It includes blood products, blood group immunology, transfusion practice, blood group systems, physiology and pathophysiology, molecular testing, and serologic testing.

Chemistry: Exam Percentage (20-25%)

Chemistry contributes a huge part in the MLT ASCP exam.

The main topics for this subject are carbohydrates, lipids, enzymes, nitrogen-containing compounds, heme derivatives, acid-base determinations, toxicology, electrolytes, vitamins and nutrition, endocrinology, and therapeutic drug monitoring.

Urinalysis and Other Body Fluids: Question Percentage (5-10%)

The key topics for urine/other body fluids are physiology, physical and chemical testing, disease states, and microscopic analysis.

Microbiology: Exam Percentage (15-20%)

Preanalytic procedures; analytic procedures for bacteriology; analytic procedures for mycobacteriology, virology, parasitology, and mycology; postanalytic procedures

Immunology: Exam Percentage (5-10%)

Disease of the immune system, test results, serologic methods, principles of immunology, transplantation, and infectious disease serology are the classifications of main topics for immunology.

Hematology: Exam Percentage (20-25%)

The subdivision of hematology includes disease states, laboratory testing, physiology, and hemostasis (including lab determinations, disease states, and physiology).

Laboratory Operation: Question Percentage (5-10%)

The main topics for lab operation include lab mathematics, instrumentations, quality assessments, manual methods, automated methods, and safety.

ASCP MLT Exam Content: Calculations

To expand the chance of success for the MLT ASCP certification, you are expected to also know the following calculations:

A/G ratio
Unconjugated/indirect bilirubin
% Transferrin saturation/TIBC/UIBC
Timed urine calculations
Corrected WBC count when more than 10 nRBCs present
Red blood cell indices (MCHC, MCH, MCV, etc)
Manual hemocytometer counts
Beer’s law
Creatinine clearance calculations
Firedwald/LDL/non-HDL

ASCP MLT Exam Content: Reference Ranges

With calculations and exam subjects, getting knowledge about the reference ranges is also vital. The few are described below:

Chemistry Reference Ranges

	Conventional Units	SI Units
Sodium	136-145 mmol/L	136-145 mmol/L
Choride	98-107 mmol/L	98-107 mmol/L
Glucose (fasting)	74-100 mmol/L	4.1-5.1 mmol/L
Haptoglobin	30-200 mg/dL	0.3-2.0 g/L

Hematology Reference Ranges

	Conventional Units	SI Units
HCT	35%-50%	0.50 L/L
MCH	26-34 pg	26-34pg
MCV	76-100 fL	76-100 fL
RDW	11.5-14.5%	0.115-0.145

Body Fluids Reference Ranges

	Conventional Units	SI Units
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
WBC and RBC	0-5L	0-5 x 10⁶/L
Protein	15-45 mg/dL	150-450 mg/L
Glucose	50-80 mg/dL	2.8-4.4 mg/dL
Urine
pH	4.5-8.0	4.5-8.0
Protein	< 10 mg/dL, trace, or negative	0.1 < g/L, trace, or negative
Bilurubin	negative	negative
Blood	negative	negative
Seminal Fluid
Volume	2-5 mL	2-5 mL
Sperm concentration	> 20 x 10⁶/mL	> 20 x 10⁹ /L

Before going for the MLT (ASCP) exam, you must be an expert in all the above ASCP MLT exam content.

The more you learn, the more chance you have of getting closer to this certificate.

Elshawadfy Abdelhalim, PhD, MLS(ASCP), SM, MB

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.

ASCP MLT Exam Content: Subjects, Topics, Calculations, & More