American Medical Technologist (AMT) Practice Exam

A serum or plasma specimen with high levels of fatty substances is described as what?

1. Hemolytic

2. Serous

3. Chylous

4. Lipemic

The correct answer is: Lipemic

A serum or plasma specimen that has high levels of fatty substances is described as lipemic. Lipemia occurs when there are elevated levels of triglycerides or lipids in the blood, often resulting from dietary intake, metabolic disorders, or specific disease states. This condition can lead to a cloudy or turbid appearance of the serum or plasma due to the presence of these fatty substances, which can interfere with certain laboratory tests. In contrast, hemolytic refers to the breakdown of red blood cells, which may cause the serum to appear red or pink but is unrelated to fatty substances. Serous typically describes a clear, pale yellow fluid, often associated with serum but does not specifically relate to lipids. Chylous refers to a type of fluid that is rich in chyle, which is a milky bodily fluid consisting of lymph and emulsified fats that typically occurs in the lymphatic system rather than serum or plasma. Therefore, the term “lipemic” is most appropriate for the scenario given in the question, as it directly addresses the presence of high levels of fatty substances in the specimen.