ASCP MB study plan

Map each core molecular technique (PCR, RT-PCR, Sanger sequencing, hybridization) onto the step of gene expression or DNA replication it interrogates

Compare DNA and RNA structure, base-pairing, and strand polarity, and predict how each difference changes denaturation, annealing, and enzyme choice

Explain how restriction endonucleases, ligases, and polymerases are used in cloning, fragmentation, and labeling workflows

Describe the principles and resolution limits of agarose and capillary electrophoresis and of Southern, Northern, and dot/slot blotting

Select the correct collection tube, anticoagulant, and transport condition for blood, bone marrow, swab, tissue, and body fluid specimens, and justify the choice

Explain how heparin, hemolysis, fixation, and delay-to-processing degrade or inhibit downstream nucleic acid recovery

Compare organic extraction, silica column, and magnetic bead chemistries by yield, purity, fragment size, and inhibitor carryover

Interpret A260/A280 and A260/A230 ratios, fluorometric versus spectrophotometric quantitation, and RNA integrity data

Sequence the steps of a real-time PCR reaction and explain the role of each reagent and thermal cycling stage

Distinguish hydrolysis probe, molecular beacon, Scorpion, and SYBR/ intercalating dye chemistries by specificity and melt-curve behavior

Predict the effect of inhibitors, poor primer design, and suboptimal magnesium or annealing temperature on amplification curves

Compare target amplification, signal amplification, and direct hybridization formats including FISH, line probe, and microarray assays

Explain the dideoxy chain-termination mechanism and interpret electrophoretograms including mixed bases and dye blobs

Describe the NGS workflow from library preparation through cluster generation, sequencing by synthesis, and base calling

Differentiate analytic from clinical sensitivity and specificity, and identify the controls (positive, negative, extraction blank, no-template) required per run

Design a contamination-control scheme using unidirectional workflow, aliquoted reagents, and uracil-N-glycosylase

Match organism classes (bacteria, mycobacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) to appropriate nucleic acid targets such as 16S rRNA, IS elements, and conserved gene regions

Explain how quantitative viral load assays are standardized and why the lower limit of quantification matters clinically

Interpret Ct values, melting peaks, and sequence results to distinguish infection, colonization, and contamination

Identify molecular markers of antimicrobial resistance and the limits of genotypic resistance prediction

Explain inheritance patterns, penetrance, and the molecular basis of trinucleotide repeat, deletion/duplication, and point-mutation disorders

Compare karyotyping, FISH, MLPA, and sequencing for detecting copy-number changes versus sequence variants

Distinguish germline from somatic testing by specimen, sensitivity requirements, and reporting language

Apply pre-analytical and interpretive safeguards to prenatal, carrier, and minimal-residual-disease testing

Describe how fusion gene, hotspot mutation panel, clonality, and microsatellite instability assays are designed and interpreted in solid tumor and hematologic malignancy workups

Outline method validation elements including accuracy, precision, analytical sensitivity, reportable range, and reference interval verification

Specify the quality control, proficiency testing, and competency documentation required for molecular testing under CLIA and CAP

Apply standard precautions, chemical hygiene, and bloodborne pathogen and amplified-nucleic-acid contamination rules to typical molecular laboratory tasks

Audit all six domains against a published content outline and rank remaining weak areas by percent missed

Re-drill missed items from every prior week using spaced repetition rather than rereading notes

Rehearse specimen rejection, discordant result, and instrument failure scenarios using root-cause reasoning

Complete two full-length timed practice exams under test-day conditions