I recently took the ASCP exam in order to acquire a state license in laboratory science. I’ve written this for folks seeking advice on a passing strategy. If you’re experiencing difficulty understanding the material or are anxious about what the exam entails, i’d like to help.
Who this is for:
Different strategies work for different folks. Some can pass an exam in two weeks, while others may require more than one attempt. I wished to make this strategy comprehensive so I have written this for folks taking the exam with only a rudimentary understanding of laboratory science. You know what an antibody is, but the fella who kept interrupting the professor made it impossible for you to learn anything else. Maybe your Professor exhausted his/her own own knowledge by this point. Perhaps you crammed for every exam in school, learning nothing substantive in the process. You may even be taking the exam after being out of school for several years. Whatever your situation, I’d like you to understand that you will pass this exam, by following a few simple steps.
About the exam:
You need to score 400 points out of 1000 in order to pass. That’s all you need – 400. Easy questions are worth 10 points; moderately difficult ones are worth more; difficult ones can be worth up to 25 points. All you need is 400. How do you know if you’re ready to score 400 on the real exam? Referring to labce.com, if you can score 75% + on subject tests; 65% + on 100 question review mode; or 55% + on computer adaptive testing mode, then you have a good shot at passing the ASCP exam. I’ve heard mentioned that if you’re still getting very difficult questions around #80, the computer is essentially throwing high value questions at you, hoping you can guess correctly and bring your score up to 400. If you’re getting very easy questions repeatedly, then you’ve already passed and the computer just wants you to go away.
Survival Kit (for those who aren’t sure what to get):
This is the survival gear you need. It is essential and comprehensive. I wouldn’t take this exam without the following: Polansky review cards (THE best resource) LabCE.com subscription – absolutely essential for questions and learning Success in Clinical Laboratory Science (Ciulla) – to be used as your reference textbook Clinical Lab Science Review (Harr) – for questions and learning
How much time do I need to study?
Very subjective. Depending on how hard you work on this, you will need more or less time to prepare. Two to three months is more than adequate if you have an extremely poor understanding of lab science.
Okay fine but what do I DO?!
Take a Labce practice test in 100 question test mode. Don’t look at any resources. Just finish it to see what score you would get. Randomly guess on everything if you need to. It’s Kewl – a blue legged squirrel would score 25% by random guessing so you’ll score around 25-35% if you learned the bare minimum in school. You may be worried about a horrendous score. Don’t be – trust me on this.
Separate your Polansky review cards by subject. Chemistry, Blood Bank, Hematology, Bacteriology and Urinalysis requires 95% of your attention because these subjects comprise 95% of your exam.
Open up the Harr Review book. Examine its organization. Each subject is subdivided further into subtopics (for example, Microbiology is divided into gram positive cocci; gram positive bacilli; anaerobes, enterobacteriaceae, etc). Your cards are organized in a similar manner. Notice that each ~50 question subtest in the review book corresponds to only a handful of review cards.
Each Harr question comes with an excellent explanation. If you don’t know a subject AT ALL, go through the entire individual set of questions for that subtopic – read each explanation – look up the pertinent facts in the few review cards you’re holding in your hands and mark it up. If it’s not there, then tell that fact to @!#*$ off because it’s not important. Do this for every question in that subtopic. By the end of that set of questions, you’ll have learned the entire subtopic and noted what you need to remember on your cards.
Do the above for every subtopic you have difficulties with. It took me 1-2 days per subtopic. Keep in mind that while there are many subtopics, only a few are important for the exam.
After you finish each subtopic (say you finish the enterobacteriacea questions in Harr), do a 50 question subject test in labce, corresponding to the subtopic you just completed (eg. do Bacteriology in labce if you finished enterobacteriacea in Harr: do Hematology in labce if you finished wbc disorders in Harr). Getting a poor score is okay. Most people score around 50%. But every question you get wrong is a new fact you’ve learned and underlined in your cards.
I attempted to do as many of the Labce questions as I could. A classmate did 100 every day – that’s phenomenal. Someone else did 300 every day – that’s wild. I did a thousand in total. Do as many as you can, and learn from every wrong answer. Highlight the facts you learn in your Polansky cards.
By the end of your study period, you’ll notice that only a certain percentage of your Polansky review cards are highlighted with facts you didn’t know. The more you know when you start studying, the less marked up your cards will be. Either way, it’s these highlighted facts that you need to review, ideally every few days.
Additional notes:
Don’t buy the BOC book. The explanations are not helpful. What’s the point of buying an inferior book with thousands of questions when you won’t even get to all the questions in the good review sources listed above (Labce and the book of questions from Harr)? The same goes for textbooks. You don’t need them for this exam.
In my opinion, class notes are utterly useless unless they’re diagrams or tables. Proper understanding requires that you create your own visual aids in between answering questions. Don’t waste time staring at monotonous text or reading the gibberish we tend to jot down in class. Those notes have a place and it rhymes with recycling bin.
Each day, try to recall all of the important information you learned that day. Some will also do this as part of a weekly group meet. I can’t stress enough how important it is to recall the information you’ve learned. If you understand something well and wait 2 weeks to think about it again, you’re liable to forget what you understood so well just a short while ago. Attempt to recall as you’re about to fall asleep every night and it will be fresh in your mind in the morning (an added bonus is that it may knock you out like a light). Therefore, review early in the morning, as well.
Picture the branches of bacteriological charts or certain key antigens in blood bank. If you can’t recall something, look it up immediately! Learning is all about layering knowledge. When you take the time to do several layers (learning, doing questions, drawing charts) your recall will be solid.
Use my high yield charts or make your own. But please know the relevant information!
I took the MLT exam i study BOC book and Labce but BOC book more but i did not pass what your advice, i am so nervous know because i finished science chemistry and Medical lab tech program and i need to pass the Bord exam to have a job,but the student they said we guess and ian not good in guess
I don’t entirely understand the question. Guessing? If you don’t know something, you guess – absolutely. How did you study? I would study by doing hundreds and hundreds of questions and I would feel confident if I am getting a high percentage of questions correct, on a consistent basis.
If you are going to take the MLT exam, there is no need to panic because its pretty easy. I realized this website was created for people who are taking the MLS exam. The level of difficulty is different between the MLT and the MLS exam but the content areas are the same. Don’t buy all the books they are talking about unless you have forgotten everything you learnt from school. They (HARR, POLANSKY ETC) are made for MLS students and are not helpful for the MLT exam in my opinion. Just get the Labce subscription and you will pass for sure. I ordered lots of books which I didn’t get time to read a single page. If you are already working as MLT then you have must have fairly good idea of most lab concepts/ principles. Honestly, most of the questions are based on the things we do in the lab everyday. Remember, you need only 400 points to pass. I passed the MLT exam with a very high score but I didn’t study that much. I am not a smart boy, I just did practice test from Labce 2-3 times a week. if your average in Labce is over 55%, I can assure you that you will pass. Take note of all the questions you missed in your practice test. I will suggest that you write down all your formulas and charts on the scratch paper before you start. Also, from ASCP website you can print the Exam content outline. make sure you are familiar with most of the content areas. The first 30 questions are a little bit difficult but don’t be scared because the last 20 questions are so easy!!!. Good luck friends . Thank you wordsology for the charts!!
Question: If you do not have a lot of knowledge in many areas (lectures weren’t that good in my program), do you think studying ONLY the review cards from Polansky is enough? Along with practice questions from a few resources..
To an extent. I feel like I learned little to nothing in my program. I did lots of questions from labce and harr and I would reference what I didn’t know in one of the major review sources (one of them being Polansky). Polansky is spare on explanations though so if I were you I would choose one of the other major review sources (like the success book). Honestly, all one needs is Labce and/or Harr and one of the review books and time to use these consistently.
hi all,
found this wonderful book on amazon titled ‘clinical laboratory science review questions and answers’. has lots of questions, tips and hints to get me ready for the exam.
i have recently purchased this book and im loving it so far. price wise i found it the cheapest ($4.99!) of all the books available.hope it helps me pass the exam. fingers crossed 🙂
good luck all!
I’m so happy I found this website. I’m still pending approval to take my exam. I have several sources, and I find Harr’s book very helpful, but I may be at a slight advantage with it because Harr was my professor in school. He is EXTREMELY knowledgeable and can go on for hours, especially in Chemistry. I’m a horrible test taker so hopefully I get through this on my first try.
Wow, how blessed can some people be. And you are surely one of them. Few of us get to be taught by great minds and authorities of discipline. I envy you.
You will make it through. No doubt about that.
I took the ASCP exam months ago and was 50 points shy of passing 😦 I have major test anxiety and have always been like this. I get nervous and my mind goes blank trying to recall information. I also did not get good sleep the night before so I am sure that had something to do with along with my stress. First time around I used lab ce and the book clinical laboratory science review (a bottom line approach) by Patsy Jarreau. This time I am using the polansky cards also since I read in reviews a lot of people found them helpful. I am scoring about mid 50s on lab ce. My test is coming up in a month, I hope this time around I can be more calm. Honestly I think part of it is luck too, when it comes to what kind of questions you will be given. I hope the fact that I don’t have good luck and my setback from not passing the first time doesn’t get to me so hopefully God willing I can pass this time!
Lin – part of this exam is certainly luck of the draw but don’t imagine yourself as having bad luck in general. I can understand what you mean but don’t be discouraged. You sound very intelligent (that’s part of good luck in life) and you have a good grasp of what went wrong once before and have adapted. I know how difficult it is to get good sleep the night before an exam (worrying about laying out clothing, checking for subway delays, keys, cell phone, etc) so I rarely get more than a few hours the night before an exam as I lay awake thinking, “Sleep! I order you to fall asleep! Stop talking to your mind and let it go blank!” which never actually works. Try to get good sleep in the week leading up to the exam and trust that you will do well with proper preparation (lots of questions). How long do you have until your next exam?
I also took the BOC today and did not pass. It is really discouraging after hearing that all my other classmates have passed but I couldn’t. How much time should I give myself to study for second test?
It depends on what you did badly in; what your overall score was; how you prepared the first time around; whether you thought you were prepared or not going into the first exam. You’ll need to take all these things into consideration.
thank you for your encouragement 🙂 it is on the 28th…my friends that passed scored about 60% on lab ce I am only scoring mid 50s. Every time i think okay i think i know everything i take a lab ce n freak out thinking why did i not know this before In the ASCP exam they let u mark questions to go look at them if u want to at the end, it only made things more confusing and i was nervous thinking should i change them or leave it. Sometimes i can get it down to 2 possible answers n end up picking the wrong one, its so frustrating! There is no way to know all of Micro so I just went over the basics and the TSI reactions. I was thinking as a strategy during the ASCP they give u a piece of plastic paper u can write on with a marker but it won’t erase u have to end up asking to get a new one if u need more room, my idea is that before i start taking the exam I write down some basic info in case i freak out during the exam, for example reference ranges for heme, ROME for blood gasses, TSI, osmolality and anion gap equations…etc. do you think its a good idea?
I took computer adaptive test for MLS on labce, and got 48%. I need to take the MLT exam.. Think I am ready? Anyone’s thoughts or experience is appreciated.
both my friends that passed were averaging 55-60 % I was averaging around 48% and did not pass. Do not risk it, get your score closer to what my friends did, that is what I am trying to do now. I take one Lab ce adaptive test everyday and since my exam is 2 weeks away I am doing a single subject one everyday also. Know all the basics, definitely coagulation questions, blood gas (use ROME its a clever way to remember), TSI, Hematology pics and what diseases they are associated with, equation questions like Anion gap or osmolality, etc. Best of luck to you 🙂 Once I take the exam again I will come and post here whatever I remember coming up.
go to youtube videos and type the REQUIRED topic . it will display all lectures based on it . There are many Teachers on youtube who teaches and makes you understand using drawings, animations etc… you will find all your answers. and I got 30% when doing all the LAB CE questions, i never crossed 40% on any LABCE exams… and i never studied for 5 years.and I am not a bright student. but I managed to pass with score of 438 because you should Keep on doing as much as LAB CE exams and High Yield Notes … you will do well… 🙂 . but make sure you stay away from humans and WOrk when you Study. trust me… 🙂
For those of you that have taken the exam, did you happen to see many questions on Coagulation? I kind of put that subject on the back burner and not sure if I should spend too much time on it.
Yes, that is most important part of hematology and there were quite amount of coag questions on the BOC. Don’t gamble with not seeing some of the questions that you didn’t study!
The one subject I can’t seem to get a handle on is the lewis secretor…it is confusing and annoying…if anyone has any way of understanding it or anything I would really appreciate the help.
go to youtube videos and type the Lewis topic . it will display all lectures based on it . There are many Teachers on youtube who teaches and makes you understand using drawings, animations etc… you wil find all your answers. and I got 30% when doing all the LAB CE questions, but i managed to pass with score of 438. Keep on doing as much as LAB CE exams, High Yield Notes … you will do well… 🙂
I have tried looking up lewis secrector on youtube. The videos are either about something random that has nothing to do with it or about how lewis secrector is linked to your diet 😦 I have found nothing helpful this is so frustrating and my exam is next week!
Thanks for this website. I discovered it the day before my exam and I wish I had more time to review the site’s content. Nevertheless, I passed the MLT exam (today!). I was having a slight panic attack the day before the exam with a bit of information overload but the high yield notes got my concepts organized.
The first part of the exam was really hard for me, I felt like I was guessing on each question. A lot of times, I was able to eliminate only 1 or 2 incorrect choices. I think I spent about 1.5 hours on the first half then about 40 minutes on the second. I used the rest of my time reviewing. There are three questions on the “Actual questions” link that are very similar or the same exact questions on my exam, which is interesting because I’m only supposed to get MLT level questions (right??).
The resources that I used :
LAB CE free version (has 374 questions) and subscription
MLS by Harr (CD questions level 1 and 2 difficulty) I stopped using the book after going through about 1/4 because I did not have time
ASCP online practice test (hardest of the bunch)
Clinical Laboratory Science Review (has good illustrations and mnemonics)
Wordsology.org – Awesome high yield notes!
I’ll take MLT exam after two weeks, I have online test ,BOC and Success, ,online tests my score average is 25% ,It’s exam is important for me ,please help me ,I need any information about MLT exam
It says easy questions are worth 10 points. More difficult ones are worth more. Hardest ones are worth up to 25 points. So, how does the computer score each question (I found some odd/even scores online such as 876, 491, 570, 483)? Is 10 points the lowest possible point per question and everything else is higher than 10? I am assuming 10 x 100 = 1,000, but because the computer can only put 3 digits, the highest possible score is 999. I am just curious how the point system works in the computer.
Hi wordsology,
I need your help please, I am really confused which book to study. i have polonsky notes, harr book, success book, also signed with labce, bottom line approach, concies review by hubbard. and i just bought review from MD.anderson, they have online review. but im so confused which book are best for me to study. please if you can reply me that will be great.
thank you
See https://wordsology.org/passing-strategy/
I would not have recommended getting so many different resources. It gets to a point where the resources compete for your attention, rather than complement each other to help you. Just go through my study strategy.
1)Divide up the Polansky cards by main subject matter
2)Do at least 25-100 questions each day in labce and Harr
3)Figure out why each answer is what it is using the “success” book (or other book if you prefer but pick ONE).
4)Jot notes down on the polansky cards.
Additionally, if you’re short on time I would recommend skipping parasitology and mycology. I would also recommend just memorizing my coagulation chart instead of learning the entire subject if you’re short on time. Memorize the micro charts! Most of my micro questions came directly off of those charts which I had committed to memory. Good luck and look through the site!
Hi, when I took my MLT I studied on the bench while at work. I think it’s all in the person and the type of job you have. I currently work 3rd shift and I’ve gotten myself into a habit of setting an hour aside after work to study. When I get to work at night, i do labce questions while I work the bench. Sometimes depending on which area of the lab I’m in I can pull out my book and study. Maybe on lunch break review your cards. I think it’s possible if you can set aside time.
Hi, Gearing up to take the MLS exam, no date scheduled as of yet, but I’ve been studying for a while now. I’m an MLT, taking this after 7 years of no classes. Ive sat for this twice and failed, so I took my MLT with NCA right before they joined ASCP. I’m using lab ce, scattered Polansky cards (some have been lost over the years,if any of you who’s passed wants to sell yours let me know) and Clinical lab science a bottom line approach. So fAR on labce. I’ve managed to get at least 68 -70% on the 100 questions review, 60-80% on subject test, however I can not get above a 50 on the computer adaptive test. Am I the only one finding that these questions are seemingly easier on review mode, than test? Also, memory tricks and application tips? Ways to remember disease states? I find that ,unless its blood bank, I can studying and test myself a week later and it’s like I never looked at the info. I’m hoping 3rd time is my charm, I’m so tired of this test hanging over my head. Thanks for this site and your high yield notes!
You can do it! You might want to get the percentage of subject test questions up a bit so you’re over 80%. Make sure you learn from every incorrect answer!
THANK YOU WORDSOLOGY. This site is a life saver. I passed (8/17/2015) on my first try and wanted to contribute to this forum. Along with the high yield notes for micro, I studied for a month using the Polansky Cards, Bottom Line Approach by Jarreu and did 100 questions a day on LabCE. I got one question from LabCE but I can’t remember which one.
More than half of the questions I got were from the previous comments in these forums. So I compiled a list of what was repeated and new ones I remember:
1. What enzyme is increase in mumps? d. Amylase
2. Cushing syndrome causes a. Hyperglycemia
3. Case study about lactic acidosis, and which patient reflects lactic acidosis. It came down to if the patient has ketones or not.
4. Preferred testing for Legionella – urine antigen testing
5. What is the preferred testing for CMV or something like that?
a. Latex agglutination
b. Heterophile test
c. Culture – from previous test takes this was chosen as the right answer
d. Electron microscopy
6. Specimen for rotavirus – stool
7. Specimen for whooping cough – nasopharyngeal swab
8. Sezary syndrome is:
a. T cell lymphopoleferative
b. B cell lymphoma
and another choice with t cell and b cell
***I could not remember the other choices. I think it is T cell
9. Which of the following shows dosage (or does not show dosage, I could not remember) but memorize the antibody that shows dosage
a. M
b. FYa
c. E
d. Leb
10. Patient has walking pneumonia but treatment shows penicillin resistance because – no cell wall
11. Magnesium must be monitored in – b. Pre-eclampsia
12. Increase in jaundiced with pancreatic mass/liver pass (something like that) – a. AFP
13. Normocytic, normochromic, normal WBC, normal platelet, but retics is 0.1%
a. Pure red cell aplasia
b. Fanconi’s anemia
c. Aplastic anemia
14. Blood smear picture that looks like Howell bodies, the retic is 18%, the technologist should stain with?
a. Stain Heinz- body staining
b. Prussian stain
c. Repeat retic
***(it confuses me because Retic was 18% and the blood smear looks Howell bodies but I selected Heinz body staining)
15. patient was given dextran sulfate, why would it be hard to determine blood type
a. Destroy D antigen (something like that)
b. Solubility like antigen activity
c. inhibit anti-a and anti-b
d. dont remember the other choices
16. Pictures of Burr cell, what disease is associated? uremia
17. CBC result, Hct did not match Hgb (Hbg x3), what causes the false increase of Hgb?
a. check specime for lipemia – I selected this
b. check for clot
2 more I cant remember
18. Rouleux is undetectable at?
a. Room temp
b. AHG phase – I selected this because the cells are washed
c. Could not remember other choises
d. IS
19. Target cell blood smear, what is the effect of target cell on instrument (something like that) – it resists lysing
20. TSI = A/A and oxidase + – a. Aeromonas
21. Pink colony on Mac, citrate positive, Lysine=neg, Ornithine positive, Arginine positive – d. E. cloceae
22. Disease associated with unconjugated bilirubinemia – Sorry, dont remember the choices for this one
23. Acid-fast bacilli, potassium permanganate is used as: (I saw this on ASCP-BOC book) – a. Quenching agent
24. Why are Platelets irreversible in second aggregation
25. Calculation of cell count – rbc on 2 sides were 167 and 188, dilution was 1:10
26. Procaine assay-NAPA (was also in the BOC book)
27. One question was like why do you see these cells, had teardrops, large platelets, and choices were G6PD, myeloperoxidase and 2 more I cant remember
28. Mixing study question
Immediate Incubation Result
Correct Correct Factor Deficiency
No correction No Correction Inhibitor (ex. Lupus anticoagulant)
Correct No Correction Slow-acting inhibitor ( ex. Factor 8)
29. Obstructive Liver dse.: ALP and GGT
30. Biliary Obstruction : Conjugated increased
31.Enzymatic controls were outside 3SD, while the Non-enzymatic controls were within 2SD, What’s the cause? (something like that) THE ENZYMES WERE OUT FOR TOO LONG OR THEY EXPIRED
32. Define blastoconidia
33. Previous VDRL result of CSF is positive. But the lab ran out of the reagent. The RPR is done but negative, what should the technologist do next? Some choices: report is as negative. report as positive, inactivate the CSF and do RPR again, plus one more choice.
34. 2 questions about presence/absence of Bilirubin and Urobilinogen in hemolytic anemia. (you need to be familiar with this)
35.Be familiar with reactions of Strep regarding NaCl, BE, etc.
36. ABO discrepancies – Review these from the BOC book
37. PSA px with prostate gland removed 12 months ago, has a somthing like increase PSA result. so what is the condition?
a. Test sensitivity
b. Test specificity
c. Recurrence of dse
d. cancer is back
CAN BE CAUSED BY INFLAMMATION OF PROSTATE TISSUE OR CANCER CELLS STILL RESIDING
38. Blood collected from EDTA for bld typing and antibody screen, shows MF rxn on AHG and IS.
a. report result
b. adsorb somthing like that
c. recollect serum specimen
d. i forgot again sorry
39. 8 yr old px has osmolality of 297, metabolic acidosis, increase glucose
a. lead poisoning
b. ethyl glyco
c. salicylate
40. How to check if the streptokinase – a thrombolytic agent – does not function well, gives PT and APTT values, correlate which one that shows it is no working
These are the questions I personally got
1. Glucose +. Clinitest –. Why?
a. Adsorbic acid excess
b. Bad strip
c. Glucose is present
d. Galactosuria
2. Pick organisms that give a positive AND negative reaction for the following: CAMP, BACITRACIN, 6.5% NACL, BILE esculin
The choices for this were a combination of 3 organisms. The organisms mentioned were, strep A, strep B, staph aureus, enterococcus, strep viridins
3.What rises in azotemia?
a. Creatinine
b. BUN – I selected this one
c. Ammonia
d. Uric acid
4. What is present in Hashimotos and one more, the only choice I remember was TRH
5. Schiznots and mature trophozoites (horrible spelling) are not present in which plasmodium
a. Ovale
b. Malaraie
c. Falciparum
d. Vivax
6. Inscription on biuret/pipette (cant remember) is 1.00 plus/minus 0.006. This shows:
a. Precision
b. Accuracy
c. Calibration
d. One more I can’t remember
7. Reason for mixed field agglutination
a. Soluble antigen
b. Fetal maternal hemorrhage
c. I don’t remember the other 2
8. pH of urine is 4.5, why?
a. Vomit
b. Lactic acidosis
c. Can’t remember the other 2
9. A question about calibration (this was the answer)
10. All reactions for 2 patient samples, and 3 screening cells were 0. Why? I remember I selected no serum was added.
Just breathe and do not panic! You can always flag questions and come back to them later! Like others, I felt like I also failed half way through but seeing PASS on the screen was the best feeling ever
Hey, I primarily used Clinical Laboratory Science Review: A Bottom Line Approach by Patsy Jarreau and Polansky Review cards I used the BOC only for ABO discrepancies and just to review fungi.
Ok, so I take my MLT ASCP exam tomorrow. I know this site is mainly for MT but I have used it for studying along with Harr and Labce. In LABCE I have been averaging around 80%+ in selected areas, 80%+ in ASCP MLT test stimulator, and 60%+ in MLS adaptive test mode. I am extremely nervous as I graduated back in 2011 and have not worked in the lab in three years due to my husband being active military and us moving overseas. If I could get prayers, good vibes, or wish on a star for me for tomorrow I will be forever in your debt. Any last advice before the big day? Thank you to everyone for all your input and help!
I didnt get a chance to take it. When I arrived the internet was down, I waited for a couple hours to see if it would come back on and it didn’t. The facility and I had to submit an incident report to Pearson to reschedule the exam. I am now set for Monday the 14th. I was upset but relieved. I was way too nervous and stressed out. Hopefully this time I will go into it with a better mind set and less nervous. I am curious how do you feel about the exam? Are you doing Labce? what is your average scores if so? I just feel like Labce may be way too easy and questions repetitive that I just memorisized them instead of actually knowing the information. I have revisisted the Harr book and I feel like it is much more challanging. I feel good in all the secions beside chemistry. In micro if feel I have a good enough base knowledge to answer alot of basic questions but it starts to get muddled in the specific reactions like lysine and indole test.
I took the exam today and passed! I found the test to be really vague in the questions and like most people could narrow it down to two answers then just tried to pick the best answer. All the charts and tables were not very indicative enough to clearly give you a definant answer in your mind. I found Labce was very straight foward in their answers to the questions, this was not. In BB i had questions about A subgroups, enzyme treatment and how it affects antigens, and 2-3 Antibody panels. Micro I had standard questions that I felt confidient in the answer, I suggest knowing the micro charts on this website. Heme I had questions about thals, stomatocytes, and CBC results that I felt were real confusing and didnt give me a clear direction in the answer it wanted. I had alot more questions but I really can not remember right now my brain feels like mush, lol. I do not know my final score or what I got right or wrong, but I am excited to find out exactly how I did. My best advice would be to stay calm and focus on what the question is trying to lead you to what the answer is. It took me two hours to take the test and review it. Take your time and stay calm. Goodluck!
I just briefly looked over Molecular Diagnostics in the Harr book and I do not think that I had any question pertaining to the subject. I do feel like I over studied and focused more on diseases and disease states. I focused a lot on disorders like Cushing’s, Addison’s, Bilirubin disorders, mucopolysaccharides, glycogen storage, Coag disorders and stuff like that and all I really had for disorder questions were about Thalassemia, VWF, one about urobilinogen increase, and anemias that I can remember. I feel like the question I got were basic fundamental principles that I learned in School. Not to say it was easy because it wasn’t and every test is different. I did find the ASCP practice test on their site was in line with the way the questions are formatted, I think it was 35$ for 3 months access. There are only a set number of question for each subject I think like 50 questions each subject, no where near the amount of questions in Labce. There were a handful of question that just left me feeling like “What the ….” like I had no idea at all. I did have a lot of questions for chemistry that pertained to assays like Direct fluorescence and indirect fluorescence test. I had a question about MF reactions in Sub group A in BB, I chose A3 subgroup as the answer. what foward and reverse reactions would look like for a sub group A2 person with an anti-A, I had in micro stock cultures for PAD, Indole, and Citrate reactions the choices where a mix of Enterobacter, E. Coli, Kleb, and Proteus v. As I remember I will come back to put them up.
Since I found this website & the comments here to be SO helpful, I thought I would leave some feedback as well! Last weekend I passed the ASCP MLS exam (YAY!) I was super nervous about it, but it really wasn’t necessary. All the information you find here is more than enough. Just remember to be calm, be smart, go one question at a time, & simply pick the best answer. I will admit that I did not do much studying, but considering that it is 100 random questions, it is difficult to study EVERYTHING, so just get your concepts down and you should be fine. I used the subscription to LabCE and found that to be a great tool. Also, the high yield notes posted here and all of the actual questions that have been posted. I did not get a great deal of them, but at least 3 showed up so it’s definitely worth it to read over them! I lucked out and got many blood bank panels (around 6) and quite a few pictures (some on ANA patterns and a few hematology related ones – like from this slide what is the disorder). The rest seemed literally like random questions – mostly chemistry (know your reference ranges) and hematology (know your disorders). Anyway, GOOD LUCK TO ALL! You can do it!!!!! 🙂
Wow, I got all the textbooks you mentioned..Thank you for sharing your strategy, I think it would help a lot especially now that I dont know what and where to start. I’m going to take ASCPi later but I’ll take the NMAT first 🙂
Hi everyone! I am planning to take the MLS exam later this year around late Nov maybe early Dec. I have not been in school for over 3 years and I am somewhat dusty on most Lab topics. I ordered Lab CE because it helped big time when I took my MLT exam in 2012. Can anyone give suggestions on additional study material? Thank you
yes for sure get the Polansky cards they literally have everything you need to know and is so detailed! also get CLS review (a bottom line approach) by Patsy Jarreau it has tricks to help u remember the material. Also BOC review book you can order from ASCP has similar material to what will be on the exam. Good luck friend 🙂
Which is better to take ASCP exam which is exclusive for US only or ASCPi? Which is applicable outside US. Please help me i am having a hard time deciding what board of certification to take. I am a fresh graduate from the philippines . I finished bachelor in medical laboratory science. With 1 year internship experience. What exam would you suggest that i should take?
this really depends on where you can work and where you wish to work. I would contact the ASCP and ask because they have experience with this type of situation.
you should take ASCPi since you are a foreign graduate. I am a Philippine graduate too, currently residing in the US. I applied for ASCPi and took Route 1 (which only requires you to have your transcript mailed). After 2 weeks they sent me an admission letter and had me schedule my exam.
Hi everyone,i have bn doing serious study since 1St of September, I av concentrated on. Robert o.Harr n flashcards by polansky,in my labce.practice,i am still getting between 47- 50,this is frustrating, does anyone have a clue,on hw I can get to 70,i only score 69-70 on my retry, please any suggestions, I am getting more worried……
I just passed the ASCP yesterday and used your study items (minus the polansky cards). Honestly, the amount of study time and effort you need really depends on how much or how well you understood the material from your classes. If I were you I would answer as many questions in Harr and the Success books as possible. The questions on the exam aren’t always direct, so you really do need to have a solid understanding of most of the fundamentals from each area. First, I would use the Bottom Line approach book as a guide. Go through every page and be sure to read more about each topic in the Success book, and if you still have them, go back and look through your class notes for the topics as you review them. After this make flash cards/ flow charts or any visual aides that will help reinforce you ability to remember how things connect. After that, answer the corresponding section questions in the Harr book/ CD and Sucess Book, being sure to understand why the correct answers are correct and then drill yourself with LabCe. Take an hour every day and look over your flashcards/ flow charts before starting new material. If you stick to a solid schedule, you will see your LabCe scores increase dramatically, and will do fine on your exam. Just be diligent, and study, study, study. Good Luck!
I intend to take the ASCP i,by mid november 2015, and an still getting 47-50 on my labce.practice, any suggestions on hw to improve on this please ,worried……
Thank You Wordsology!!
After isolating myself from everything for two months and focused only on studying I finally passed my BOC! Thanks again for your wonderful high yield notes and passing strategy!! =]
So, I took my test today, and passed!! I used LabCe and The Bottom Line approach clinical review book. I was scoring 50-65%on the Labce exams. It seemed as if I failied during the exam. I was relieved to see I passed. So glad. Any questions, ask. I would love to help.
Im taking the exam in Dec. Im gonna use all the information on here n do my best. My memory is very bad, so that’s where my anxiety comes in. Afraid that I fail the boards n cant pass it -EVER. But I plan on studying HARD UP TILL THEN…I have labce n the Clinical Lab Science Review book. N I will be using your flash cards also. Hopefully thats all I need. I will stay reading updates on here and when I take it-PASS OR FAIL-I WILL POST MY EXPERIENCE. Good luck to all!!!!!
sounds like you have test anxiety like I do. Try different ways of studying, I come to the library and write things on the board (in the private room). Also here is a tip at the very beginning before you even answer any questions in the exam write down all the ranges and things like TSI or ROME etc. because you may panic during the exam like I do and mind goes blank. The polansky cards are really good look into getting them from Amazon or ebay.
THANKS!! Ill keep you all posted when I take mines. My classmates passed thiers. Its a handful of us that still have to take it. Just gonna do what I can and follow what you all say to do. WISH ME LUCK!
I hope someone will answer my answer here. At the end of the exam, preliminary result was ‘pass’. Is it confirmed that I pass? I’m asking this cuz I’m not sure of the answers and I kept getting easy or similar questions. Thanks:)
I was studying to become certified in Histotechnology, but used the same testing strategy and resources you recommended. I passed on the 1st try and wanted to say Thanks.
Congrats on passing! Did you happen to use LabCe?If so how would you compare it to the actual ASCP HT/HTL exam? I’m currently studying for the HTL exam and any pointers will be appreciated. Thanks!
Congrats on passing! I’m currently studying for the HTL. Did you happen to use LabCe? If so, how would you compare it to the HT/HTL exam? Any pointers will be appreciated. Thanks!
I’m really nervous. Will be taking my exam on Dec. And I’m still failing my labce exams. Getting 60+ on selected areas. While 50+ on adaptive MLS on labce. But my difficulty ave is very low. 4.00+++ and I’m getting a hard time. What shall I do? I’m losing hope
Don’t lose hope in November. There is a very formulaic strategy for passing – it’s not based on luck -and you have more than enough time to be solid before your exam in December. You have another month to get these numbers up. When you get questions wrong, are you looking up the subject in one of the reference books to figure out why? When you get questions right, are you looking up the wrong answers to see why? You need to be taking multiple full tests every week and doing this repeatedly. You will build up your knowledge base very quickly if you do this.
I always study the rationale after taking the exam on labce. After that I’ll retake it again on review mode. But I haven’t done that on adaptive mode yet. Planning to finish all the subjects first. But someone said that to passed ASCP you must obtain a diffculty of 5.50++ and you will surely pass the exam. Is it true that to pass the exam you must obtain that difficulty? And also I have read that the easy questions are equivalent to 10 points. If its true then just 40 sure answers, you’d pass?
I took my MLS exam yesterday and passed! This site was a great help especially the high yield notes. I just wanted to say thank you. It took me a month to cover everything that I needed. I used the Polansky cards, Harr and LabCe. I was averaging on 51-53 on the MLS Adaptive Test and around 65-70 on the MLS Simulator Test. I got a lot of questions about Gram Neg Bacilli, Antibody Panel and analytes in Chemistry. The questions were more situational and weren’t as direct as those found in LabCe. I thought I was gonna fail half way through it. But you have to be calm so you wouldn’t miss anything. They key is to keep yourself relaxed and read the questions carefully. I hope this helps. Good luck with your exams! 🙂
Excellent advice. I agree – the exam is definitely more like “cases” at times, rather than rapid-fire questions. I agree that remaining calm (deep breaths if you are getting nervous) is key. The exam is eminently doable when you have prepared correctly, read the questions carefully, and remain relaxed. Thank you for your advice.
Hello everyone, please kind I get to rent the CLS review book( a bottom line approach by jarreau) from anyone please, I need it as a,refernce to take my exam by December. Please I need it asap,pleaseeeee……..
Hi Kavitha, can you please forward me that PDF also? I am finishing my MLT program this December and I need it to study for the boards. Thank you in advance! richardm74@gmail.com
hi everyone, ill be taking the exam this nov16.. reading your views and opinions will definitely help me, esp the recall questions, ive been practicing exam tru lab.ce, but only the free quiz..
I would really appreciate if you could email me the CLS review book as well. I’m sorry you have been bombarded with requests! Thanks very much. tiaster@hotmail.com
Hello Kavitha,, Could you please send me the PDF version of CLS review book? Im taking the exam in 3 weeks.. and I would truly appreciate it if you can send one to pelfrey2007@yahoo.com
thanks
HI Kavitha, appreciate if you can email me the PDF version of CLS review book at ekhadz@yahoo.com. Doing my review at the moment and sure it will be a big help.
I am super nervous. I am taking my MLS exam next week and my computer adaptive test score is 53%. I am not sure what should I do. Do you guys have any last minute advice for me, please? I don’t have option but pass the exam because my MLT certificate expires in few weeks and I don’t have enough CE credit to renew the MLT certificate.
Thanks Gab!
My difficultly level is 6.21 but I don’t trust that because at lest 5% of the questions are repeated in adaptive testing from taking over and over. However, thanks again for encouragement! I will try using your suggested website, it might help. Wish me good luck!
I passed MLS exam last week. This website was really helpful, I atleast have five questions from the actual question from this website. Thanks wordosology!
wordsology 
I took the MLT exam i study BOC book and Labce but BOC book more but i did not pass what your advice, i am so nervous know because i finished science chemistry and Medical lab tech program and i need to pass the Bord exam to have a job,but the student they said we guess and ian not good in guess
I don’t entirely understand the question. Guessing? If you don’t know something, you guess – absolutely. How did you study? I would study by doing hundreds and hundreds of questions and I would feel confident if I am getting a high percentage of questions correct, on a consistent basis.
If you are going to take the MLT exam, there is no need to panic because its pretty easy. I realized this website was created for people who are taking the MLS exam. The level of difficulty is different between the MLT and the MLS exam but the content areas are the same. Don’t buy all the books they are talking about unless you have forgotten everything you learnt from school. They (HARR, POLANSKY ETC) are made for MLS students and are not helpful for the MLT exam in my opinion. Just get the Labce subscription and you will pass for sure. I ordered lots of books which I didn’t get time to read a single page. If you are already working as MLT then you have must have fairly good idea of most lab concepts/ principles. Honestly, most of the questions are based on the things we do in the lab everyday. Remember, you need only 400 points to pass. I passed the MLT exam with a very high score but I didn’t study that much. I am not a smart boy, I just did practice test from Labce 2-3 times a week. if your average in Labce is over 55%, I can assure you that you will pass. Take note of all the questions you missed in your practice test. I will suggest that you write down all your formulas and charts on the scratch paper before you start. Also, from ASCP website you can print the Exam content outline. make sure you are familiar with most of the content areas. The first 30 questions are a little bit difficult but don’t be scared because the last 20 questions are so easy!!!. Good luck friends . Thank you wordsology for the charts!!
Hey Isaac,
Thanks very much for this alternate perspective. I was unaware of this and it’s good to know. Congratulations!
Question: If you do not have a lot of knowledge in many areas (lectures weren’t that good in my program), do you think studying ONLY the review cards from Polansky is enough? Along with practice questions from a few resources..
Thank you!
To an extent. I feel like I learned little to nothing in my program. I did lots of questions from labce and harr and I would reference what I didn’t know in one of the major review sources (one of them being Polansky). Polansky is spare on explanations though so if I were you I would choose one of the other major review sources (like the success book). Honestly, all one needs is Labce and/or Harr and one of the review books and time to use these consistently.
hi all,
found this wonderful book on amazon titled ‘clinical laboratory science review questions and answers’. has lots of questions, tips and hints to get me ready for the exam.
i have recently purchased this book and im loving it so far. price wise i found it the cheapest ($4.99!) of all the books available.hope it helps me pass the exam. fingers crossed 🙂
good luck all!
Who’s the author?
How many hours a day do you think is appropriate for knowing all of this information?
this is a highly subjective question
Who is the author of this book?
I’m so happy I found this website. I’m still pending approval to take my exam. I have several sources, and I find Harr’s book very helpful, but I may be at a slight advantage with it because Harr was my professor in school. He is EXTREMELY knowledgeable and can go on for hours, especially in Chemistry. I’m a horrible test taker so hopefully I get through this on my first try.
Wow, how blessed can some people be. And you are surely one of them. Few of us get to be taught by great minds and authorities of discipline. I envy you.
You will make it through. No doubt about that.
I took the ASCP exam months ago and was 50 points shy of passing 😦 I have major test anxiety and have always been like this. I get nervous and my mind goes blank trying to recall information. I also did not get good sleep the night before so I am sure that had something to do with along with my stress. First time around I used lab ce and the book clinical laboratory science review (a bottom line approach) by Patsy Jarreau. This time I am using the polansky cards also since I read in reviews a lot of people found them helpful. I am scoring about mid 50s on lab ce. My test is coming up in a month, I hope this time around I can be more calm. Honestly I think part of it is luck too, when it comes to what kind of questions you will be given. I hope the fact that I don’t have good luck and my setback from not passing the first time doesn’t get to me so hopefully God willing I can pass this time!
Lin – part of this exam is certainly luck of the draw but don’t imagine yourself as having bad luck in general. I can understand what you mean but don’t be discouraged. You sound very intelligent (that’s part of good luck in life) and you have a good grasp of what went wrong once before and have adapted. I know how difficult it is to get good sleep the night before an exam (worrying about laying out clothing, checking for subway delays, keys, cell phone, etc) so I rarely get more than a few hours the night before an exam as I lay awake thinking, “Sleep! I order you to fall asleep! Stop talking to your mind and let it go blank!” which never actually works. Try to get good sleep in the week leading up to the exam and trust that you will do well with proper preparation (lots of questions). How long do you have until your next exam?
I also took the BOC today and did not pass. It is really discouraging after hearing that all my other classmates have passed but I couldn’t. How much time should I give myself to study for second test?
It depends on what you did badly in; what your overall score was; how you prepared the first time around; whether you thought you were prepared or not going into the first exam. You’ll need to take all these things into consideration.
thank you for your encouragement 🙂 it is on the 28th…my friends that passed scored about 60% on lab ce I am only scoring mid 50s. Every time i think okay i think i know everything i take a lab ce n freak out thinking why did i not know this before
In the ASCP exam they let u mark questions to go look at them if u want to at the end, it only made things more confusing and i was nervous thinking should i change them or leave it. Sometimes i can get it down to 2 possible answers n end up picking the wrong one, its so frustrating! There is no way to know all of Micro so I just went over the basics and the TSI reactions. I was thinking as a strategy during the ASCP they give u a piece of plastic paper u can write on with a marker but it won’t erase u have to end up asking to get a new one if u need more room, my idea is that before i start taking the exam I write down some basic info in case i freak out during the exam, for example reference ranges for heme, ROME for blood gasses, TSI, osmolality and anion gap equations…etc. do you think its a good idea?
No reply?
I took computer adaptive test for MLS on labce, and got 48%. I need to take the MLT exam.. Think I am ready? Anyone’s thoughts or experience is appreciated.
both my friends that passed were averaging 55-60 % I was averaging around 48% and did not pass. Do not risk it, get your score closer to what my friends did, that is what I am trying to do now. I take one Lab ce adaptive test everyday and since my exam is 2 weeks away I am doing a single subject one everyday also. Know all the basics, definitely coagulation questions, blood gas (use ROME its a clever way to remember), TSI, Hematology pics and what diseases they are associated with, equation questions like Anion gap or osmolality, etc. Best of luck to you 🙂 Once I take the exam again I will come and post here whatever I remember coming up.
go to youtube videos and type the REQUIRED topic . it will display all lectures based on it . There are many Teachers on youtube who teaches and makes you understand using drawings, animations etc… you will find all your answers. and I got 30% when doing all the LAB CE questions, i never crossed 40% on any LABCE exams… and i never studied for 5 years.and I am not a bright student. but I managed to pass with score of 438 because you should Keep on doing as much as LAB CE exams and High Yield Notes … you will do well… 🙂 . but make sure you stay away from humans and WOrk when you Study. trust me… 🙂
For those of you that have taken the exam, did you happen to see many questions on Coagulation? I kind of put that subject on the back burner and not sure if I should spend too much time on it.
Yes, that is most important part of hematology and there were quite amount of coag questions on the BOC. Don’t gamble with not seeing some of the questions that you didn’t study!
YES definitely know Coag YJ is right don’t take the risk. Also know the snake venom test. (dRVVT). Know this chart inside out it helps a lot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial_thromboplastin_time
The one subject I can’t seem to get a handle on is the lewis secretor…it is confusing and annoying…if anyone has any way of understanding it or anything I would really appreciate the help.
go to youtube videos and type the Lewis topic . it will display all lectures based on it . There are many Teachers on youtube who teaches and makes you understand using drawings, animations etc… you wil find all your answers. and I got 30% when doing all the LAB CE questions, but i managed to pass with score of 438. Keep on doing as much as LAB CE exams, High Yield Notes … you will do well… 🙂
I have tried looking up lewis secrector on youtube. The videos are either about something random that has nothing to do with it or about how lewis secrector is linked to your diet 😦 I have found nothing helpful this is so frustrating and my exam is next week!
Try blood bank guy website…
Here is his podcast about lewis structure
Thank you so much!!!!! cleared up the confusion 🙂
Thanks for this website. I discovered it the day before my exam and I wish I had more time to review the site’s content. Nevertheless, I passed the MLT exam (today!). I was having a slight panic attack the day before the exam with a bit of information overload but the high yield notes got my concepts organized.
The first part of the exam was really hard for me, I felt like I was guessing on each question. A lot of times, I was able to eliminate only 1 or 2 incorrect choices. I think I spent about 1.5 hours on the first half then about 40 minutes on the second. I used the rest of my time reviewing. There are three questions on the “Actual questions” link that are very similar or the same exact questions on my exam, which is interesting because I’m only supposed to get MLT level questions (right??).
The resources that I used :
LAB CE free version (has 374 questions) and subscription
MLS by Harr (CD questions level 1 and 2 difficulty) I stopped using the book after going through about 1/4 because I did not have time
ASCP online practice test (hardest of the bunch)
Clinical Laboratory Science Review (has good illustrations and mnemonics)
Wordsology.org – Awesome high yield notes!
Thank you for the strong feedback and excellent resources review. Congratulations to you!
Hi,
How long did you study for daily and for how many months?
Took the exam one week after I finished the program. I studied approximately 1 month for the exam.
I’ll take MLT exam after two weeks, I have online test ,BOC and Success, ,online tests my score average is 25% ,It’s exam is important for me ,please help me ,I need any information about MLT exam
It says easy questions are worth 10 points. More difficult ones are worth more. Hardest ones are worth up to 25 points. So, how does the computer score each question (I found some odd/even scores online such as 876, 491, 570, 483)? Is 10 points the lowest possible point per question and everything else is higher than 10? I am assuming 10 x 100 = 1,000, but because the computer can only put 3 digits, the highest possible score is 999. I am just curious how the point system works in the computer.
Hi wordsology,
I need your help please, I am really confused which book to study. i have polonsky notes, harr book, success book, also signed with labce, bottom line approach, concies review by hubbard. and i just bought review from MD.anderson, they have online review. but im so confused which book are best for me to study. please if you can reply me that will be great.
thank you
See https://wordsology.org/passing-strategy/
I would not have recommended getting so many different resources. It gets to a point where the resources compete for your attention, rather than complement each other to help you. Just go through my study strategy.
1)Divide up the Polansky cards by main subject matter
2)Do at least 25-100 questions each day in labce and Harr
3)Figure out why each answer is what it is using the “success” book (or other book if you prefer but pick ONE).
4)Jot notes down on the polansky cards.
Additionally, if you’re short on time I would recommend skipping parasitology and mycology. I would also recommend just memorizing my coagulation chart instead of learning the entire subject if you’re short on time. Memorize the micro charts! Most of my micro questions came directly off of those charts which I had committed to memory. Good luck and look through the site!
I keep reading on here, that your ability to study and pass is less likely if you work and study? Anyone passed while working and studying?
Hi, when I took my MLT I studied on the bench while at work. I think it’s all in the person and the type of job you have. I currently work 3rd shift and I’ve gotten myself into a habit of setting an hour aside after work to study. When I get to work at night, i do labce questions while I work the bench. Sometimes depending on which area of the lab I’m in I can pull out my book and study. Maybe on lunch break review your cards. I think it’s possible if you can set aside time.
Hi, Gearing up to take the MLS exam, no date scheduled as of yet, but I’ve been studying for a while now. I’m an MLT, taking this after 7 years of no classes. Ive sat for this twice and failed, so I took my MLT with NCA right before they joined ASCP. I’m using lab ce, scattered Polansky cards (some have been lost over the years,if any of you who’s passed wants to sell yours let me know) and Clinical lab science a bottom line approach. So fAR on labce. I’ve managed to get at least 68 -70% on the 100 questions review, 60-80% on subject test, however I can not get above a 50 on the computer adaptive test. Am I the only one finding that these questions are seemingly easier on review mode, than test? Also, memory tricks and application tips? Ways to remember disease states? I find that ,unless its blood bank, I can studying and test myself a week later and it’s like I never looked at the info. I’m hoping 3rd time is my charm, I’m so tired of this test hanging over my head. Thanks for this site and your high yield notes!
You can do it! You might want to get the percentage of subject test questions up a bit so you’re over 80%. Make sure you learn from every incorrect answer!
THANK YOU WORDSOLOGY. This site is a life saver. I passed (8/17/2015) on my first try and wanted to contribute to this forum. Along with the high yield notes for micro, I studied for a month using the Polansky Cards, Bottom Line Approach by Jarreu and did 100 questions a day on LabCE. I got one question from LabCE but I can’t remember which one.
More than half of the questions I got were from the previous comments in these forums. So I compiled a list of what was repeated and new ones I remember:
1. What enzyme is increase in mumps? d. Amylase
2. Cushing syndrome causes a. Hyperglycemia
3. Case study about lactic acidosis, and which patient reflects lactic acidosis. It came down to if the patient has ketones or not.
4. Preferred testing for Legionella – urine antigen testing
5. What is the preferred testing for CMV or something like that?
a. Latex agglutination
b. Heterophile test
c. Culture – from previous test takes this was chosen as the right answer
d. Electron microscopy
6. Specimen for rotavirus – stool
7. Specimen for whooping cough – nasopharyngeal swab
8. Sezary syndrome is:
a. T cell lymphopoleferative
b. B cell lymphoma
and another choice with t cell and b cell
***I could not remember the other choices. I think it is T cell
9. Which of the following shows dosage (or does not show dosage, I could not remember) but memorize the antibody that shows dosage
a. M
b. FYa
c. E
d. Leb
10. Patient has walking pneumonia but treatment shows penicillin resistance because – no cell wall
11. Magnesium must be monitored in – b. Pre-eclampsia
12. Increase in jaundiced with pancreatic mass/liver pass (something like that) – a. AFP
13. Normocytic, normochromic, normal WBC, normal platelet, but retics is 0.1%
a. Pure red cell aplasia
b. Fanconi’s anemia
c. Aplastic anemia
14. Blood smear picture that looks like Howell bodies, the retic is 18%, the technologist should stain with?
a. Stain Heinz- body staining
b. Prussian stain
c. Repeat retic
***(it confuses me because Retic was 18% and the blood smear looks Howell bodies but I selected Heinz body staining)
15. patient was given dextran sulfate, why would it be hard to determine blood type
a. Destroy D antigen (something like that)
b. Solubility like antigen activity
c. inhibit anti-a and anti-b
d. dont remember the other choices
16. Pictures of Burr cell, what disease is associated? uremia
17. CBC result, Hct did not match Hgb (Hbg x3), what causes the false increase of Hgb?
a. check specime for lipemia – I selected this
b. check for clot
2 more I cant remember
18. Rouleux is undetectable at?
a. Room temp
b. AHG phase – I selected this because the cells are washed
c. Could not remember other choises
d. IS
19. Target cell blood smear, what is the effect of target cell on instrument (something like that) – it resists lysing
20. TSI = A/A and oxidase + – a. Aeromonas
21. Pink colony on Mac, citrate positive, Lysine=neg, Ornithine positive, Arginine positive – d. E. cloceae
22. Disease associated with unconjugated bilirubinemia – Sorry, dont remember the choices for this one
23. Acid-fast bacilli, potassium permanganate is used as: (I saw this on ASCP-BOC book) – a. Quenching agent
24. Why are Platelets irreversible in second aggregation
25. Calculation of cell count – rbc on 2 sides were 167 and 188, dilution was 1:10
26. Procaine assay-NAPA (was also in the BOC book)
27. One question was like why do you see these cells, had teardrops, large platelets, and choices were G6PD, myeloperoxidase and 2 more I cant remember
28. Mixing study question
Immediate Incubation Result
Correct Correct Factor Deficiency
No correction No Correction Inhibitor (ex. Lupus anticoagulant)
Correct No Correction Slow-acting inhibitor ( ex. Factor 8)
29. Obstructive Liver dse.: ALP and GGT
30. Biliary Obstruction : Conjugated increased
31.Enzymatic controls were outside 3SD, while the Non-enzymatic controls were within 2SD, What’s the cause? (something like that) THE ENZYMES WERE OUT FOR TOO LONG OR THEY EXPIRED
32. Define blastoconidia
33. Previous VDRL result of CSF is positive. But the lab ran out of the reagent. The RPR is done but negative, what should the technologist do next? Some choices: report is as negative. report as positive, inactivate the CSF and do RPR again, plus one more choice.
34. 2 questions about presence/absence of Bilirubin and Urobilinogen in hemolytic anemia. (you need to be familiar with this)
35.Be familiar with reactions of Strep regarding NaCl, BE, etc.
36. ABO discrepancies – Review these from the BOC book
37. PSA px with prostate gland removed 12 months ago, has a somthing like increase PSA result. so what is the condition?
a. Test sensitivity
b. Test specificity
c. Recurrence of dse
d. cancer is back
CAN BE CAUSED BY INFLAMMATION OF PROSTATE TISSUE OR CANCER CELLS STILL RESIDING
38. Blood collected from EDTA for bld typing and antibody screen, shows MF rxn on AHG and IS.
a. report result
b. adsorb somthing like that
c. recollect serum specimen
d. i forgot again sorry
39. 8 yr old px has osmolality of 297, metabolic acidosis, increase glucose
a. lead poisoning
b. ethyl glyco
c. salicylate
40. How to check if the streptokinase – a thrombolytic agent – does not function well, gives PT and APTT values, correlate which one that shows it is no working
These are the questions I personally got
1. Glucose +. Clinitest –. Why?
a. Adsorbic acid excess
b. Bad strip
c. Glucose is present
d. Galactosuria
2. Pick organisms that give a positive AND negative reaction for the following: CAMP, BACITRACIN, 6.5% NACL, BILE esculin
The choices for this were a combination of 3 organisms. The organisms mentioned were, strep A, strep B, staph aureus, enterococcus, strep viridins
3.What rises in azotemia?
a. Creatinine
b. BUN – I selected this one
c. Ammonia
d. Uric acid
4. What is present in Hashimotos and one more, the only choice I remember was TRH
5. Schiznots and mature trophozoites (horrible spelling) are not present in which plasmodium
a. Ovale
b. Malaraie
c. Falciparum
d. Vivax
6. Inscription on biuret/pipette (cant remember) is 1.00 plus/minus 0.006. This shows:
a. Precision
b. Accuracy
c. Calibration
d. One more I can’t remember
7. Reason for mixed field agglutination
a. Soluble antigen
b. Fetal maternal hemorrhage
c. I don’t remember the other 2
8. pH of urine is 4.5, why?
a. Vomit
b. Lactic acidosis
c. Can’t remember the other 2
9. A question about calibration (this was the answer)
10. All reactions for 2 patient samples, and 3 screening cells were 0. Why? I remember I selected no serum was added.
Just breathe and do not panic! You can always flag questions and come back to them later! Like others, I felt like I also failed half way through but seeing PASS on the screen was the best feeling ever
THANK YOU AGAIN WORDSOLOGY!
Thank you so much – this is going to help a lot of people. Thank you for doing this and congratulations.
🙂 !! I hope it does!
Hi! Can you help us answer the questions please. Thanks!
What questions do you need help with? With regard to the questions I have posted – all answers are posted as well!
Wow so awesome!!! Congratulations on passing. So happy for you. I know you re happy to be done studying and stressing lol. Good job!
You have no idea lol thank you!!
Hey Sm- MLS Which source did u used. Did u also did questions from BOC ASCP book
Hey, I primarily used Clinical Laboratory Science Review: A Bottom Line Approach by Patsy Jarreau and Polansky Review cards I used the BOC only for ABO discrepancies and just to review fungi.
Ok, so I take my MLT ASCP exam tomorrow. I know this site is mainly for MT but I have used it for studying along with Harr and Labce. In LABCE I have been averaging around 80%+ in selected areas, 80%+ in ASCP MLT test stimulator, and 60%+ in MLS adaptive test mode. I am extremely nervous as I graduated back in 2011 and have not worked in the lab in three years due to my husband being active military and us moving overseas. If I could get prayers, good vibes, or wish on a star for me for tomorrow I will be forever in your debt. Any last advice before the big day? Thank you to everyone for all your input and help!
hey ,Nikki how was exam?? I take MLT exam Sep.19 ,please information
I didnt get a chance to take it. When I arrived the internet was down, I waited for a couple hours to see if it would come back on and it didn’t. The facility and I had to submit an incident report to Pearson to reschedule the exam. I am now set for Monday the 14th. I was upset but relieved. I was way too nervous and stressed out. Hopefully this time I will go into it with a better mind set and less nervous. I am curious how do you feel about the exam? Are you doing Labce? what is your average scores if so? I just feel like Labce may be way too easy and questions repetitive that I just memorisized them instead of actually knowing the information. I have revisisted the Harr book and I feel like it is much more challanging. I feel good in all the secions beside chemistry. In micro if feel I have a good enough base knowledge to answer alot of basic questions but it starts to get muddled in the specific reactions like lysine and indole test.
Hey Nikki ,i think your exam is Today (Sep.14) ,How was it ?? please say something about exam ,thanks ,GOOD LUCK!!!!
I took the exam today and passed! I found the test to be really vague in the questions and like most people could narrow it down to two answers then just tried to pick the best answer. All the charts and tables were not very indicative enough to clearly give you a definant answer in your mind. I found Labce was very straight foward in their answers to the questions, this was not. In BB i had questions about A subgroups, enzyme treatment and how it affects antigens, and 2-3 Antibody panels. Micro I had standard questions that I felt confidient in the answer, I suggest knowing the micro charts on this website. Heme I had questions about thals, stomatocytes, and CBC results that I felt were real confusing and didnt give me a clear direction in the answer it wanted. I had alot more questions but I really can not remember right now my brain feels like mush, lol. I do not know my final score or what I got right or wrong, but I am excited to find out exactly how I did. My best advice would be to stay calm and focus on what the question is trying to lead you to what the answer is. It took me two hours to take the test and review it. Take your time and stay calm. Goodluck!
Congra Nikki ,thank yiu very much it’s very helpful information, if you remember more questions please share me. Congra ……congra……
On the ASCP exam for MLT, do you think I need to study Molecular Diagnostics? Will there be many questions on that?
I just briefly looked over Molecular Diagnostics in the Harr book and I do not think that I had any question pertaining to the subject. I do feel like I over studied and focused more on diseases and disease states. I focused a lot on disorders like Cushing’s, Addison’s, Bilirubin disorders, mucopolysaccharides, glycogen storage, Coag disorders and stuff like that and all I really had for disorder questions were about Thalassemia, VWF, one about urobilinogen increase, and anemias that I can remember. I feel like the question I got were basic fundamental principles that I learned in School. Not to say it was easy because it wasn’t and every test is different. I did find the ASCP practice test on their site was in line with the way the questions are formatted, I think it was 35$ for 3 months access. There are only a set number of question for each subject I think like 50 questions each subject, no where near the amount of questions in Labce. There were a handful of question that just left me feeling like “What the ….” like I had no idea at all. I did have a lot of questions for chemistry that pertained to assays like Direct fluorescence and indirect fluorescence test. I had a question about MF reactions in Sub group A in BB, I chose A3 subgroup as the answer. what foward and reverse reactions would look like for a sub group A2 person with an anti-A, I had in micro stock cultures for PAD, Indole, and Citrate reactions the choices where a mix of Enterobacter, E. Coli, Kleb, and Proteus v. As I remember I will come back to put them up.
Thank you Nikki ,Congratulations
hey guys how do i get access to LABCE questions coz i see on there site i have to pay some fee
You can do the free quiz or pay for the much more extensive tests, which I personally recommend.
Since I found this website & the comments here to be SO helpful, I thought I would leave some feedback as well! Last weekend I passed the ASCP MLS exam (YAY!) I was super nervous about it, but it really wasn’t necessary. All the information you find here is more than enough. Just remember to be calm, be smart, go one question at a time, & simply pick the best answer. I will admit that I did not do much studying, but considering that it is 100 random questions, it is difficult to study EVERYTHING, so just get your concepts down and you should be fine. I used the subscription to LabCE and found that to be a great tool. Also, the high yield notes posted here and all of the actual questions that have been posted. I did not get a great deal of them, but at least 3 showed up so it’s definitely worth it to read over them! I lucked out and got many blood bank panels (around 6) and quite a few pictures (some on ANA patterns and a few hematology related ones – like from this slide what is the disorder). The rest seemed literally like random questions – mostly chemistry (know your reference ranges) and hematology (know your disorders). Anyway, GOOD LUCK TO ALL! You can do it!!!!! 🙂
thank you for your thoughtfulness and feedback. It is always appreciated. Congratulations!
Wow, I got all the textbooks you mentioned..Thank you for sharing your strategy, I think it would help a lot especially now that I dont know what and where to start. I’m going to take ASCPi later but I’ll take the NMAT first 🙂
Hello, there are two books by Harr: clinical lab science review and medical lab science review. Which one are you suggesting?
Thanks.
Hi everyone! I am planning to take the MLS exam later this year around late Nov maybe early Dec. I have not been in school for over 3 years and I am somewhat dusty on most Lab topics. I ordered Lab CE because it helped big time when I took my MLT exam in 2012. Can anyone give suggestions on additional study material? Thank you
yes for sure get the Polansky cards they literally have everything you need to know and is so detailed! also get CLS review (a bottom line approach) by Patsy Jarreau it has tricks to help u remember the material. Also BOC review book you can order from ASCP has similar material to what will be on the exam. Good luck friend 🙂
Which is better to take ASCP exam which is exclusive for US only or ASCPi? Which is applicable outside US. Please help me i am having a hard time deciding what board of certification to take. I am a fresh graduate from the philippines . I finished bachelor in medical laboratory science. With 1 year internship experience. What exam would you suggest that i should take?
this really depends on where you can work and where you wish to work. I would contact the ASCP and ask because they have experience with this type of situation.
Ascpi. – Ascp international. You are not eligible for ascp since you are considered a foreign student.
you should take ASCPi since you are a foreign graduate. I am a Philippine graduate too, currently residing in the US. I applied for ASCPi and took Route 1 (which only requires you to have your transcript mailed). After 2 weeks they sent me an admission letter and had me schedule my exam.
Hi everyone,i have bn doing serious study since 1St of September, I av concentrated on. Robert o.Harr n flashcards by polansky,in my labce.practice,i am still getting between 47- 50,this is frustrating, does anyone have a clue,on hw I can get to 70,i only score 69-70 on my retry, please any suggestions, I am getting more worried……
I just passed the ASCP yesterday and used your study items (minus the polansky cards). Honestly, the amount of study time and effort you need really depends on how much or how well you understood the material from your classes. If I were you I would answer as many questions in Harr and the Success books as possible. The questions on the exam aren’t always direct, so you really do need to have a solid understanding of most of the fundamentals from each area. First, I would use the Bottom Line approach book as a guide. Go through every page and be sure to read more about each topic in the Success book, and if you still have them, go back and look through your class notes for the topics as you review them. After this make flash cards/ flow charts or any visual aides that will help reinforce you ability to remember how things connect. After that, answer the corresponding section questions in the Harr book/ CD and Sucess Book, being sure to understand why the correct answers are correct and then drill yourself with LabCe. Take an hour every day and look over your flashcards/ flow charts before starting new material. If you stick to a solid schedule, you will see your LabCe scores increase dramatically, and will do fine on your exam. Just be diligent, and study, study, study. Good Luck!
I intend to take the ASCP i,by mid november 2015, and an still getting 47-50 on my labce.practice, any suggestions on hw to improve on this please ,worried……
Did you pass? Getting the same score as well. Too nervous
Thank You Wordsology!!
After isolating myself from everything for two months and focused only on studying I finally passed my BOC! Thanks again for your wonderful high yield notes and passing strategy!! =]
So, I took my test today, and passed!! I used LabCe and The Bottom Line approach clinical review book. I was scoring 50-65%on the Labce exams. It seemed as if I failied during the exam. I was relieved to see I passed. So glad. Any questions, ask. I would love to help.
did you only study this website for microbiology?
Plz post any questions you remember having if you can. Thank you
Im taking the exam in Dec. Im gonna use all the information on here n do my best. My memory is very bad, so that’s where my anxiety comes in. Afraid that I fail the boards n cant pass it -EVER. But I plan on studying HARD UP TILL THEN…I have labce n the Clinical Lab Science Review book. N I will be using your flash cards also. Hopefully thats all I need. I will stay reading updates on here and when I take it-PASS OR FAIL-I WILL POST MY EXPERIENCE. Good luck to all!!!!!
sounds like you have test anxiety like I do. Try different ways of studying, I come to the library and write things on the board (in the private room). Also here is a tip at the very beginning before you even answer any questions in the exam write down all the ranges and things like TSI or ROME etc. because you may panic during the exam like I do and mind goes blank. The polansky cards are really good look into getting them from Amazon or ebay.
THANKS!! Ill keep you all posted when I take mines. My classmates passed thiers. Its a handful of us that still have to take it. Just gonna do what I can and follow what you all say to do. WISH ME LUCK!
I hope someone will answer my answer here. At the end of the exam, preliminary result was ‘pass’. Is it confirmed that I pass? I’m asking this cuz I’m not sure of the answers and I kept getting easy or similar questions. Thanks:)
If the preliminary result is PASS – you have PASSED!!
I was studying to become certified in Histotechnology, but used the same testing strategy and resources you recommended. I passed on the 1st try and wanted to say Thanks.
congrats!
l. greer did you use Labce? If so, how would you compare ASCP vs LabCe for the HT/HTL exam? I’m currently studying for the HTL. Thanks!
Congrats on passing! Did you happen to use LabCe?If so how would you compare it to the actual ASCP HT/HTL exam? I’m currently studying for the HTL exam and any pointers will be appreciated. Thanks!
Congrats on passing! I’m currently studying for the HTL. Did you happen to use LabCe? If so, how would you compare it to the HT/HTL exam? Any pointers will be appreciated. Thanks!
I have a friend who also want to become a certified histo tech, any advise on the test? How was the test?
So we need to know chemistry reference ranges
I’m really nervous. Will be taking my exam on Dec. And I’m still failing my labce exams. Getting 60+ on selected areas. While 50+ on adaptive MLS on labce. But my difficulty ave is very low. 4.00+++ and I’m getting a hard time. What shall I do? I’m losing hope
Don’t lose hope in November. There is a very formulaic strategy for passing – it’s not based on luck -and you have more than enough time to be solid before your exam in December. You have another month to get these numbers up. When you get questions wrong, are you looking up the subject in one of the reference books to figure out why? When you get questions right, are you looking up the wrong answers to see why? You need to be taking multiple full tests every week and doing this repeatedly. You will build up your knowledge base very quickly if you do this.
I always study the rationale after taking the exam on labce. After that I’ll retake it again on review mode. But I haven’t done that on adaptive mode yet. Planning to finish all the subjects first. But someone said that to passed ASCP you must obtain a diffculty of 5.50++ and you will surely pass the exam. Is it true that to pass the exam you must obtain that difficulty? And also I have read that the easy questions are equivalent to 10 points. If its true then just 40 sure answers, you’d pass?
I took my MLS exam yesterday and passed! This site was a great help especially the high yield notes. I just wanted to say thank you. It took me a month to cover everything that I needed. I used the Polansky cards, Harr and LabCe. I was averaging on 51-53 on the MLS Adaptive Test and around 65-70 on the MLS Simulator Test. I got a lot of questions about Gram Neg Bacilli, Antibody Panel and analytes in Chemistry. The questions were more situational and weren’t as direct as those found in LabCe. I thought I was gonna fail half way through it. But you have to be calm so you wouldn’t miss anything. They key is to keep yourself relaxed and read the questions carefully. I hope this helps. Good luck with your exams! 🙂
Excellent advice. I agree – the exam is definitely more like “cases” at times, rather than rapid-fire questions. I agree that remaining calm (deep breaths if you are getting nervous) is key. The exam is eminently doable when you have prepared correctly, read the questions carefully, and remain relaxed. Thank you for your advice.
What is you difficulty on labce? Im also raging on 50% on adaptive mls. But my difficulty os too low. Im getting really anxious now
I think bottom line approach is best book.
Hello everyone, please kind I get to rent the CLS review book( a bottom line approach by jarreau) from anyone please, I need it as a,refernce to take my exam by December. Please I need it asap,pleaseeeee……..
I have the book as PDF. Send me ur mail id, I’ll forward.
my email khuongphan1437@yahoo.com. Im been searching for this PDF. Please send me one. Thanks
may i also have it? sphingomyelin@yahoo.com. Thank you so much!!! – dianna
Hi Kavitha, can you please forward me that PDF also? I am finishing my MLT program this December and I need it to study for the boards. Thank you in advance!
richardm74@gmail.com
hi,Kavitha Could you please send me the PDF ? My email: pharmalab2011@gmail.com
Thank you!!
I have the book as PDF. Send me ur mail id, I’ll forward.
Kavitha, may I also have a copy of Jarreau’s CLS book? Thank you so much!! sphingomyelin@yahoo.com – dianna
hello kavitha my email is marjaycab@yahoo.com……thank you,,god bless
Hi, Kavitha Could you please email me the Book PDF? Thank you very much !!
My Email is: pharmalab2011@gmail.com
hi kavitha, can i have a copy as well? h.maydonasco@gmail.com
Thanks a lot,will really appreciate this. My email is: lekanade2001@yahoo.com
Got the mail,thanks so much,really appreciate and God blessing.
can you email it to me as well? homanstyle@yahoo.com
Hello Kavitha,
I will greatly appreciate if you could email (usabessey@yahoo.com) me the CLS review book in PDF that you have.
Thank you very much,
hi everyone, ill be taking the exam this nov16.. reading your views and opinions will definitely help me, esp the recall questions, ive been practicing exam tru lab.ce, but only the free quiz..
Hello Kavitha,
I would really appreciate if you could email me the CLS review book as well. I’m sorry you have been bombarded with requests! Thanks very much. tiaster@hotmail.com
Hello Kavitha,, Could you please send me the PDF version of CLS review book? Im taking the exam in 3 weeks.. and I would truly appreciate it if you can send one to pelfrey2007@yahoo.com
thanks
HI Kavitha, appreciate if you can email me the PDF version of CLS review book at ekhadz@yahoo.com. Doing my review at the moment and sure it will be a big help.
I am super nervous. I am taking my MLS exam next week and my computer adaptive test score is 53%. I am not sure what should I do. Do you guys have any last minute advice for me, please? I don’t have option but pass the exam because my MLT certificate expires in few weeks and I don’t have enough CE credit to renew the MLT certificate.
Thanks Gab!
My difficultly level is 6.21 but I don’t trust that because at lest 5% of the questions are repeated in adaptive testing from taking over and over. However, thanks again for encouragement! I will try using your suggested website, it might help. Wish me good luck!
Hello all!
I passed MLS exam last week. This website was really helpful, I atleast have five questions from the actual question from this website. Thanks wordosology!
Congrats Payal