ONLINE PRACTICE TEST

CSMLS MLA Certification Exam: Practice Test 4

Prepare with 183 practice questions with answers and explanations.

183 questions Answers & explanations Immediate online access
Online access $29.99
Unlock this practice test Try sample questions
CSMLS MLA Certification Exam: Practice Test 4

THE PRACTICE TEST

Practice test at a glance

Questions
183
Format
Multiple choice
Access
2 years
Price
$29.99
Answers
Included
Explanations
Included

About these practice questions

These practice questions will help you prepare for the CSMLS MLA exam.

This practice test contains 183 practice questions covering the eight sections of the CSMLS MLA exam:

  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

All questions have been carefully designed to reflect the questions on the real exam, to help you prepare and get a passing grade.

GET FULL ACCESS

Unlock the full practice test

ONLINE ACCESS

$29.99

Unlock all 183 practice questions, answers and explanations.

  • Immediate access after payment
  • One question at a time in practice mode
  • Jump directly to any question
  • One-time payment

We'll send your purchase information to this address.

Payment is processed by PayPal.

TRY IT FIRST

Sample practice questions

Try some of the questions before buying. Answers and explanations are available with online access.

Section 1: Safe Work Practices

1) Which item should NOT be put in a histology specimen container?
  1. Absorbent material
  2. Needles
    You should never put needles in histology specimen containers. Needles are sharp and can injure staff when they open the container.
  3. Tissue cassettes
  4. Tissue fragments
2) A laboratory switches from using a highly toxic chemical to a less toxic alternative. Which safety principle has the laboratory applied?
  1. Administrative controls
  2. Elimination
  3. Engineering controls
  4. Substitution
    Substitution means replacing the hazard with a safer alternative.
3) Which of these items of information is NOT required on a supplier label of a hazardous product?
  1. A hazard pictogram
  2. A hazard statement describing the nature of the hazard posed by the product
  3. The contact details of the manufacturer or importer
  4. The website of the Canadian manufacturer or the Canadian importer
    Under Canada's Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), supplier labels for hazardous products must include the product name, hazard symbols, hazard statements, and the contact details of the manufacturer or importer. However, the website of the manufacturer or importer is not required.
4) WHMIS stands for:
  1. Warehouse Methods and Industrial Security
  2. Workbook of Harmful Material Information Sheets
  3. Worker Handbook on Mechanical And Industrial Safety
  4. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
    WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. It is a system for providing health and safety information on hazardous products in Canadian workplaces.
5) Why is it dangerous to use a household vacuum cleaner to clean a mercury spill?
  1. Mercury causes vacuums to ignite
  2. Mercury corrodes vacuums
  3. Mercury reacts with plastic to create chlorine gas
  4. Vacuums spread mercury into the air
    Mercury is toxic, and you should never use a vacuum cleaner to clean up a mercury spill. Heat from the vacuum will turn the mercury into vapour, increasing the amount you breathe in. The mercury will also contaminate the vacuum cleaner.
6) Mercury spills are most dangerous when the spill occurs:
  1. in a fume hood
  2. in a poorly ventilated area
    Mercury vapours are toxic, and inhalation can lead to mercury poisoning. Mercury spills are especially dangerous in poorly ventilated areas.
  3. near sources of ignition
  4. near the flammable storage cabinet
7) Which of these is used for cleaning minor liquid radioactive spills?
  1. Bleach
    Bleach does not neutralize radioactivity. It is used to decontaminate biological spills.
  2. Lead sheet
    Lead sheet is used for radiation shielding, not to clean spills.
  3. Paper towels
    Paper towels (or other absorbent material like absorbent pads or spill pillows) are used to absorb liquids and prevent spills from spreading. They are a common first step in managing a liquid spill.
  4. Soda ash
    Soda ash is for neutralizing acid spills, not radioactive spills.
8) Which of these methods results in sterilization?
  1. Autoclaving
    Autoclaving sterilizes by destroying all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores.
  2. Chemical disinfectants
    Chemical disinfectants destroy many microorganisms, but do not necessarily achieve sterilization and may not be effective against spores.
  3. Freezing
    Freezing doesn't kill microorganisms; it only stops their growth.
  4. Soap and water
    Soap and water reduce the number of microorganisms, but do not kill all of them.
9) Which of these is regulated waste?
  1. Empty medicine bottles
  2. Gauze packaging
  3. Sterile dressings
  4. Used blood tubes
    Regulated waste refers to materials that are potentially infectious or hazardous. Used blood tubes are regulated waste because they may contain blood. The other options are not typically classified as regulated waste, as they do not pose the same infectious or hazardous risk as used blood tubes.
10) What are Class D fire extinguishers for?
  1. Combustible metals
    Class D fires involve combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, potassium, and sodium. These types of fires require special extinguishing agents because water can make the fire worse.
  2. Electrical equipment
  3. Flammable liquids
  4. Paper and wood
11) What type of fire extinguisher can be used on methane gas fires?
  1. ABC powder
    Methane is a flammable gas. Only dry chemical powder extinguishers (such as ABC powder) and high-expansion foam extinguishers should be used on gas fires. If it is safe to do so, you should also shut off the gas supply, otherwise, the fire may reignite.
  2. AFFF foam
  3. Carbon dioxide
  4. Water
12) Which chemical has neurotoxic effects?
  1. Acetic acid
  2. Eosin
  3. Paraffin wax
  4. Xylene
    Xylene is a hazardous chemical used in laboratories. Inhaling xylene fumes can have neurotoxic effects, meaning it can affect the nervous system. Short-term exposure may cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and drowsiness. Long-term or repeated exposure may lead to fatigue, poor coordination, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and changes in mood or personality.
13) Which document provides written safety information about a chemical or hazardous material?
  1. OSM
  2. SDS
    SDS stands for safety data sheet. It provides information about the hazards, safe handling, storage, and emergency procedures for a chemical or hazardous material.
  3. TOSM
  4. TSM
14) What is the main concern of cumulative poisons?
  1. They are hazardous if inhaled
  2. They become toxic when mixed with reagents
  3. They become toxic when stored at room temperature
  4. They build up in the body to toxic levels
    Cumulative poisons, such as mercury, lead, and arsenic, build up in the body's tissues over time, eventually leading to severe toxicity.
15) A lab assistant is processing a stat frozen section when he accidentally spills formalin on his arm. What should he do first?
  1. Call the pathologist to tell them the report may be delayed
  2. Complete the stat section
    Completing the stat section would normally be the priority because the results of stat specimens are needed urgently. However, the lab assistant's accident is the most serious issue and must be addressed first.
  3. Go to the emergency room
  4. Rinse the arm under water
    Formalin is a severe skin irritant. If it comes into contact with your skin, you should immediately rinse your skin with water for at least 15 minutes.
16) Which statement about ionizing radiation is true?
  1. Ionizing radiation damages RNA, not DNA
    It is ionizing radiation that is specifically known for damaging DNA, not non-ionizing radiation.
  2. Ionizing radiation has longer wavelengths than non-ionizing radiation
    Ionizing radiation has short wavelengths while non-ionizing radiation has longer wavelengths.
  3. Ionizing radiation has more energy than non-ionizing radiation
    Ionizing radiation has a higher frequency and more energy than non-ionizing radiation, making it a more serious health hazard. It has enough energy to detach electrons from atoms or molecules, which can directly damage DNA.
  4. Ionizing radiation is from UV light
    UV light is non-ionizing radiation.
17) What device records the total amount of ionizing radiation workers are exposed to?
  1. Dosimeter
    Dosimeters record the amount of radiation that workers are exposed to. Staff who are exposed to radiation (from X-ray machines or radioisotopes) are generally required to wear a dosimeter.
  2. Geiger counter
    Geiger counters give real-time radiation readings. They do not record the total amount of radiation a person has received.
  3. Radiation shield
  4. Spectrophotometer
18) What should be your first action in the event of an acid burn?
  1. Cover the burn with gauze moistened in sterile saline
  2. Flush the burn with water
    If acid or another chemical touches your skin, you should rinse it off with water immediately.
  3. Go to the emergency department
  4. Neutralize the acid with sodium bicarbonate
19) What is the minimum amount of time the eyes should be flushed with water in the event of a chemical splash?
  1. 1 minute
  2. 5 minutes
  3. 10 minutes
  4. 15 minutes
    In the event of a chemical splash to the eyes, the eyes should be flushed with water for at least 15 minutes. This is critical to prevent long-term damage to the eyes.
20) Which vaccine should be offered to employees at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens?
  1. HIV
    HIV does not have a vaccine.
  2. Hepatitis B
    Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is one of the most common and serious bloodborne risks faced by healthcare workers because exposure can easily occur through needlestick injuries and contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. However, the risk is largely preventable through vaccination.
  3. Hepatitis C
    Hepatitis C does not have a vaccine.
  4. Tdap
    Tdap protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. The bacteria that cause these diseases are not bloodborne pathogens. Tetanus is spread by soil/wound contamination, and diphtheria and pertussis are respiratory pathogens.

Ready for all 183 questions?

Unlock the full practice test

PREFER PAPER?

Get the printed book

The practice questions and answers are also available as a physical book from Amazon.com.

Book edition of CSMLS MLA Certification Exam: Practice Test 4

About the CSMLS MLA exam

What is the CSMLS MLA exam?

The CSMLS MLA Certification Exam is a national exam for medical laboratory assistants (MLAs) in Canada. It tests the basic knowledge and skills needed to work as an MLA.

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

The exam is set by the CSMLS (Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science).

Who can take the CSMLS MLA exam?

There are four routes to qualify for the CSMLS MLA exam:

  1. Route 1 is for people who have completed a Canadian MLA educational program. This program must be EQual-accredited and you must take the CSMLS exam within twelve months of graduating from the program. If you graduated more than twelve months ago, then you will need to complete a prior learning assessment (PLA).
  2. Route 2 is for people who have completed the CSMLS prior learning assessment (PLA) process. The PLA process will assess your eligibility for the exam based on your education, clinical training, and work experience. For more details on the PLA process, go to the CSMLS website (www.csmls.org).
  3. Route 3 is for people who are already certified as MLAs in British Columbia by the BCSLS or in Ontario by the MLPAO. You must have been certified by BCSLS or MLPAO within the last 5 years.
  4. Route 4 is for certain internationally-educated General MLT candidates recognised by CSMLS or CAMLPR. These candidates must have tried an MLT route but failed the MLT exam.

You must take the CSMLS MLA exam in Canada, regardless of the eligibility route and testing method (in-person or remotely).

How do I apply for the CSMLS MLA exam?

To apply for the exam, you will need to fill out the exam application form on the CSMLS website.

The CSMLS MLA exam is held several times each year, typically in February, June, August, and October. The registration deadline is around two months before each exam. Check the current exam schedule on the CSMLS website at www.csmls.org.

How much does the CSMLS MLA exam cost?

For Canadian residents, the exam fee is:

  • $235 for CSMLS members
  • $435 for non-members

For non-Canadian residents, the exam fee is:

  • $315 for CSMLS members
  • $595 for non-members

(These fees are correct for the 2026 exams. See www.csmls.org for the latest fees.)

Note there is a late fee if you book the exam within the last two weeks of registration. The late fee is $140 for CSMLS members and $145 for non-members.

A CSMLS Student MLA Membership costs just $26 and reduces the cost of the CSMLS MLA exam by $200.

What is the format of the CSMLS MLA exam?

The CSMLS MLA exam is a computer-based test. It has a 10-minute introduction, followed by 103 minutes to answer the questions. There are 115 questions, which means you have less than a minute to answer each question.

You can take the exam either:

  • in-person at a test centre
  • remotely at home
Aim to spend about 50 seconds per question. If a question is taking too long, make your best choice and move on so you have time to answer the other questions.

What grade do I need to pass the CSMLS MLA exam?

The passing grade is usually 67–68% (see the following table). However, the passing grade differs from exam to exam depending on the difficulty of each exam. Therefore, there is no way to know the passing grade in advance.

Scores required to pass recent CSMLS MLA exams
Exam date Score needed to pass
February 2024 67.2%
June 2024 68.0%
August 2024 67.2%
October 2024 67.2%
February 2025 68.0%
June 2025 67.2%
August 2025 67.2%
October 2025 67.1%
February 2026 67.3%