ABPath Medical Microbiology study guide
ABPath Medical Microbiology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Medical Microbiology examination is an American Board of Pathology (ABPath) subspecialty certification exam for pathologists who want to demonstrate advanced knowledge and problem-solving ability in clinical microbiology. It is a one-day, computer-based test delivered entirely in multiple-choice, one-best-answer format, and it is designed to measure both a candidate's body of knowledge and their ability to reason through clinical microbiology problems. The ABPath Medical Microbiology study guide has 9 sections and about 2,403 words.
01Administrative and Safety Practices in Medical Microbiology
Questions here test whether you know the regulatory and biosafety framework that governs a clinical microbiology laboratory, not just the bench technique. Know the difference between CLIA '88 (federal quality standards for testing, personnel qualifications, and proficiency testing) and CAP accreditation (often more stringent, peer-based).
309 words, about 2 min02Quality Control and Infection Prevention
Quality control in microbiology differs from chemistry because the "analyte" is living. Understand internal QC (daily or per-lot checks of media, stains, antisera, and reagents), external QC (proficiency testing via CAP or API), and quality assurance (the broader program including audits and corrective action).
331 words, about 2 min03Taxonomy, Classification, and Nomenclature
Know the Linnaean hierarchy (domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species) and that binomial nomenclature italicizes genus and species (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus ). Understand that clinical microbiology uses phenotypic classification (Gram stain, morphology, biochemical reactions) alongside genotypic classification (16S rRNA sequencing, whole-genome relatedness).
266 words, about 1 min04Collection, Handling, and Processing of Specimens
Specimen quality drives result quality. Know collection timing (before antibiotics, at peak symptoms), site-appropriate technique (blood cultures from two sites, sputum from deep cough, clean-catch urine), and transport conditions (timing, temperature, preservatives).
262 words, about 1 min05Pathogenic Mechanisms of Infectious Diseases
Understand virulence factors : adhesins, invasins, capsules (antiphagocytic), toxins (endotoxin LPS, exotoxins such as diphtheria, tetanus, botulinum, cholera), and immune evasion (IgA protease, protein A, coagulase). Know Koch's postulates and their modern limitations (unculturable agents, asymptomatic carriage).
255 words, about 1 min06Antimicrobial Mechanisms of Action and Susceptibility Testing
Know drug targets: cell wall (beta-lactams, vancomycin), protein synthesis (aminoglycosides, macrolides, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, linezolid), nucleic acid (fluoroquinolones, rifampin), folate pathway (sulfonamides, trimethoprim), and cell membrane (polymyxins, daptomycin). Understand bactericidal vs bacteriostatic and that this distinction is context-dependent.
230 words, about 1 min07Media, Reagents, and Stains
Know general-purpose media (blood agar, chocolate agar, MacConkey, TSA), selective media (MacConkey for Gram-negatives, mannitol salt for staphylococci, CNA for Gram-positives, HE/KIA for enteric), differential media (blood agar for hemolysis, MacConkey for lactose fermentation, KIA for carbohydrate fermentation and H2S), and enriched media (chocolate agar for fastidious organisms). Understand broth media (thioglycollate for anaerobes, LIM broth for GBS).
243 words, about 1 min08Detection and Characterization Methods
Know the culture-based approach (isolation, identification, susceptibility) and its limitations (fastidious or unculturable agents). Know direct detection methods: Gram stain, antigen tests (latex agglutination, EIA, immunochromatographic), and molecular methods (PCR, real-time PCR, multiplex panels, sequencing, whole-genome sequencing).
250 words, about 1 min09Patient Care Decision Making and Consultation
The laboratory professional is a consultant. Know how to interpret and communicate results: critical value reporting, call-back thresholds, and the difference between preliminary and final results.
257 words, about 1 min