ABPath Chemical Pathology case studies
ABPath Chemical Pathology · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Chemical Pathology is an American Board of Pathology subspecialty certification for pathologists who want to demonstrate advanced knowledge in laboratory medicine, including the analytic, interpretive, and consultative aspects of clinical chemistry. The examination is a one-day, computer-based test that blends written and practical questions in each section; the practical portion presents graphs, charts, formulas, diagrams, tables, or other images rather than specimen images alone. According to the ABPath exam description, the exam contains 270 questions and allows 6 hours and 18 minutes, and every question is multiple-choice in the one-best-answer format. Content spans laboratory administration, specimen collection, units and measurement, calculations and statistics, quality control, instrumentation, analytic methods, metabolic and electrolyte disorders, proteins and hemoglobin, coagulation, and broader clinical laboratory evaluation including point-of-care testing, serology, toxicology, and consultation. The ABPath Chemical Pathology case studies are 5 cases and about 2,687 words.
1Discrepant Potassium in a Trauma Transfer
A 71-year-old man is transferred to your hospital after a fall. He is on low-dose heparin prophylaxis.
585 words, about 3 min2Sodium Correction in a Patient with Severe Hyperglycemia
A 54-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes presents with vomiting, abdominal pain, and Kussmaul respirations. Point-of-care glucose is 612 mg/dL.
465 words, about 2 min3Unexpected Prolonged INR Before Elective Surgery
A 63-year-old woman is scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 48 hours. Preoperative labs: PT 21.4 s (reference 11–13.5), INR 1.9, aPTT 38 s (reference 25–35), platelets 210 × 10^9/L, fibrinogen 320 mg/dL.
607 words, about 3 min4Hemolysis in a Patient with a Prosthetic Valve
A 48-year-old man with a mechanical mitral valve presents with fatigue and dark urine. Labs: hemoglobin 8.2 g/dL (baseline 12.5), MCV 98 fL, reticulocyte count 6.5%, LDH 1,240 U/L (reference 140–280), haptoglobin <10 mg/dL, total bilirubin 3.1 mg/dL with indirect 2.6 mg/dL, creatinine 1.0 mg/dL.
440 words, about 2 min5Point-of-Care Glucose Discordance in the Emergency Department
A 29-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes is brought to the ED with confusion. Point-of-care (POC) glucose by fingerstick is 48 mg/dL.
590 words, about 3 min