ASCP Histotechnology Exam Content Guidelines Per ASCP BOC
Whether you want to achieve the histotechnologist (HTL ASCP) or histotechnician (HT ASCP) certificate, you must recognize the ASCP histotechnology exam content.
This exam content is the ASCP BOC guidelines (syllabus) you must learn to achieve your target license, HT/HTL ASCP.
- The HT and HTL ASCP are 100-question exams, and these questions are picked from fixation, laboratory operation, staining processing, and embedding/microtomy (exam content area).
- This exam is designed by using the CAT (Computer Adaptive Testing) format; the computer monitors your skill by displaying difficult or easy questions.
- It shows difficult questions when you answer the previous questions correctly and so on.
- You have to manage the exam in 2.5 hours.
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) conducts many exams, including the histotechnician and histotechnologist.
The HT ASCP certificate goes to the lab technician, while the HTL ASCP goes to the lab technologist who shows interest in histotechnology.
The board determines the ASCP histotechnology exam content guidelines for the preparation of these exams.
Getting knowledge from the ASCP-recommended exam content guidelines is vital to wearing the cap of ASCP.
ASCP histotechnology exam content guidelines per ASCP BOC are the same for HT ASCP and HTL ASCP certification examinations.
It is also the same for U.S. (HT/HTL ASCP) and international (HT/HTL ASCPi) candidates.
Here, we will demonstrate a clear description of the histotechnology exam content that will help you achieve your dream of getting the HT or HTL ASCP certificates.
Fixation Of ASCP Histotechnology Exam Content Guidelines
The fixation is classified into five subcategories.
These categories include Tissues, Procedures, Parameters, Reagents, and Instrumentation.
From this content area, the ASCP BOC chooses 15-20% MCQs out of the total exam.
Classification of fixation:
Tissues
- Component/cell preservation
- Anatomy/morphology
- Biochemistry theories and principles (for HTL)
- Pathology (for HTL)
Procedures
- In situ hybridization
- Cytologic specimens
- Quality control
- Pigments/artifacts/precipitates
- Immunohistochemistry
- Immunofluorescence
- Enzyme histochemistry
- Frozen tissues/sections
- Special stains
- Electron microscopy
- Light microscopy
Parameters
- Fixation time
- Specimen/fixative temperature
- Specimen size
- Fixative/specimen volume
- Other things like pH, etc
Reagents
- Quality control
- Components and types
- Actions, functions, and properties
- Principles and theories of chemistry (HTL ONLY)
Instrumentation
- Maintenance
- Components
- Quality control
- Use
- Troubleshooting
Processing ASCP Histotechnology Exam Content Guidelines
This content area provides 10-20% of exam questions for both exams (HT and HTL ASCP).
It is packed with four sub-classifications that are tissues, procedures, instrumentation, and reagents.
Tissues
- Anatomy and morphology
- Cell and component protection
Procedures
- Quality control
- Enzyme histochemistry
- Calcified and decalcified tissue
- Frozen sections and tissues
- Light microscopy
- Immunofluorescence
- Immunohistochemistry
- In situ hybridization
- Cytologic specimens, for instance, touch preps, cell blocks, etc.
Instrumentation
- Maintenance
- Components
- Quality control
- Use
- Troubleshooting
Reagents
- Action, properties, and functions
- Chemistry theories and principles (only for HTL)
- Types and components
- Quality control
Embedding & Microtomy Of ASCP Histotechnology Exam Content
Embedding/microtomy is divided into three major content areas that are tissues, procedures, and instrumentation.
This part covers the 15-25% of exam questions out of 100%.
Instrumentation
- Troubleshooting
- Maintenance
- Components
- Quality control
- Use
Procedures
- Quality control
- Gelatin/adhesive
- Frozen section
- Molecular testing preparation ( laser capture microdissection, RNAase-free area, and scrolls) (for HTL)
- Paraffin
Tissues
- Morphology and anatomy
- Cell demonstration
Staining Of ASCP Histotechnology Exam Content
Staining is specific to present 30-40% of exam questions.
Like other categories, it also has sub-categories including, tissues, procedures, instrumentation, reagents/dyes, and mounting procedures.
Tissues
- Demonstration of cell/component
- Function
- Anatomy/morphology
- Pathology (for HTL ASCP)
- Principles and theories of biochemistry (for HTL)
Procedures
- Carbohydrates
- Nerve
- Enzyme histochemistry (only for HTL)
- cytoplasm/nucleus (H&E)
- Bone marrow
- Lipids
- Pigments/granules/minerals
- supporting tissue/connective
- Microorganisms
- Quality control
- In situ hybridization (HTL only)
- Histochemical special stains preliminary screening
- Preparation of antibody (for HTL)
- Cytological stains
- Enzyme histochemistry (Only for HTL)
- Cell/tissues/components
- Immunohistochemistry like retrieval techniques, basic staining theory, selection of controls, etc (HTL Only)
Instrumentation
- Use
- Troubleshooting
- Components
- Quality control
- Maintenance
Reagents/Dyes
- Quality control
- Action/properties/functions
- Chemistry principles/theories (Only for HTL)
Mounting Procedures
- Coverslip
- Media
- Refractive index (only for HTL)
Laboratory Operation Of ASCP Histotechnology Exam Content
The lab operation contributes 10-15% of questions to the entire (100%).
It is classified into three major areas for the HT ASCP exam and six for the HTL ASCP exam.
These areas are safety, laboratory mathematics, ancillary instruments (pH meter, microwave, computers, solvent recovery, etc), management (only for HTL), education (for HTL only), and regulations (only for HTL).
Safety
- Hazards
- Quality control
- Storage
- Regulations
- Disposal
- Procedures
Laboratory Mathematics
- Molar solutions
- Metric system
- Dilutions and percent solutions
Ancillary Instruments (pH meter, microwave, computers, solvent recovery, etc.)
- Maintenance
- Components
- Quality control
- Troubleshooting
- Use
Management (Only for HTL)
- Techniques
- Theories
Education (Only for HTL)
- Theories
- Approaches
Regulations (Only for HTL)
- Accrediting agencies
- Federal government
HT/HTL ASCP Stain’s Summary
Not all of the list, but major stains can be encountered for HT and HTL ASCP exams.
- Alcian blue-PAS
- Bielschowsky
- Congo red
- Giemsa
- Papanicolaou
- Alcian yellow
- Alcian blue
- Crystal violet
- Oil red O
- Gram
- PAS (Periodic acid-Schiff PAS)
- Immunofluorescence
- Colloidal iron
- Movat pentachrome
- Melanin bleach
- Mucicarmine
- Prussian blue (iron)
- Carbol-fuchsin (auramine-rhodamine, Ziehl-Neelsen, Fite, Kinyoun)
- GMS (Grocott/Gomori methenamine-silver)
- Hematoxylin and eosin (H and E)
- PASD (PAS-digestion)
- In situ hybridization
- PASH (PAS-hematoxylin)
- Reticulin and reticulum
- Toluidine blue
- Immunohistochemical stains
- Romanowsky
- Rhodanine
- von Kossa
- PAS (Periodic acid-Schiff)
- VVG (Verhoeff-van Gieson)
- Trichrome (Masson, Gomori)
- Spirochete (Warthin-Starry, Steiner and Steiner)
- Enzyme histochemistry (NADH, cytochrome oxidase, ATPase, acid phosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, esterase,)
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FAQs for ASCP Cytometry Exam Content Guidelines
What is the meaning of the ASCP Histotechnology Exam Content Guidelines?
ASCP histotechnology exam content guidelines is the exam syllabus for the HT ASCP and HTL ASCP exams.
What is the difference between HT ASCP and HTL ASCP certification?
HT ASCP is the histotechnology certificate for lab technicians, while HTL ASCP is for lab technologists.
Does the ASCP BOC determine the same exam content area for the HT ASCP and ASCP HTL?
Yes, of course, the ASCP BOC determines the same exam syllabus for HT ASCP and HTL ASCP.
Does passing the HT/HTL ASCP challenge?
If you follow the ASCP histotechnology exam content guidelines, you can pass it easily; otherwise, it can be challenging.
Abdelhalim Elshawadfy is an ASCP certified Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS ASCP), Specialist in Microbiology (SM ASCP), and Molecular Biology Technologist (MB ASCP) with a distinguished career marked by expertise, continuous learning, and a commitment to elevating the standards of clinical laboratory science. As an ASCP Certification Expert and American Board Certification Expert, Abdelhalim Elshawadfy continues to make invaluable contributions to the field, leaving a lasting impact on the medical community.
Resources: ASCP BOC.