ABPath Hematopathology study guide
ABPath Hematopathology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ABPath Hematopathology subspecialty examination is a one-day, computer-based certification exam for pathologists seeking subspecialty board certification in hematopathology. It combines Written/Practical sections with Virtual Microscopy sections and uses no glass slides; all microscopy is virtual. The ABPath Hematopathology study guide has 9 sections and about 2,677 words.
01Laboratory Methodology in Hematopathology
Start with the preanalytical phase; most "hematology errors" are specimen problems, not assay problems. EDTA whole blood is the default for the CBC and morphology; citrate (3.2% sodium citrate) is used for coagulation and must be filled to the marked volume to preserve the 9:1 blood-to-anticoagulant ratio, since underfilling prolongs PT and aPTT.
322 words, about 2 min02Hematopoiesis: Stem Cells to Circulating Cells
Hematopoiesis is hierarchical. Long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in perivascular and endosteal niches, held quiescent by CXCL12/CXCR4, Notch, and TGF-β signaling, and balanced between self-renewal and differentiation.
294 words, about 1 min03Erythrocyte Disorders
Classify anemia by MCV and reticulocyte response before ordering specialized tests. A low corrected reticulocyte count indicates a production problem; a high count indicates loss or destruction (bleeding, hemolysis).
291 words, about 1 min04Leukocyte Disorders
Interpret absolute counts, not percentages. Neutrophilia arises from demargination (stress, epinephrine, exercise - minutes), increased marrow production (infection, G-CSF, steroids), or decreased egress.
270 words, about 1 min05Lymphoid Disorders
Organize lymphoid disease by lineage (B, T/NK), maturation stage, and tempo. Small B-cell lymphomas usually present with lymphadenopathy, cytopenias, or incidental lymphocytosis; aggressive lymphomas present with rapid growth and B symptoms.
312 words, about 2 min06Blood, Bone Marrow, and Related Disorders
This domain links marrow structure and function to systemic disease. Aplastic anemia is immune-mediated marrow failure: pancytopenia, reticulocytopenia, and a hypocellular marrow biopsy without fibrosis or malignant infiltration; distinguish it from hypoplastic myelodysplasia (dysplasia, abnormal cytogenetics) and from marrow replacement.
261 words, about 1 min07Platelets and Platelet Disorders
Thrombocytopenia has four mechanisms: reduced production (marrow failure, chemotherapy, alcohol, B12 deficiency, congenital), increased destruction (ITP, TTP, DIC, HIT, drug-induced, post-transfusion purpura), sequestration (hypersplenism), and dilution after massive transfusion. Confirm true thrombocytopenia on smear, because EDTA-induced clumping and large platelets can mislead.
296 words, about 1 min08Hemostasis and Thrombosis
Read coagulation tests as patterns. Prolonged aPTT with normal PT points to the intrinsic pathway (factors VIII, IX, XI, XII, and von Willebrand factor); prolonged PT with normal aPTT to the extrinsic pathway (factor VII); both prolonged to the common pathway (X, V, II, fibrinogen) or DIC.
294 words, about 1 min09Patient Care Decision Making and Consultation
Laboratory hematology is a consultative discipline: the right test, at the right time, interpreted in the right clinical context. Start with pretest probability - a young woman with fatigue is more likely to have iron deficiency than a rare hemoglobinopathy, and a patient with isolated aPTT prolongation and bleeding after dental extraction needs factor assays, not a thrombophilia panel.
337 words, about 2 min