ASCP SH case studies
ASCP SH · Put your knowledge to work in context.
SH - Specialist in Hematology - is one of the credentials listed by the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC), appearing on the BOC site as 'SH – Specialist in Hematology' within the Hematology area of interest. The BOC also lists a separate H (Scientist in Hematology) credential, so candidates should confirm which examination matches their education and experience before applying; the site's Eligibility Pathways pages and Eligibility Assistant exist for exactly that purpose. The ASCP SH case studies are 5 cases and about 2,520 words.
1Microcytic Anemia in CKD: Is Ferritin 120 Enough to Exclude Iron Deficiency?
63-year-old woman with stage 3b CKD (eGFR 38 mL/min/1.73 m²), type 2 diabetes, and fatigue has Hb 9.1 g/dL, MCV 76 fL, RDW 17.8%, ferritin 120 ng/mL, TSAT 14%, CRP 28 mg/L, and absolute reticulocyte count 21 × 10^9/L. She has no overt blood loss, takes no iron, and has not received ESA therapy.
516 words, about 3 min2Reticulocyte Response in Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: Adequate or Inadequate?
31-year-old woman presents with jaundice, dark urine, and fatigue. Hb 7.2 g/dL, Hct 21.6%, RBC 2.45 × 10^12/L, MCV 88 fL, reticulocyte count 12%, WBC 9.8 × 10^9/L, platelets 210 × 10^9/L.
488 words, about 2 min3Leukemoid Reaction or CML? Interpreting Neutrophilia With Toxic Changes
48-year-old woman with 3 days of fever, productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain has WBC 42 × 10^9/L with 90% neutrophils, 6% bands, 2% metamyelocytes, 1% lymphocytes, and 1% monocytes; basophils are 0.5%. Hemoglobin is 12.8 g/dL and platelets 410 × 10^9/L.
482 words, about 2 min4Prolonged aPTT Before Surgery: Factor Deficiency, Inhibitor, or Lupus Anticoagulant?
34-year-old woman is seen before elective knee surgery. She has no bleeding history, but her aPTT is 58 seconds (reference 25–35) and PT is 12.1 seconds (reference 11–13.5).
528 words, about 3 min5Low Automated Platelet Count With NRBCs: Resolving Pseudothrombocytopenia and WBC Interference
27-year-old man has a routine pre-employment CBC. Analyzer results: WBC 13.2 × 10^9/L, RBC 4.80 × 10^12/L, Hb 14.5 g/dL, Hct 42.5%, MCV 88.5 fL, and platelets 41 × 10^9/L.
506 words, about 3 min