MLPAO Urinalysis and Body Fluids Advanced Practice

Question 1

What is the clinical significance of Bence Jones protein in urine?

Accepted Answer

It indicates the presence of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains (kappa or lambda), strongly suggestive of multiple myeloma or other plasma cell dyscrasias

Answer

It is a normal urinary protein

Answer

It indicates nephrotic syndrome

Answer

It is detected by routine urine dipstick

Question 2

How is a body fluid cell count performed and what counting chamber is used?

Accepted Answer

Manual count using a hemocytometer (Neubauer counting chamber); automated methods are increasingly used for high-volume laboratories

Answer

Automated hematology analyzer only

Answer

Manual count on a glass slide

Answer

Flow cytometry only

Question 3

What is the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and what does an elevated value indicate?

Accepted Answer

A spot urine test that normalizes albumin excretion for urine concentration; elevated values indicate early diabetic nephropathy or other glomerular disease

Answer

A test for liver disease

Answer

A blood test for kidney function

Answer

A test for urinary tract infection

Question 4

What is the difference between a transudate and an exudate in serous body fluids?

Accepted Answer

Transudates result from hydrostatic/oncotic pressure imbalance (low protein, low LDH, low cells); exudates result from inflammation/infection (high protein, high LDH, high cells)

Answer

They are identical in composition

Answer

Transudates have high protein; exudates have low protein

Answer

Both require culture for differentiation

Question 5

What is the corrected WBC count in CSF when a traumatic tap introduces blood into the specimen?

Accepted Answer

The corrected WBC = CSF WBC - (CSF RBC × blood WBC/blood RBC), accounting for WBCs introduced with the traumatic blood

Answer

The raw WBC count is reported without correction

Answer

WBCs cannot be counted in traumatic taps

Answer

The correction is only applied if RBC count exceeds 1 million

Question 6

What is the mucin clot test (Ropes test) used for in synovial fluid analysis?

Accepted Answer

Assessing the quality of hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid; a poor clot suggests inflammatory degradation of hyaluronic acid

Answer

Detecting crystals

Answer

Testing for bacterial infection

Answer

Measuring glucose levels