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MLPAO MLA/T Certification Exam: Practice Test 3

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MLPAO MLA/T Certification Exam: Practice Test 3

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500
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About these practice questions

These practice questions will help you prepare for the MLPAO MLA/T exam.

This practice test contains 500 practice questions covering the thirteen sections of the MLPAO MLA/T exam:

  1. Standards of Practice
  2. Medical Terminology
  3. Basic Biology, Anatomy and Physiology
  4. Laboratory Mathematics and Quality Management
  5. Specimen Procurement, Processing and Data Collection
  6. Laboratory Safety
  7. Laboratory Equipment
  8. Histology and Cytology
  9. Clinical Microbiology
  10. Clinical Chemistry
  11. Clinical Hematology
  12. Transfusion Medicine
  13. Electrocardiograms

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: Standards of Practice

1) Why are STAT specimens prioritized over routine specimens?
  1. The tests are more expensive to perform
  2. They are cheaper to process
  3. They are likely to be from critically ill patients
    STAT specimens are prioritized because they are typically from patients in critical medical situations. These situations require immediate test results to guide treatment.
  4. They need to be sent to an outside laboratory
  5. They require more specialized equipment
2) A urine sample, an oral swab, and a blood culture arrive in the laboratory at the same time. In which order should they be processed?
  1. Blood culture, oral swab, urine sample
  2. Blood culture, urine sample, oral swab
    The blood culture should be prioritized because it is time-sensitive and has the potential to indicate a life-threatening infection. Urine samples should be given the next priority because they can indicate urinary tract infections, which can cause serious health problems if left untreated. The oral swab has the lowest priority.
  3. Oral swab, blood culture, urine sample
  4. Oral swab, urine sample, blood culture
  5. Urine sample, oral swab, blood culture
3) A phlebotomist receives an order for a trough level of vancomycin due at 2 PM. The patient’s next dose is scheduled for 2 PM. What should the phlebotomist do?
  1. Cancel the draw
  2. Draw the specimen at 1:30 PM
  3. Draw the specimen immediately after the dose is given
  4. Draw the specimen just before the dose is given
    The phlebotomist must draw the blood just before the 2 PM dose is administered. A trough level is the lowest concentration of a drug in the patient's bloodstream, and should be measured just before the next dose is administered.
  5. Draw the specimen one hour after the dose
4) A hospitalized patient says, “I’m tired of all these blood tests. I don’t want another needle.” What is the best response?
  1. "Don't worry, this is the last time we'll have to do this today."
    Saying "Don't worry, this is the last time we'll have to do this today." is dishonest because you do not know if more lab work may be ordered later in the day.
  2. "I know it’s frustrating to have another test."
    "I know it’s frustrating to have another test." is the best response because it acknowledges the patient’s feelings, shows empathy, helps build trust, and encourages the patient to express their concerns.
  3. "If you have a problem, you will need to talk to your doctor."
  4. "Okay, I respect your wishes, and I will leave."
    "Okay, I respect your wishes, and I will leave." is premature. While you must eventually document a refusal, you should first try to address the patient's concerns. Simply walking away could delay critical care.
  5. "You don't have a choice; this blood test is mandatory."
5) What is a regulated profession?
  1. A profession that has no legal requirement or restriction on practice
  2. A profession that requires a specific qualification
    A regulated profession is controlled by law, requires specific credentials, and is overseen by a regulatory body. Examples of regulated professions are nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and medical laboratory technologists.
  3. A profession that requires regular drug testing
  4. A profession that requires work experience
  5. A profession where workers work regular, 9–5 hours
6) What is the term for the legal obligation of health professionals to provide a reasonable level of care and avoid careless actions?
  1. Autonomy
  2. Duty of care
    Duty of care is a fundamental concept in tort law. It means an individual must act in a way that a reasonably prudent person would in similar circumstances, to minimize the risk of harm to others.
  3. Nonmaleficence
  4. Res ipsa loquitur
  5. The Good Samaritan law
7) Which of these would strengthen team cohesion?
  1. Correcting coworkers publicly
  2. Minimizing social interactions
  3. Refusing to help others unless asked
  4. Sharing credit for group accomplishments
    Team cohesion is the bond that links members in a team. Sharing credit for group accomplishments makes members feel recognized and reinforces the idea that the team's success is a collective effort. This increases team cohesion.
  5. Working independently
8) Which of the following is an example of good information management?
  1. Deleting records to free up disk space
  2. Logging out after use
    Logging out after using a computer prevents unauthorised access to your account. If you remain logged in, another person could use the computer to access confidential information (e.g. patient results) or make changes under your name.
  3. Saving patient files to a personal USB drive
  4. Sharing passwords with colleagues
  5. Using one shared staff account
9) A coworker is discussing a patient’s biopsy result in a public corridor. What should you do?
  1. Ignore it
  2. Join the conversation
  3. Record the conversation in case it is needed as evidence
  4. Remind the coworker to stop
    Patient information must not be discussed in public areas (such as corridors, elevators, or waiting rooms) because other people may overhear it. The best action is to politely remind the coworker to stop.
  5. Report the coworker to the hospital board
    Reporting the coworker to the hospital board is too excessive. You should first try addressing the privacy risk on the spot before escalating it through official reporting channels.
10) What is the name for a safety procedure where the person receiving a verbal report of critical test results repeats the information back to ensure they heard it correctly?
  1. Loop back
  2. Read back
    A read back is when a person receiving information (such as critical test results) repeats the information to check if they heard it correctly. For example: Lab technician: "I have a critical potassium of 6.5 for John Doe, MRN 12345." Nurse: "Okay, that is potassium 6.5 for John Doe, MRN 12345." Lab technician: "That is correct."
  3. Repeat back
  4. Verbal repeat
  5. Verbal verification
11) A mother arrives at the clinic with her 8-year-old child. The mother does not understand English well. What is the most appropriate action?
  1. Ask a family member or friend to interpret
    Family members and friends often don’t know correct medical terms, they might change or leave out important information, and it can also compromise the patient’s right to confidentiality.
  2. Ask a trained medical interpreter to help
    If someone does not understand English, the best option is to ask a trained medical interpreter to help. Interpreters are trained to convey information to patients accurately.
  3. Ask the patient's child to interpret
    Asking the patient's child to interpret puts unnecessary emotional pressure on the child, and compromises the patient's right to confidentiality.
  4. Use a bilingual staff member
    General staff members may lack specific training on medical terminology and confidentiality of qualified interpreters.
  5. Use simple words and avoid giving detailed explanations
    Using simple words and avoiding detailed explanations violates the patient's right to receive full information.
12) During a blood draw, a patient starts asking many unrelated questions, causing delays for other patients. What is the best response?
  1. Answer all questions
  2. Ask a supervisor to take over
  3. Ignore the questions and carry on with the draw
  4. Move on to the next patient
  5. Politely redirect the conversation to the draw
    Politely redirecting the conversation remains respectful while still sticking to the laboratory schedule.
13) Which type of communication consists of three steps: the sender delivering information, the receiver repeating the information back, and the sender confirming the accuracy of the repetition?
  1. Active listening
  2. Bidirectional flow
  3. Closed loop
    Closed-loop communication is a three-step process designed to prevent errors. This method is used when reporting critical laboratory values. The three steps are:
    1. The sender gives a message
    2. The receiver repeats the information back
    3. The sender confirms the repetition is correct
  4. Echo process
  5. Triple verification
14) A patient has limited hearing ability. What is the best approach?
  1. Ask another patient to interpret
  2. Face the patient and speak clearly
    If a patient has a hearing impairment, you should face the patient directly and speak clearly, at a moderate pace.
  3. Speak louder and faster
  4. Speak to the patient's family member instead
  5. Write everything down only
15) A nurse calls, frustrated about a delayed coagulation result. What is the best response?
  1. Explain that delays happen
  2. Hang up the phone
  3. Listen and work toward a resolution
    When a nurse is frustrated by a delay, it is best to listen to their frustration and then help to work toward a solution (e.g., checking the status of the specimen or giving an estimated time of completion).
  4. Tell the nurse to call back later when she is calmer
  5. Transfer the call to a colleague
16) Which of the following is an example of active listening?
  1. Agreeing with everything the speaker says
  2. Interrupting to clarify quickly
  3. Paraphrasing the speaker's main points
    Active listening means being fully engaged when someone else is talking. One of the ways you can do this is by paraphrasing the speaker's key information to confirm you understand it.
  4. Providing immediate solutions to the speaker's problems
  5. Thinking about the next question while the speaker talks
17) A patient asks a lab assistant if their biopsy shows cancer. The lab assistant knows the biopsy is malignant. What should the lab assistant do?
  1. Explain that the tissue sample has some atypical cells
  2. Explain that their doctor will discuss the result with the patient
    A lab assistant should not interpret or discuss biopsy findings with the patient. The doctor is the person to discuss the findings with the patient.
  3. Give an honest answer and tell the patient that the biopsy is malignant
  4. Print a copy of the results for the patient
  5. Reassure the patient that their result is probably fine
18) A nurse calls the laboratory to complain that she hasn't received test results yet. While speaking to the nurse, the laboratory receives another call. What is the best phone etiquette?
  1. Ask the nurse if it is okay to put her on hold
    In professional communication, the person you are currently speaking with has priority, but you should not ignore other incoming calls (which could be an emergency). You should ask the nurse if it is okay to put her on hold. Asking permission shows respect for the nurse and prevents her from feeling dismissed.
  2. Ignore the second call
  3. Put the nurse on hold immediately to answer the second call
  4. Say, "I have another call coming in, please hold," and put her on hold
  5. Tell the nurse you have to go and hang up
19) A lab assistant calls the ER department and says, "I have a critical hemoglobin of 50 g/L for John Doe, MRN 12345." If the laboratory has a readback policy, which of these replies is acceptable?
  1. "Got it, that is a critical hemoglobin level for John Doe, MRN 12345."
  2. "Please hold while I notify the physician immediately.”
  3. "Please read the result back to me."
  4. "That is a hemoglobin of 50 g/L for John Doe, MRN 12345."
    A read-back requires the receiver to repeat the information exactly as heard to verify accuracy. Choice C is the correct answer, as it is the only one that repeats the specific test value, the patient name, and the MRN.
  5. “Okay, that is a critical hemoglobin for John Doe, MRN 12345.”
20) A clinician asks a lab assistant to recommend an antibiotic based on a susceptibility report. What should the lab assistant do if giving treatment advice is outside their role?
  1. Make an educated guess on the best antibiotic
  2. Recommend the antibiotic with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
  3. Refer the clinician to the appropriate person
    The lab assistant may report and explain the laboratory findings, but they should not give treatment advice if it is outside their role. The correct action is to refer the clinician to the appropriate person, such as senior laboratory staff, microbiologist, or infectious diseases physician.
  4. Research the best antibiotic using reputable sources
  5. Retract the report and release an updated version

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About the MLPAO MLA/T exam

What is the MLPAO MLA/T exam?

The MLPAO MLA/T Certification Exam, or simply the MLPAO MLA/T exam, is an exam for medical laboratory assistants/technicians (MLA/Ts) in Ontario, Canada. It tests the basic knowledge and skills needed to work as a lab assistant or lab technician.

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

The exam is administered by the Medical Laboratory Professionals Association of Ontario (MLPAO).

Who can take the MLPAO MLA/T exam?

You can register for the MLPAO MLA/T exam if you meet one of these criteria:

  • You graduated from an MLA/T program at an MLPAO-approved school in Ontario in the last five years.
  • You are enrolled in an MLA/T program at an MLPAO-approved school in Ontario, and you will graduate before the exam date.

What schools are MLPAO-approved?

The following schools offer MLPAO-approved MLA/T programs:

  • Algonquin Careers Academy (Ottawa)
  • Anderson College of Business, Health and Technology (Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Mississauga, North York, Toronto)
  • Centennial College (Scarborough)
  • Confederation College (Thunder Bay)
  • CTS Canadian Career College (Barrie, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury)
  • Georgian College (Barrie)
  • Hart College of Cardiac Sonography & Health Care (Toronto)
  • Health and Beauty Canadian College (Thornhill)
  • Humber Polytechnic (Toronto)
  • Medix College of Healthcare (Brampton, Scarborough, Toronto)
  • Mohawk College (Hamilton)
  • Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology (Timmins)
  • Oxford College of Arts, Business & Technology (Barrie, Burlington, Mississauga, Peterborough, Scarborough Accredited, Toronto)
  • Pharma-Medical Science College of Canada (North York)
  • Trillium College (Oshawa, Kingston, St. Catharines, Sudbury)

What if I don't meet the eligibility criteria for the MLPAO MLA/T exam?

If you don't meet the eligibility criteria for the MLPAO MLA/T exam (for example, you took an MLA/T program outside of Ontario), you may still be able to take the exam through the Special Consideration process. You'll need to email documents proving your relevant education or work experience (such as a resume, a letter from an employer, diplomas, and degrees) to exam@mlpao.org. The MLPAO will decide if you have enough academic and clinical experience to take the exam.

When is the MLPAO MLA/T exam?

The MLPAO MLA/T exam is held four times per year: in March, June, September, and November. Registration opens 4–5 months before the exam and closes around two months before the exam.

For the latest exam dates, visit www.mlpao.org/mla-t-certification-exam.

How do I apply for the MLPAO MLA/T exam?

To register for the MLPAO MLA/T exam:

  1. Go to mlpao.org/mla-t-certification-exam, scroll down, and click the REGISTER button below "Registration Fees".
  2. Enter your contact information.
  3. Choose the applicable exam fee.
  4. Choose whether you want to take the exam at home or at a testing centre.
  5. Pay the exam fee by credit or debit card.
  6. Email your supporting documents to exam@mlpao.org. In most cases, this is your MLA/T diploma. The MLPAO will also accept a letter from your school confirming your completion date.

How much is the MLPAO MLA/T exam?

The following table shows the exam fees. The fee varies based on whether:

  • you're a member of the MLPAO
  • you're taking the exam at home or at a testing centre
  • you're a student or graduate
  • you register for the exam early

For more information on the exam fees, visit www.mlpao.org/mla-t-certification-exam.

Registration fees for the MLPAO MLA/T exam
Category Home Testing centre
Students (MLPAO members) $310 +HST $330 +HST
Students (non-members) and graduates $475 +HST $515 +HST
Re-writes $275 +HST $315 +HST
Apply for the exam early (3–5 months before the exam date) for an early registration discount of $100. If you are a student in an MLPAO-approved program, join the MLPAO to reduce the exam fee by $165. Student membership to the MLPAO costs just $24. To join the MLPAO, visit mlpao.org/membership. The discount only applies to students.

How can I take the MLPAO MLA/T exam?

There are two ways to take the MLPAO exam:

  1. At home
  2. At a testing centre in Ontario

The advantage of taking the exam at home is that you don't need to travel anywhere, and the exam fee is lower. The advantage of taking the exam at a testing centre is that testing centres have reliable equipment and internet, so there’s less chance of technical problems. Plus, you don’t have to worry about setting up your room for the exam. You simply show up and sit down at a computer.

Taking the MLPAO MLA/T exam at a testing centre

There are testing centres across Ontario. The locations are in Ajax, Barrie, Belleville, Brampton, Brantford, Etobicoke, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Mississauga, North Bay, North York, Oshawa, Ottawa, Owen Sound, Peterborough, Scarborough, St. Catharines, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vaughan, Whitby, and Windsor. The testing centres have limited availability, so book the exam early to guarantee your preferred location.

Two weeks before the exam, the MLPAO will send you your testing centre and start time by email.

On exam day, ensure you have:

  • your government-issued photo ID
  • your unique MLPAO exam ID

The following items are not allowed during the exam:

  • Calculators (you will have access to a virtual calculator during the exam)
  • Paper
  • Pens or pencils
  • Notes
  • Phones
  • Smart watches

Drinks are allowed, but food is generally not permitted.

Taking the MLPAO MLA/T exam at home

If you decide to take the exam at home, the MLPAO will email you instructions on how to book your exam around three weeks before the exam date. This email will also contain your exam login information.

Before your exam day, you should make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements. You will need:

  • a computer or laptop (not a tablet, smartphone, or Chromebook) with a microphone, speakers, and webcam
  • a reliable internet connection
  • Windows 8 or higher or macOS 10.13 or higher (Linux is not supported)
  • the Guardian Secure Proctoring Browser (which you can download from guardian.meazurelearning.com)

On exam day, you’ll need to be in a private, well-lit room with a clear workspace. Make sure to close all programs on your computer except for your web browser. You’ll then be assigned an online proctor who will verify your room setup via webcam. Once everything is set, your proctor will unlock the exam, and you’ll be ready to begin. The proctor will monitor you throughout the exam.

What score do I need to pass the MLPAO MLA/T exam?

The MLPAO MLA/T exam has 200 multiple-choice questions. You will need to correctly answer at least 60% of the questions to pass.

What if I fail the MLPAO MLA/T exam?

If you fail the MLPAO MLA/T exam on your first attempt, you can retake it within 1 year.

If you fail the exam on your second attempt, the MLPAO will send you instructions on how to become eligible to retake the exam. This will include doing refresher coursework.

You can attempt the exam a maximum of three times.

How do I cancel my MLPAO MLA/T exam?

If you need to cancel your exam, email mlpao@mlpao.org to get a refund of the exam fee, minus the application fee and a $50 administrative fee.

Make sure you cancel at least 30 days before the exam date. Otherwise, you won't get a refund.