Hi Marilyn, is there another link available for today’s free session ? I can’t join this link for some reasons. Please can you resend the link or the Meeting ID and password?

Hello My Little Gang of Nasties 😈👅 We’ve got another FREE study session coming up this week, but I need your vote! 👇🏾 ⚠️ Quick note: Tuesday is a United States Federal Holiday, so keep that in mind when voting! Drop your vote in the comments: Which day works best for you? 👉🏾 Tuesday (Veteran's Day Holiday) 👉🏾 Wednesday Then comment your preferred time + time zone (Example: 4PM CST / 5PM EST). Once I see what works best for most of you, I’ll lock in the schedule and post the Zoom link! 🎥 We’ll be going over ASCP-style questions and breaking down strategy, so come ready to learn and laugh like last time. xoxo, Marilyn 🫶🏽

Let’s go through this question step-by-step because this is a great example of how biochemicals and clinical context will lead you straight to the right answer (if you’ve studied your foundational organisms and their “bread-and-butter biochemicals“). Case Info: A pure culture of gram-negative rods was isolated from pulmonary secretions of a 10-year-old cystic fibrosis patient with pneumonia. ***Right away, before we even look at the biochemical data, “cystic fibrosis” + “pulmonary secretions” should make a few key organisms pop into your head 🧫 Biochemical Profile: - Oxidase = + - OF Glucose (open) = + - Red pigment (non-fluorescent) - Growth at 42°C = + - Motility = + - Gelatin hydrolysis = + - Arginine dihydrolase = + - Flagella = polar, monotrichous Which is the most likely organism? A. Burkholderia pseudomallei B. Pseudomonas stutzeri C. Burkholderia cepacia D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Marilyn’s Thought Process: Let’s say you don’t immediately recognize the bug. That’s okay. This is how I’d narrow it to 2 before deciding: 1. Think about what Cystic Fibrosis is. If you don’t know, then look at other clues. It says pulmonary secretions and pneumonia. You gotta at LEAST know what pneumonia is… 2. Next, you have to eliminate at least two of these. Two choices are Burkholderia and two are Pseudomonas. Clearly, they’re trying to get you to narrow it down, but it might be tricky because (assuming you know what cystic fibrosis is)… CF patients are highly susceptible to Pseudomonas AND Burkholderia spp. 3. Oxidase (+) and Growth at 42°C are strong differentiators. Only certain Pseudomonas spp. reliably grow at 42°C. 4. Red, non-fluorescent pigment rules out P. fluorescens and similar fluorescent species. 5. Arginine dihydrolase +, gelatin hydrolysis +, and polar monotrichous flagella further point toward a specific profile. 📌 Bottom Line: Even if you’re stuck between Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the oxidase positivity and growth at 42°C should lock in your answer. That combination is biochemically distinctive, so you just need to know your core organisms cold.

Hellooooo my little Gang of Nasties!😈😜 If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed about where to even start with studying for the ASCP exam — don’t trip. I got you. This is one of the most widely used study resources out there AND single handedly the reason why I passed my MLS(ASCP) exam: The Medical Laboratory Science Review Book by Robert Harr (PDF version). 🧪 It’s packed with: - Review questions by subject - High-yield explanations - Content that closely mirrors what you’ll see on the ASCP exam (Both MLS and MLT) 📌 Use it to: - Track weak areas - Practice daily questions - Get used to ASCP-style phrasing (yes, the ones that feel like they’re intentionally tryna trick you 😭) Whether you’re just starting or reviewing one section at a time — this belongs in your toolkit. 🔗 Download it here AND BOOKMARK IT on your phone and other devices! https://samicrobiology.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/mls-review.pdf ✅ Already feeling stuck? Or not sure how to use this resource effectively? Book a 1:1 call with me and I’ll help you map out a study plan that works for your schedule, learning style, and brain. 📅 https://calendly.com/microscopeviewsyt/45min Let’s get YOU ALL certified. We not doing this alone. 💪🏾🧬