This is the third unofficial book of practice questions for the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) exam. With a further 180 multiple-choice questions to practice with, this book comprehensively covers all major topics you'll encounter on the CSMLS MLA exam, including:

• Safe Work Practices
• Analytical Procedures
• Quality Management
• Critical Thinking
• And more!

ABOUT THE SERIES
This is the third book in our series. For additional books in the series, visit amazon.ca/dp/B093TG1FDR.

KEY FEATURES
Our questions are modeled after the real CSMLS MLA exam, encompassing eight core competency areas:

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

SAMPLE QUESTIONS
To give you a preview, here are five sample questions from the book:

1) SAFE WORK PRACTICES
In which of these situations should a lab technician remove their gloves?
a. Before carrying specimens through a designated clean area
b. Before loading the autoclave
c. Before using a restroom
d. For cleaning a chemical spill

2) DATA AND SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND HANDLING
When should a "stat" glucose test be performed?
a. Immediately
b. Within 1 hour
c. 2 hours after the last meal
d. Within 4 hours

3) PRE-ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
Which colour vacutainer tube is known as the "SPS tube"?
a. Green
b. Lavender
c. Pink
d. Yellow

4) REAGENT PREPARATION
What is the dilution factor 1/5 expressed as a dilution ratio?
a. 1:4
b. 1:5
c. 1:6
d. 5:1

5) COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTION
A phlebotomist is drawing blood from a young boy. The boy's mother is in the room and she says she doesn't like the sight of blood. She looks pale and says she feels faint. The phlebotomist should:
a. ignore the mother as the focus should be on the child
b. offer the mother a chair to sit in
c. take a blood sample from the mother
d. take the child's blood as quickly as possible to get it over with

6) QUALITY MANAGEMENT
QNS stands for:
a. quality not satisfied
b. quality not sufficient
c. quantity not satisfied
d. quantity not sufficient

Answers
1) c. Before using a restroom
You should remove your gloves and wash your hands before using the restroom to prevent transferring laboratory contaminants to yourself.

2) a. Immediately
All requisitions marked "stat" should be performed immediately.

3) d. Yellow
Yellow top tubes are called SPS tubes because they contain sodium polyanethol sulfonate. These tubes are used for blood bank studies, human leukocyte antigen phenotyping, DNA testing, and paternity testing.

4) a. 1:4
The dilution ratio 1:4 and the dilution factor 1/5 are different ways of expressing the same thing.

The dilution ratio 1:4 means a ratio of 1 part solute to 4 parts solvent.

The dilution factor 1/5 means the final volume of the solution is 5 times the volume of the solute. Adding 4 parts of solvent to 1 part of solute creates a 1/5 dilution.

Therefore a 1/5 dilution factor and a 1:4 dilution ratio both create a solution with 1 part solute to 4 parts solvent.

5) b. offer the mother a chair to sit in

6) d. quantity not sufficient