surface with disinfectant
17) What is the term for a harmful chemical that affects the entire body or multiple organs?
  1. Contact poison
  2. Neurotoxic agent
  3. Systemic toxin
    A systemic toxin affects the entire body or many organs rather than a specific site.
  4. Teratogen
18) What is a major hazard of UV lamps?
  1. Carbon monoxide poisoning
  2. Electromagnetic interference
  3. Explosions
  4. Skin burns
    Biosafety cabinets may have UV lamps to kill microorganisms. Be careful around UV lamps as they can burn your skin, damage your eyes, and cause skin cancer.

Section 2: Data and Specimen Collection and Handling

1) Which of these specimens has the lowest priority?
  1. Postop complete blood count
  2. Preop pregnancy test
  3. Routine urinalysis
    Routine specimens have the lowest priority as no urgency or time requirement is involved. In general, the priority of specimens (from highest priority to lowest priority) is:
    1. Stat
    2. Urgent
    3. Timed
    4. Preop
    5. Postop
    6. Fasting
    7. Routine
  4. Timed glucose
2) Which of these specimens should be collected first?
  1. Pre-op CBC
  2. Routine CBC
  3. Routine glucose
  4. Urgent CBC
    Urgent specimens are important and require expedited processing.

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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%