Key Knowledge to Review Study normal hematopoiesis, blood cell development, hemoglobin structure, and the physiological functions of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Review the classification and causes of anemia, including iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, hemolytic anemia, and anemia associated with chronic disease. Study haemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disorders and thalassemia, along with their laboratory manifestations. Review hemostasis, coagulation pathways, platelet function, and common inherited or acquired bleeding disorders. Study laboratory investigations such as complete blood count, blood film examination, reticulocyte count, iron studies, hemoglobin electrophoresis, and coagulation tests. Understand how laboratory findings help differentiate various nonmalignant hematological disorders.

Diagnostic Competencies to Review Practice interpreting complete blood count results, red cell indices, and peripheral blood smear findings. Review laboratory patterns associated with microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic anemia. Study cases involving hemolysis, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and unexplained cytopenias. Review interpretation of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen levels, and platelet counts. Understand how to recognize important abnormalities, select appropriate confirmatory investigations, and identify laboratory findings requiring urgent clinical attention.

Key Knowledge to Review Study the classification and laboratory features of hematological malignancies, including acute and chronic leukemias and common lymphoma categories. Review acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Study common Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patterns, along with selected plasma cell neoplasms. Review abnormal hematopoietic cell morphology, bone marrow findings, and clinical manifestations of malignant blood disorders. Study the diagnostic applications of flow cytometry, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, and molecular testing. Understand the role of laboratory testing in disease classification, risk assessment, and monitoring of treatment response.

Diagnostic Competencies to Review Practice identifying abnormal blood cell morphology and recognizing findings suggestive of leukemia. Review interpretation of peripheral blood and bone marrow laboratory investigations. Study scenarios involving leukocytosis, circulating blasts, unexplained cytopenias, and abnormal lymphocyte populations. Understand the interpretation of selected flow cytometry and immunophenotyping findings. Review the diagnostic significance of relevant chromosomal and molecular abnormalities. Study how multiple laboratory results are integrated to support hematological malignancy diagnosis and classification.

Key Knowledge to Review Review the principles of surgical pathology, including tissue sampling, specimen handling, fixation, processing, and microscopic examination. Study the basic histological features of inflammation, necrosis, tissue repair, dysplasia, and neoplasia. Review gross specimen examination, histopathological reporting concepts, and the diagnostic importance of surgical margins. Study autopsy principles, including examination of organs and tissues to investigate the cause of death. Review general forensic pathology concepts such as postmortem changes, injury patterns, and the investigation of suspicious or unexpected deaths. Understand specimen traceability, documentation, and ethical and legal considerations in pathology practice.

Diagnostic Competencies to Review Practice recognizing basic pathological tissue changes and their clinical significance. Review common histological patterns associated with inflammation, tissue injury, and malignancy. Study clinical scenarios involving surgical specimen examination and unexpected pathological findings. Understand the importance of accurate specimen identification, fixation, and documentation. Review appropriate handling of autopsy and forensic specimens, including preservation of relevant records and chain-of-custody principles where applicable. Study how pathology findings are correlated with patient history and other available clinical information.

Key Knowledge to Review Study clinically important bacterial pathogens and their role in human infection. Review bacterial classification, Gram staining, morphology, growth requirements, and laboratory identification principles. Study Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms associated with respiratory, urinary, bloodstream, gastrointestinal, and wound infections. Review bacterial culture methods, biochemical identification, automated identification systems, and selected molecular diagnostic tests. Study antimicrobial susceptibility testing, common resistance mechanisms, and the interpretation of susceptibility reports. Understand the importance of appropriate specimen collection, transportation, and infection-control precautions.

Diagnostic Competencies to Review Practice interpreting Gram stain findings and bacterial culture reports. Review identification of common bacterial pathogens from clinical specimens. Study scenarios involving positive blood cultures, urinary infections, respiratory specimens, and suspected hospital-acquired infections. Understand how to differentiate likely pathogens from contaminants or normal flora. Review the significance of antimicrobial susceptibility results and common resistance patterns. Study recognition of critical microbiology results that require prompt communication to the treating team.

Key Knowledge to Review Review medically important fungi, including yeasts, molds, and dimorphic fungi. Study common fungal infections, their clinical presentations, and laboratory diagnostic methods. Review Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, dermatophytes, and other relevant fungal organisms. Study medically important parasites, including protozoa, helminths, and selected blood parasites. Review parasitic life cycles, transmission routes, clinical manifestations, and laboratory identification techniques. Study fungal culture, direct microscopy, special stains, antigen testing, and parasitological specimen examination. Understand infection-control and laboratory safety considerations for potentially infectious specimens.

Diagnostic Competencies to Review Practice recognizing common fungal and parasitic morphological features. Review interpretation of fungal microscopy, culture findings, and relevant antigen tests. Study clinical cases involving invasive fungal infection, superficial fungal disease, and parasitic gastrointestinal or bloodstream infections. Understand appropriate specimen selection and limitations of different diagnostic techniques. Review the significance of immunosuppression, travel history, and environmental exposure when interpreting laboratory findings. Study situations requiring additional confirmatory testing or specialist microbiology consultation.

Key Knowledge to Review Study viral structure, replication, transmission, and the laboratory diagnosis of viral infections. Review common respiratory viruses, hepatitis viruses, herpesviruses, HIV, and other clinically important viral pathogens. Study innate and adaptive immunity, antibodies, antigens, complement, and basic immune response mechanisms. Review principles of serological testing, including antigen-antibody reactions, ELISA, immunoassays, and other immunological tests. Study autoimmune serology, infectious disease serology, and laboratory testing for immune dysfunction. Understand the diagnostic significance of sensitivity, specificity, cross-reactivity, and testing windows.

Diagnostic Competencies to Review Practice interpreting viral serology and molecular test results. Review the difference between markers of acute infection, previous exposure, and immunity. Study clinical cases involving hepatitis serology, HIV screening, and respiratory viral testing. Understand the interpretation of selected autoimmune antibody results in clinical context. Review false-positive and false-negative results, test limitations, and the need for confirmatory investigations. Study quality assurance and appropriate reporting of important virology or immunology findings.

Key Knowledge to Review Review the principles of human genetics, chromosome structure, gene expression, mutations, and inherited disorders. Study chromosomal abnormalities, including numerical and structural changes. Review laboratory techniques such as karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, and sequencing concepts. Study molecular diagnostic applications in inherited disease, hematological malignancies, and selected infectious conditions. Review the clinical significance of gene rearrangements, copy-number changes, and pathogenic variants. Understand quality-control requirements, specimen preparation, and limitations of cytogenetic and molecular testing.

Diagnostic Competencies to Review Practice interpreting basic karyotype findings and chromosomal abnormalities. Review clinical scenarios requiring molecular or cytogenetic investigations. Study interpretation of selected PCR and molecular testing results. Understand the difference between screening, diagnostic, and confirmatory genetic investigations. Review laboratory factors that may affect molecular test reliability. Study the importance of reporting pathogenic findings accurately and communicating clinically significant limitations or uncertainties.

Key Knowledge to Review Study the principles of clinical biochemistry and biochemical investigations used in disease diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Review glucose metabolism, diabetes testing, lipid profiles, protein metabolism, and common metabolic disorders. Study renal function tests, electrolytes, acid-base balance, and fluid-related laboratory abnormalities. Review liver function tests, bilirubin metabolism, cardiac biomarkers, pancreatic enzymes, and other commonly requested biochemical investigations. Study endocrine laboratory testing, including thyroid function, adrenal hormones, and selected reproductive hormones. Review clinical enzymology, therapeutic drug monitoring, and laboratory assessment of nutritional deficiencies. Study toxicological testing principles, common poisoning patterns, drug screening, and the detection of toxic substances. Understand laboratory reference intervals, assay interference, analytical errors, and relevant quality-control requirements.

Diagnostic Competencies to Review Practice interpreting biochemistry panels and identifying clinically significant abnormal results. Review cases involving acute kidney injury, liver dysfunction, diabetic ketoacidosis, electrolyte disturbances, and acid-base disorders. Study patterns of abnormal thyroid function, cardiac biomarkers, and metabolic testing. Practice relating biochemical abnormalities to underlying disease processes. Review calculation and interpretation of anion gap, corrected analyte results where appropriate, and relevant biochemical ratios. Study clinical cases involving suspected drug toxicity, poisoning, and therapeutic drug monitoring. Understand the difference between true pathological results and analytical interference. Review recognition of critical laboratory results, appropriate repeat testing, and urgent communication of life-threatening biochemical abnormalities.

Key Knowledge to Review Study immunohematology and the principles of blood transfusion. Review ABO and Rh blood groups, blood group antigens, and clinically significant red cell antibodies. Study blood grouping, antibody screening, crossmatching, and compatibility testing procedures. Review blood components, including packed red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate. Study blood component storage, handling, and transfusion safety requirements. Review adverse transfusion reactions, including hemolytic, febrile, allergic, and other serious transfusion-related complications. Understand the principles of investigating suspected transfusion reactions and preventing transfusion-associated patient harm.

Diagnostic Competencies to Review Practice interpreting ABO and Rh typing results and compatibility tests. Review clinical scenarios involving unexpected antibodies, crossmatch incompatibility, and blood product selection. Understand appropriate investigations when a transfusion reaction is suspected. Study recognition of laboratory results suggestive of hemolysis or transfusion-related complications. Review correct patient and specimen identification, traceability, and blood product documentation. Understand the importance of rapid communication, appropriate reporting, and compliance with transfusion safety protocols.

Key Knowledge to Review Study the principles of clinical laboratory management and laboratory quality assurance. Review preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical phases of laboratory testing. Study internal quality control, external quality assessment, method validation, calibration, and instrument maintenance. Review laboratory safety, biosafety, infection prevention, chemical hazard management, and appropriate handling of clinical specimens. Study laboratory information systems, specimen traceability, test result verification, and accurate clinical reporting. Review standard operating procedures, documentation, quality indicators, and the importance of recognizing systematic errors. Understand ethical principles relevant to laboratory medicine, including confidentiality, professional accountability, patient safety, and responsible handling of diagnostic information. Review incident management and continuous laboratory quality improvement.

Diagnostic and Management Competencies to Review Practice recognizing preanalytical problems, including incorrect patient identification, poor specimen collection, hemolysis, and sample contamination. Review interpretation of quality-control findings and recognition of analytical problems. Study cases involving equipment malfunction, incorrect calibration, unexpected result patterns, and incomplete laboratory reports. Understand procedures for verifying critical laboratory results and communicating them to the responsible clinical team. Review laboratory documentation, incident investigation, corrective actions, and prevention of recurring errors. Practice applying ethical reasoning to laboratory scenarios involving confidentiality, misreported results, patient safety, and professional responsibilities. Understand how effective laboratory management supports diagnostic accuracy and safe patient care.