Greetings Gang, We've had a few people pass their exams this week and one thing I noticed was that normal reference ranges weren't always been included next to CBC indices (or other questions involving lab results and disease state correlations). An excellent resource from the ASCP itself, is the ASCP Exam Content Outline. If you scroll down to about page 14, you'll find reference ranges for all indices tested on the exam. Here is the link to the newest version of the exam content outline ⬇️ https://ascpcontentwebsite.blob.core.windows.net/boccontent/docs/default-source/explore-credentials/content-guidelines/ascp_ascpi_mls_content_guideline.pdf?sfvrsn=3f02224_1 Attached are screenshots from the exam content outline. Hope this helps! - Marilyn

Hi everyone! Hope everyone is doing great and thriving in this MLT/MLS world of ours 🖤 I have a question, what helped yall throughout BloodBank and Microbiology classes? Any advice , things yall bought , etc will be greatly appreciated! It’s been hard me so anything will be great! Stay blessed 🖤❤️

Greetings Gang 😈🤪 HERE IS THE RECAP OF MONDAY'S LIVE STUDY SESSION ‼️✨There is another one tomorrow evening at 3PM PST/4PM MST/5PM CST/6PM EST https://fathom.video/share/DTxwmHy1sLVpYaFTAkb53canXdH-9NMC VIEW RECORDING - 88 mins (No highlights) Meeting Purpose Review ASCP practice questions across multiple lab disciplines. Key Takeaways - Lewis Antigens are Adsorbed: Lewis antigens are unique because they are not intrinsic to RBCs; they are passively adsorbed from plasma. This key distinction from other blood groups is a common exam point. - Yersinia enterocolitica is a Transfusion Risk: This organism's ability to grow at 4°C (blood storage temperature) makes it a critical cause of transfusion-related septicemia, a high-yield exam fact. - MDS Cytopenia is from Apoptosis: Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) cause low cell counts (cytopenia) because the bone marrow produces abnormal cells that are destroyed via apoptosis before they can be released into circulation. - PCR Steps are Denaturation, Annealing, Extension (DAE): This is the correct sequence for PCR. "Hot start" methods prevent non-specific reactions by keeping the polymerase inactive until the optimal temperature is reached. Topics Molecular Biology & Genetics - DNA Nucleotide Composition:A DNA nucleotide consists of deoxyribose, phosphate, and a nitrogenous base (A, T, C, or G).Ribose and Uracil (U) are components of RNA only. - Huntington's Disease:Caused by a trinucleotide repeat: CAG.CGG is associated with Fragile X syndrome. - Second Messengers (cAMP vs. cGMP):cAMP is generated from ATP by adenyl cyclase.cGMP is generated from GTP by guanylyl cyclase.Clinical Relevance:cGMP → Blood vessel relaxation (vasodilation), explaining the action of drugs like nitroglycerin and .cAMP → Bronchodilation, explaining the action of drugs like albuterol.Lab Takeaway: High hormone levels with no expected effect can indicate a signal transduction problem (e.g., Type 2 Diabetes), not a hormone production issue. - PCR Steps & Hot Start PCR:Standard PCR Sequence: Denaturation → Annealing → Extension (DAE).Hot Start PCR: Prevents non-specific reactions by keeping the polymerase inactive until the optimal temperature is reached.Methods:Keeping the reaction on ice until the thermal cycler heats.Separating polymerase and primers with a wax bead that melts at high temperature.Using modified polymerases that are only activated at high temperatures. - MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry:Mechanism: Identifies bacteria by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of molecules.Process: A laser vaporizes the sample, and the "time of flight" of the molecules is compared to a database for identification.Key Point: The laser does not amplify bacteria; it vaporizes them.

Greetings my Little Gang of Nasties 😈😜 Today we’re breaking down the basics of Gram-positives vs Gram-negatives in Microbiology. Attached, you’ll find two flow charts: use these as much as you can when answering your practice questions. The more you use them, the faster it’ll become second nature when you see those bacteria show up on your exam. 🦠 Gram-Positives (Purple!) • Cell wall: Thick peptidoglycan layer → holds onto crystal violet stain. • Examples: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, Clostridium, Listeria. • Biochemicals you’ll use a lot: Catalase, Coagulase, Hemolysis patterns, Bile esculin, 6.5% NaCl, Optochin & bacitracin sensitivity 👉 TSI Slant for Gram-Positive Rods (like Bacillus or Listeria): usually A/A (acid slant/acid butt), but Clostridium can be variable depending on species. 🦠 Gram-Negatives (Lactose and Non-Lactose Fermenters) • Cell wall: Thin peptidoglycan layer + outer membrane with LPS. • Examples: Enterobacteriaceae (E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Klebsiella), Pseudomonas, Neisseria, etc. • Biochemicals to remember: Oxidase, Indole, Urease, Citrate, H2S production. 👉 TSI Slant for Gram-Negative Rods: • E. coli: A/A (acid slant/acid butt), gas, no H2S • Salmonella: K/A (alkaline slant/acid butt), H2S positive • Shigella: K/A, no H2S • Klebsiella: A/A, gas • Pseudomonas: K/K (alkaline slant/alkaline butt) = non-fermenter 🔑 Tip: Your flow charts and TSI reactions are your cheat codes. Use them over and over until you don’t even need to think… you’ll just know the answer. Now go run through some practice questions using the charts. The more you do, the more this sticks, and the faster you’ll dominate your exam. -Marilyn 🧪✨ Interested in studying with other students for your ASCP exam? Weekly study session available in the Inner Circle of Microscope Views. Click here to join now, or book a 1:1 call with me to assess your needs! https://www.skool.com/microscopeviews/about?ref=badbb26c40a147eea94634972a25414a

Hello my Little Gang Of Nasties 😜😈 @Eddllyn Mactavious asked and yall shall receive! If all you’re doing in UA is memorizing “that’s a cast, that’s a crystal, that’s a cell,” you’re missing the point, and you’re making the exam harder for yourself. Urinalysis is about translating those findings into the patient’s story. That means: - Seeing abnormal cells and asking, “What’s happening in this patient’s body right now?” - Matching pH, color, and microscopy results with specific disease processes - Recognizing the pattern, not just the part 💡 Pro tip: Start your UA/Body Fluids study sessions with practice questions based on disease states: glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, UTI, kidney stones, etc. Work backwards from the symptoms and case data → to the results → to the diagnosis. That’s how you train your brain to think like the exam (and like a real laboratorian). 🚨 If UA/Body Fluids was one of your lowest scoring subjects: Hammer it. Do 50 practice questions per day in just that section until your pattern recognition improves. Repetition is how you rewire your brain to see the correlations instantly. 📊 Use the Urine Crystal Chart I’ve attached to this post to help you connect findings to possible disease processes faster. Keep it pulled up while you do practice questions until it becomes second nature. 💬 What’s one UA-related disease process you keep mixing up? 🫠 Tired of guessing what to study and feeling lost in the process? Book a 1:1 call with me and we’ll build you a personalized plan that actually works. https://calendly.com/microscopeviewsyt/45min