AMT CMLA study plan
AMT CMLA · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Specimen Collection and Handling
Map each blood collection tube type to its additive, department of use, and correct position in the order of draw without notes
Sequence the steps of a venous puncture from hand hygiene and patient identification through specimen labeling at the bedside
Distinguish acceptable from rejectable specimens by listing labeling, volume, hemolysis, and clotting criteria
State handling and storage requirements for serum, plasma, whole blood, and urine specimens
Your checkpoint
A self-made one-page order-of-draw and additive reference card, recalled from memory at 100% accuracy on a blank re-draw
Specimen Collection and Handling & Specimen Processing and Preparation
Compare capillary, venous, and arterial collection techniques and select the appropriate method for a given test request
Identify patient conditions and collection complications that invalidate a specimen and describe the corrective action for each
Describe centrifugation parameters, aliquot preparation, and labeling of secondary containers
Apply stability limits to decide whether a delayed specimen is still acceptable for testing
Your checkpoint
A 40-item self-authored quiz covering collection and processing, answered closed-book with a written answer key, scoring at least 85%
Specimen Processing and Preparation & Waived and Point-of-Care Laboratory Testing
Trace a specimen from accessioning through reporting and flag each step where error can be introduced
Explain how specimen integrity affects point-of-care results and list pre-analytical variables that must be controlled
Outline daily quality control documentation requirements for a waived test before patient testing begins
Prepare a capillary specimen correctly for a point-of-care device, including site selection and first-drop considerations
Your checkpoint
An annotated end-to-end specimen journey flow chart with at least eight error-prone steps labeled and mitigation noted for each
Waived and Point-of-Care Laboratory Testing
Differentiate waived from non-waived testing and state the operator and documentation requirements for each
Describe performance of common point-of-care methods including glucose, urinalysis dipstick, occult blood, and rapid immunoassay tests
Interpret external control results and decide whether patient testing may proceed
Document a point-of-care result with the required identifiers, time, operator, and unit of measure
Your checkpoint
A timed 60-question mock exam on domains 1-3, scored at 80% or higher, with every missed item rewritten as a corrected study note
Laboratory Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance
Apply standard precautions and correct PPE selection and removal sequence to described exposure scenarios
Locate and interpret hazard communication information for a chemical spill and select the appropriate response
Explain the components of a laboratory quality assessment program including procedure manuals, competency records, and proficiency testing
Identify the regulatory body responsible for each of several described compliance situations
Your checkpoint
A two-column compliance table listing at least 12 regulatory or safety requirements alongside the concrete action that satisfies each
Patient Interaction, Communication, and Professional Practice & Laboratory Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance
Demonstrate a patient identification and verification dialogue that includes two identifiers and consent to collect
Adapt communication style for a pediatric, elderly, hearing-impaired, or anxious patient scenario
Respond to a patient question about a waived test result using scope-appropriate language that avoids diagnosis
Describe how to handle a patient refusal, a confidentiality request, and a specimen collection error disclosure
Your checkpoint
Three written verbatim scripts (patient identification, difficult/anxious patient, result inquiry) rehearsed aloud and timed under two minutes each
Patient Interaction, Communication, and Professional Practice & Waived and Point-of-Care Laboratory Testing
Resolve ethical and professional practice scenarios involving scope of practice, confidentiality, and error reporting
Re-test every previously missed objective from weeks 1-6 until each is answered correctly twice
Integrate patient-interaction considerations into point-of-care workflow decisions
Explain the role of the laboratory assistant in quality improvement and continuing education
Your checkpoint
A personal weak-area log with at least 15 entries, each marked remediated after two consecutive correct recalls on separate days
Specimen Collection and Handling & Specimen Processing and Preparation & Waived and Point-of-Care Laboratory Testing & Laboratory Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance & Patient Interaction, Communication, and Professional Practice
Complete two full-length timed practice exams under test-day conditions with no reference materials
Analyze each incorrect response and assign it to a domain and a root cause category
Re-drill the order-of-draw card, quality control checklist, and patient scripts to automatic recall
Finalize a test-day plan covering timing per question, flagging strategy, and rest breaks
Your checkpoint
Two completed timed exams with a scored analysis sheet, reaching 85% or higher on the second attempt and no domain below 75%
Milestones
Week 2: Recite the order of draw and tube additive list from memory with zero errors, and score at least 85% on the self-authored collection and processing quiz
Week 4: Score 80% or higher on the timed 60-question mock exam covering domains 1-3, with no domain below 70%
Week 6: Deliver all three patient-interaction scripts aloud within time limits and pass a 20-item safety and regulatory self-check at 80% or higher
Week 8: Score 85% or higher on the second full-length timed exam, with every domain at or above 75% and all weak-area log entries marked remediated