CLINICAL HEMATOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW Q & A

CLINICAL HEMATOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW Q & A

• Which of the following is NOT a component of a complete blood count

(CBC)?

• Hemoglobin
• Platelet count
• White blood cell count
• Creatinine

Answer: D. Creatinine

Rationale: A complete blood count typically includes the measurement of

hemoglobin, platelet count, and white blood cell count. Creatinine is a marker of kidney function, not part of a CBC.

• Which of the following is a characteristic of leukemia?
• Decreased red blood cell count
• Increased platelet count
• Presence of blast cells in the blood
• Elevated lymphocyte count

Answer: C. Presence of blast cells in the blood

Rationale: Leukemia is characterized by the presence of blast cells in the

blood, which are immature white blood cells. This can lead to a decrease in the number of normal blood cells.

• A patient presents with a microcytic, hypochromic anemia. Which of the

following conditions would be most likely to cause this type of anemia?

• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Sickle cell anemia
• Thalassemia
• Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

Answer: A. Iron-deficiency anemia

Rationale: Iron-deficiency anemia is characterized by small, pale red blood

cells due to a lack of iron for hemoglobin synthesis, resulting in microcytic, hypochromic cells.

• Which of the following laboratory findings would be consistent with a

diagnosis of polycythemia vera?

• Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
• Elevated red blood cell count and hematocrit levels
• Decreased platelet count
• Low white blood cell count

Answer: B. Elevated red blood cell count and hematocrit levels

Rationale: Polycythemia vera is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized

by an elevated red blood cell count and hematocrit levels.

• Which of the following conditions is characterized by the presence of

schistocytes on a peripheral blood smear?

• Thrombocytopenia
• Hemophilia
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
• Hemolytic anemia

Answer: D. Hemolytic anemia

Rationale: Schistocytes are fragmented red blood cells commonly seen in

hemolytic anemias, which are conditions characterized by the premature destruction of red blood cells.

• A patient with chronic liver disease presents with prolonged bleeding

following minor trauma. Which of the following laboratory tests would be most indicative of a clotting disorder?

• Platelet count
• Prothrombin time (PT)
• Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
• Factor VIII assay

Answer: B. Prothrombin time (PT)

Rationale: Prothrombin time measures the extrinsic pathway of the

coagulation cascade and is commonly used to assess the function of the clotting factors produced by the liver.

• A patient with a history of autoimmune disease presents with symptoms

of fatigue, joint pain, and a decreased platelet count. Which of the following

conditions should be considered in the differential diagnosis?

• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
• Hemophilia A
• Von Willebrand disease

Answer: A. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

Rationale: ITP is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a low platelet

count and increased risk of bleeding.

• Which of the following conditions would be most likely to cause an

elevated white blood cell count?

• Viral infection
• Bacterial infection
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Thrombocytopenia

Answer: B. Bacterial infection

Rationale: Bacterial infections often cause an increase in white blood cell

count as a part of the body's immune response to the infection.

• A patient with a history of sickle cell anemia presents with jaundice,

gallbladder pain, and elevated bilirubin levels. Which of the following conditions is the most likely cause of these symptoms?

• Hemolytic anemia
• Thalassemia
• Aplastic anemia
• Iron-deficiency anemia

Answer: A. Hemolytic anemia

Rationale: Hemolytic anemias, such as sickle cell anemia, are characterized

by the premature destruction of red blood cells, leading to an increase in bilirubin levels and jaundice.

• Which of the following laboratory findings would be most indicative of a

coagulation disorder?

• Elevated platelet count and bleeding time
• Prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin

time (aPTT)

• Decreased fibrinogen levels
• Elevated D-dimer levels

Answer: B. Prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial

thromboplastin time (aPTT)

Rationale: Prolonged PT and aPTT are common indicators of a coagulation

disorder, as they reflect abnormalities in the clotting pathways.

• Which of the following conditions is characterized by a deficiency of

intrinsic factor, leading to impaired absorption of vitamin B12?

• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Sickle cell anemia
• Thalassemia
• Pernicious anemia

Answer: D. Pernicious anemia

Rationale: Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune condition in which there is a

lack of intrinsic factor, impairing the absorption of vitamin B12 and leading to anemia.

• A patient presents with symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, and a

decreased red blood cell count. Which of the following laboratory tests can help differentiate between iron-deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease?

• Serum iron levels
• Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)
• Ferritin levels
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis

Answer: C. Ferritin levels

Rationale: Ferritin is a marker of iron stores in the body and can help

differentiate between iron-deficiency anemia (low ferritin levels) and anemia of chronic disease (normal or elevated ferritin levels).

• Which of the following conditions is characterized by abnormal

hemoglobin molecules that cause red blood cells to become sickle-shaped?

• Thalassemia
• Hemophilia
• Von Willebrand disease
• Sickle cell anemia

Answer: D. Sickle cell anemia

Rationale: Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary condition characterized by the