ASCP DLM study plan

Define each line item of a laboratory operating budget (personnel, supplies, capital, overhead) and classify it as fixed, variable, or semivariable

Compute cost per testable and cost per billable test from a self-built expense and volume table

Calculate break-even volume, contribution margin, and variance from budget for three constructed scenarios

Distinguish direct versus indirect costs and allocate shared overhead across two cost centers

Explain capital versus operating expense treatment and list the components of a capital request justification

Solve 15 additional financial calculations covering FTE budgeting, productivity (tests per FTE), and reimbursement-to-cost ratios

Sequence the steps of a performance improvement cycle from problem identification through re-measurement

Select an appropriate quality tool (Pareto, fishbone, control chart, flowchart, run chart) for five described laboratory problems and justify each choice

Interpret Levey-Jennings and Westgard rule violations given numeric data points you generate yourself

Compute and interpret key quality metrics: sigma, coefficient of variation, turnaround time percentiles, and error rate per million

Differentiate internal quality control, external proficiency testing, and alternative assessment, listing the required action for each failure type

Map the major regulatory frameworks (CLIA complexity categories, accreditation inspection types, OSHA bloodborne pathogen and hazard communication requirements) to the laboratory activities they govern

Outline the corrective action and root cause analysis process required after a proficiency testing failure

List required elements of a laboratory safety program including chemical hygiene, fire, electrical, and exposure control plans

Design a process map for a core laboratory workflow and identify three waste points

Apply Lean and Six Sigma concepts (value stream, 5S, muda, DMAIC) to a described workflow bottleneck

Calculate productivity and staffing needs given workload units, paid hours, and a target utilization rate

Classify management theories (situational, transformational, transactional, servant) and match each to a described staff scenario

Distinguish the five conflict-resolution modes and select the appropriate mode for four workplace conflicts

Draft SMART goals and a delegation plan for a project assigned to a laboratory supervisor

Describe the stages of team development and the leader action appropriate at each stage

Compare disciplinary approaches and sequence the progressive discipline steps for a documented performance problem

Outline the recruitment cycle from position requisition through competency assessment and orientation

Differentiate competency assessment from performance appraisal and list the six required competency assessment elements for testing personnel

Identify major employment law protections affecting scheduling, leave, and workplace safety in the laboratory

Design a staffing and scheduling model that accounts for coverage, skill mix, and absenteeism buffers

Describe the components of a laboratory information system including order entry, results reporting, interfaces, and middleware

Evaluate data security, confidentiality, and downtime procedures including validation and verification of information systems

Distinguish the types of data used for management reporting and select the correct metric for five reporting requests

Conduct a SWOT analysis and translate it into three strategic initiatives with owners and timelines

Build a business case outline for a new laboratory service including market, operational, and financial justification

Integrate all eight domains by answering 60 self-written mixed-domain practice items and tagging each by domain

Identify the two weakest domains from practice-item accuracy and produce a targeted remediation list