The Fall semester has clinical:

Chemistry

Hematology

Microbiology

Immunology

Urinalysis

Will I make it out okay?

CMS is seeking public comment to update CLIA 1988. A number of components to be updated.

You can submit a comment at:

https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/CMS-2026-2345-0001

I have worked here for years already but I guess I still needed hazed because I moved to a new department 😅 It scared the literal piss out of me when I found it the first time.

ive mixed up the red and blue and ill look at it like, do i need to have my head checked? LMAO

I’m studying for the Chemistry certification via route two. For those that have done it, how do the Robert Harr questions compare in difficulty for chemistry?

I kept noticing these while scanning but this neut had the best examples. I forget the patients overall details but there was some hyper segmentation. oh, these would be classified as Barr bodies right? :)

Welp that was the worst experience I’ve ever had. I felt so confident walking into the test. I studied HARD for about a month and had good MediaLab scores. I was scoring the same as a classmate who also took the test but she passed hers. I don’t understand how I didn’t and I feel really stupid. The actual test was absolutely nothing like what I saw on MediaLab yet my classmate had word for word questions on hers. I hit the anemias and leukemias hard because I figured they’d be on there and didn’t get any leukemia questions and only one anemia question which I’m sure I got correct. I’m just at a loss. Did I just study the wrong material? I was doing at least two full practice exams daily. Any advise?

So I know we aren’t the only one, just wondering how you all are handling it. New lot of lipase reagent (c503) will not pass high QC( bio rad multi qual). Roche says it’s due to matrix effect. Tech support gal said other available lot is acting the same way. Roche QC works fine, Old reagent lot mean 144. New reagent lot mean 90. Bio rad has a bulletin acknowledging it’s an issue. I did further testing and it also is extremely inaccurate between reagent lots with CAP survey material and the new fails linearity with Maine standards products.

Hello everyone, this is my first post here and I wanted to get different options and suggestions on my situation. I’m from a small city in the Midwest. Here there are two community colleges that “offer” the MLT both an hour away from where I live. One offers a pre- MLT where I can complete the prerequisites however they don’t have an instructor to teach the core curriculum. The adviser said that they plan to have one by fall 2027-2028 but can’t guarantee it. The other school does have an active MLT program but they are not accredited (they say there’re in the process of seeking accreditation). The next option I’m looking into is an accredited online program tho I’m worried I might not do well with difficult clases fully online. I also don’t know how to get into lab to complete the necessary lab hours.

I could use some help deciding what I should do. Has anyone done an MLT online program? How was your experience? How did you get a lab to take you in? Should I just attend the college with the active MLT program and maybe while I’m there they will be accredited?

I’ve been stressing over this and would appreciate any advice from you all.

for those that are in the UAMS program, is it a must that you work full time or you able to just work part time while doing the program? Im just worried that it will be too much for me to handle while working full time...

Hey guys are there gonna be any formulas provided during the ASCP exam? I already know the ones we need to memorize and wont be provided but there are other ones not mentioned in the ascp site for example: calculated osmolality or osmolal gap.

Is it training issue? Or lack of knowledge in the medical system in general (medical doctor and laboratories)? Both pediatrics and family doctors are insisting that laboratories don’t report crystals in urine.
To be clear, I’m referring to crystals like Ammonium biurate.
Bilirubin.
Calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate.
Cystine.
Hippuric acid.
Leucine.
Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate).
Tyrosine.
Uric acid.
Xanthine.
etc

Edit: thank you all who commented, I upvoted all comments by now. It seems there is a variability depending on the lab. Even industry is variable, labcorp should select a code urinalysis with microscopic while quest diagnostic use the term complete urinalysis.
For those who thought that I was assuming, it was not assumption, at least in my area with three different physician in different clinics, the answer simple and clear, the labs don’t report crystals. Now I see that it is a lab dependent decision whether to perform and report or not or partially report.

I'm taking the ASCP Specialist in Chemistry (SC) exam soon, but I can't find much feedback from past test-takers.

​For those who have taken it:

​Are the questions similar to the BOC, or are they much deeper and harder?

I’ve been studying from Success, BOC, and Harr and personally, I find Harr's questions quite tough and complex. How did the actual exam compare to Harr vs. BOC/Success in terms of difficulty?

Thanks!

I’m currently a student for MLA, I’ve been liking it so far. The past couple months have been difficult. I’ve never succeeded academically because I never tried too, but this time I really am trying. It seems like trying isn’t getting me very far, and I’m slipping a lot. There’s a lot of terminology and abbreviations I cannot wrap my head around, like nothing is sticking at all. I watch the lectures, read the text book, do the homework, and take notes, but I’m still not doing good. I’m putting all my time and energy into this, and getting nothing out of it. I also keep missing veins, and I’m behind the rest of the class in number of successful blood draws. I’m too deep into it to drop out, but I don’t think it’s right for me. I’m so stressed out constantly, I can’t eat or sleep. I’m unsure what to do, I feel incompetent. I’m not looking for pity, but advice.

Found in a thrombocytopenic pregnant lady.

I’m working at a VA hospital (4 months) and was offered GS9 step 1. I had 2 years of experience at a well known hospital in my city before applying. However, at the time I applied at the VA, I only had my ASCP for a year.

I heard some people mentioned that after 1 year of probation (mine is 2), I can ask my supervisor to fill out a form and have it adjust to GS11 which is the standard for Clinical Laboratory Scientist (new title). I’m wondering if this is true and if anyone had gone through this themselves with the increase?

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some guidance for my mom, who would really like to return to working in a medical laboratory, hopefully as a Medical Technologist/Medical Laboratory Scientist.

She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 1996, and afterward completed a Medical Technologist program in 1998. However, she never took the licensing/certification examination after graduating. She had two children shortly afterward, and as more time passed, she never ended up going back to take the exam.

Her more recent work experience has not been directly in the laboratory. She worked at Merck Sharp & Dohme Pharmaceuticals as a packing operator from 2013–2014, and her most recent employment was in 2016 at El Morro Medical Laboratory, where she worked in medical billing and customer service in Puerto Rico.

She has also had a significant employment gap because she has spent many years helping care for her sister, who has serious physical and mental health needs. Now that she is in a position where she can start looking at employment again, she really wants to see whether it is possible to return to the laboratory field.

I’m trying to figure out what realistic options she has at this point.

Would someone who completed an accredited Medical Technologist program almost 30 years ago potentially still be eligible to take an MLS/MT certification or licensing exam, or would the age of her education make her ineligible?

Would she most likely have to repeat an entire Medical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology program, or are there refresher, bridge, clinical rotation, or re-entry programs for people who already completed the education years ago?

Are there any certification routes through organizations such as ASCP, AMT, or others that might apply to someone in her situation?

If becoming an MLS/MT again would require an expensive multi-year program, are there related laboratory careers she could qualify for with her Biology bachelor’s + previous Medical Technology education without having to completely start over? For example, lab assistant, specimen processing, accessioning, microbiology assistant, clinical research lab work, pharmaceutical/biotech QC, or similar positions?

We’re mainly trying to determine the most practical path that would allow her to use the education she already has rather than spending tens of thousands of dollars repeating a degree unnecessarily.

She is willing to study again, take an exam, complete continuing education, do a refresher course, or even complete some additional clinical training if necessary. We just don’t know where she should start or whether her old Medical Technologist education still has any value toward certification/licensure today.

If anyone here has returned to the profession after a very long career gap, works in laboratory education/certification, or knows someone who has been in a similar situation, I would really appreciate your advice.

Thank you so much and Sorry for the long post!

Does anyone have an alternative, detailed study guide (not the one posted on ASCP's website) that they can share?

Hi guys! Has anyone worked or still working for NYC + health hospital? What’s the experience like and the pay? Especially night shifts. Thanks

I (along with a few coworkers) are going to be performing our first inspection of another lab for CAP. I've been through a few inspections, but only one as a supervisor earlier this year. I'm trying to collect information to better prepare myself and do the best job I can. I was wondering if anyone has experience inspecting other labs. What tips or advice do you have? What documentation would you suggest asking for/looking over? I'm doing blood bank, so if there's anything in particular about reviewing that department, I'd appreciate it, but I will take anything you guys have. Thanks in advance!