👋🏾 Hello, my little Gang of Nasties! I’m really glad you’re here. This space was made specifically for students and future lab professionals who are trying to study smarter, stay motivated, and finally pass the ASCP exam without losing their minds. Whether you’re still in school, prepping for boards, or coming back after a break—this is your space. 👇 Introduce yourself to our FREE Community: 1. What’s your name? 2. Where are you in your lab journey (Student? Graduated already?) 3. Which department is your biggest struggle? 4. Which department is your favorite? I’ll go first… My name is Marilyn, aka @marilynthescientist 👩🏾‍🔬 I’m a Clinical/Medical Laboratory Scientist with 10 years of experience in the field. 💉 I’ve worked everywhere—from tiny Critical Access Hospitals to busy Level 1 Trauma Centers. 🧳 6 of those years were spent traveling across the U.S. 🩸 Currently, I’m holding it down as a Blood Bank Supervisor in California. This space is here for us to learn, laugh, rant, and master the lab world together. No dumb questions, EVER! 📲 Follow me on socials if you want extra lab tips, rants, and ratchet breakdowns: Instagram | TikTok 🧬 If you ever have questions—even the “silly” ones—DM me or post them in the group. 😤💅🏾

Greetings Gang 😈😜 Let me say something some of you need to hear today: Failing the ASCP doesn't mean you're not smart enough. It doesn't mean you picked the wrong career. And it definitely doesn't mean it's over. It means the plan didn't work. So we change the plan. But I'm also going to be real with you, because I love you: at some point, the excuses have to stop. "I'll start studying after the holidays." "I'm too tired after work." "I'll schedule it when I feel ready." Ready doesn't come. You build it, one study session at a time. And think about who's counting on you passing this exam. Your career. Your paycheck. Maybe your job, if you're racing a certification deadline. Your kids, your spouse, your parents. The version of you who walks out of that testing center with a PASS. You don't have to feel confident to start. You just have to start. So here's today's ask, and it takes 10 seconds: Comment "I'M IN" if you're done making excuses this month. 👇🏽 And if you want people in your corner, 7 Days of Study Sessions is still going. There are 4 sessions left, and today's starts at 3PM EST. 👉🏽 Join here: https://www.skool.com/microscopeviews See you there! — Marilyn

Greetings Gang 😈😜 pH 7.30. pCO₂ 55. HCO₃⁻ 32. If those three numbers make your brain shut off, this post is for you. Acid-base looks scary, but it's the same 3 steps every single time. First, anchor to the normals: pH 7.35–7.45 pCO₂ 35–45 (the LUNGS, think ACID) HCO₃⁻ 23–29 (the KIDNEYS, think BASE) Step 1: Look at the pH 👀 Below 7.35 = acidosis. Above 7.45 = alkalosis. Normal? Check which side of 7.40 it's on. 7.35–7.39 leans acid; 7.41–7.45 leans base. Step 2: Find the culprit with ROME Respiratory Opposite: pH and CO₂ move in OPPOSITE directions Metabolic Equal: pH and HCO₃⁻ move in the SAME direction Step 3: Check compensation Only the culprit is abnormal → uncompensated Both abnormal, pH still off → partially compensated Both abnormal, pH back in range → fully compensated So back to our numbers: pH 7.30 is acidosis. CO₂ is high, opposite the pH, so it's respiratory. HCO₃⁻ is also high (the kidneys are helping), but the pH isn't fixed yet. = Partially compensated respiratory acidosis ✅ 🧐 Your turn (answer in the comments): pH 7.28 · pCO₂ 38 · HCO₃⁻ 16 I attached my upgraded Acid-Base Breakdown to this post. It covers ROME, compensation, blood gas specimen errors and 5 practice questions. Want to work through chemistry live? There are 3 sessions left in 7 Days of Study Sessions, and today's starts at 3PM EST. 👉🏽 Join here: https://www.skool.com/microscopeviews See you there! — Marilyn

Greetings Gang 😈😜 PT. aPTT. TT. Reptilase. Mixing study. DRVVT. Coag questions throw 6 tests at you and expect you to stay calm. Here's the secret: they're all asking the same 5 questions, in the same order. Every time. 1. Read the story: bleeding or clotting? Bleeding → factor deficiency, platelets, vWD or an anticoagulant. Clotting (DVT, PE, recurrent miscarriages) → think lupus anticoagulant. 2. Which screening test is long? PT only → Factor VII (early warfarin, vitamin K deficiency) aPTT only → XII, XI, IX, VIII, vWD, heparin, lupus anticoagulant BOTH → common pathway (X, V, II, I), liver disease, DIC Both normal but bleeding → platelets, mild vWD or Factor XIII 3. Mixing study: is something missing or blocked? Corrects → something's MISSING (factor deficiency) Doesn't correct → something's BLOCKING (inhibitor) Corrects, then prolongs after 1–2 hours at 37°C → Factor VIII inhibitor 4. Pair the thrombin time with the reptilase time TT long + reptilase NORMAL → heparin (reptilase ignores heparin 🐍) TT long + reptilase LONG → the fibrinogen itself is the problem 5. Confirm with ONE test Heparin → anti-Xa Direct thrombin inhibitor → ecarin clotting time Lupus anticoagulant → DRVVT that corrects with excess phospholipid Factor VIII inhibitor → Bethesda assay 🧐 Try it (answer in the comments): A hospitalized patient has a prolonged aPTT. The mix does NOT correct. TT is prolonged, reptilase is normal. What's the cause, and how do you confirm it? I attached my Ultimate Coagulation Cascade Breakdown to this post. It covers every pathway, every factor, every snake-venom test, and a self-quiz at the end. Want to walk through coag questions live? There are still 5 sessions left in 7 Days of Study Sessions, and today's starts at 5PM EST. 👉🏽 Join here: https://www.skool.com/microscopeviews See you there! — Marilyn

Greetings Gang 😈😜 Two sessions into 7 Days of Study Sessions, and I'm so proud of the people showing up. Here's what you're missing if you've been sitting on the sidelines: We're not just reading PowerPoints. We're working through ASCP-style questions LIVE, breaking down WHY the right answer is right and why the wrong ones are traps. You can ask questions in real time. That thing you've been confused about for weeks? Ask it. Someone else has been wondering the same thing. You're studying next to people who are in the exact same boat. Working full-time, raising kids, retaking the exam, scared to sit for it. Nobody in that room is judging you. There are still 6 sessions left, and today's starts at 5PM EST. 👉🏽 Join here and jump into today's session: https://www.skool.com/microscopeviews See you there! — Marilyn