Licensure Exam Practice Test Questions

Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Licensure Exam Practice Test Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

All Subjects: Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology,

Immunology/Serology, Blood Banking, Urinalysis, and Laboratory Management

• Which anticoagulant is used for most hematology tests?
• Sodium citrate

B. EDTA

• Heparin
• Sodium fluoride

Rationale: EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) prevents clotting by

chelating calcium and preserves cellular morphology for hematology tests. 1 / 4

• Which organ is primarily responsible for the destruction of old red blood

cells?

• Liver
• Spleen
• Kidney
• Bone marrow

Rationale: The spleen acts as a blood filter, removing senescent or

damaged red cells.

3. The main function of hemoglobin is to:

• Maintain osmotic pressure
• Buffer blood pH
• Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
• Store iron

Rationale: Hemoglobin binds oxygen in the lungs and delivers it to tissues

while facilitating carbon dioxide transport.

4. The normal lifespan of a red blood cell is approximately:

• 60 days
• 120 days
• 90 days 2 / 4

• 45 days

Rationale: RBCs survive about 120 days before being destroyed in the

spleen.

5. A left shift in a differential count refers to:

• Increased lymphocytes
• Increased immature neutrophils
• Increased eosinophils
• Decreased monocytes

Rationale: A left shift indicates an increase in band forms or immature

neutrophils, often seen in infection or inflammation.

• Which stain is used for peripheral blood smears?
• Gram stain
• Wright’s stain
• Ziehl-Neelsen stain
• Sudan III

Rationale: Wright’s stain differentiates blood cell components for routine

hematologic evaluation.

7. The buffy coat layer in a centrifuged blood sample contains:

• Red blood cells only 3 / 4

• Plasma only
• White blood cells and platelets
• Fibrin

Rationale: The buffy coat represents the interface of WBCs and platelets

between plasma and RBCs.

8. In iron deficiency anemia, peripheral smear findings typically include:

• Macrocytosis
• Microcytosis and hypochromia
• Normocytic cells
• Spherocytes

Rationale: Iron deficiency leads to smaller, pale RBCs due to reduced

hemoglobin synthesis.

9. The reagent used to detect glucose in urine by dipstick is:

• Sodium nitroprusside
• Ehrlich’s reagent
• Glucose oxidase
• Benedict’s solution

Rationale: The glucose oxidase method is the enzymatic principle in

reagent strip glucose testing.

• / 4