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Life & Health Sciences

ASCP MB — Technologist in Molecular Biology

An exam-objective-aligned path to the ASCP Board of Certification credential Technologist in Molecular Biology, MB(ASCP). Built directly on the BOC Examination Content Guideline's four weighted content areas — Molecular Science (20–25%), Molecular Techniques (30–35%), Laboratory Operations (15–20%), and Applications of Molecular Testing (30–35%) — at textbook depth. Regulatory and clinical-claim content (operations and applications courses) is authored at high-tier citation rigor against U.S. primary sources (CLIA, CAP, CLSI, FDA).

60 lessons ~5 h 6 courses

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Who it's for

Clinical laboratory professionals and life-science graduates preparing for the MB(ASCP) examination, or building working competence in clinical molecular diagnostics. Assumes general biology literacy; builds molecular concepts from first principles and links prerequisites via concept tags.

Course 1 of 6

Molecular Biology Foundations

Exam Content Area I (Molecular Science). The nucleic-acid chemistry, central dogma, enzymes, and genetics that every technique and application assumes.

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Unit 1

Nucleic Acid Chemistry

4 lessons · 22 min

  1. 1 DNA and RNA Structure 5 min Start
  2. 2 Base Pairing, the Double Helix, and Melting Temperature 6 min Start
  3. 3 DNA-Associated Proteins and Chromatin 5 min Start
  4. 4 Mutations and Sequence Variation 6 min Start
Unit 2

Basic Molecular Theory

4 lessons · 21 min

  1. 1 DNA Replication 5 min Start
  2. 2 Transcription and RNA Processing 5 min Start
  3. 3 Translation, the Genetic Code, and Protein Structure 5 min Start
  4. 4 Chromosome and Extrachromosomal Structure 6 min Start
Unit 3

Biochemical Reagents and Enzymes

3 lessons · 19 min

  1. 1 Polymerases and Reverse Transcriptase 6 min Start
  2. 2 Nucleases and DNA Ligase 6 min Start
  3. 3 Assay Development and Design 7 min Start
Unit 4

Human and Microbial Genetics

2 lessons · 13 min

  1. 1 Human Genetics for the Molecular Lab 7 min Start
  2. 2 Microbial Genetics 6 min Start

Course 2 of 6

Nucleic Acid Preparation and Detection

The first half of Content Area II (Molecular Techniques): getting clean nucleic acid out of a specimen and detecting it — isolation, manipulation, electrophoresis, and probe chemistry — before amplification builds on it.

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Unit 5

Nucleic Acid Isolation

3 lessons · 15 min

  1. 1 Principles of Nucleic Acid Extraction 5 min Start
  2. 2 Automated Extraction and Specimen Considerations 5 min Start
  3. 3 Assessing Nucleic Acid Quality and Quantity 5 min Start
Unit 6

Manipulation of RNA/DNA

3 lessons · 13 min

  1. 1 Nucleic Acid Labeling 5 min Start
  2. 2 Restriction Enzymes and RFLP 4 min Start
  3. 3 Bisulfite Conversion and Methylation Analysis 4 min Start
Unit 7

Separation and Detection

4 lessons · 18 min

  1. 1 Gel Electrophoresis 5 min Start
  2. 2 Capillary Electrophoresis 4 min Start
  3. 3 Probe Hybridization and Stringency 4 min Start
  4. 4 Probe Chemistries and Detection Formats 5 min Start

Course 3 of 6

Amplification, Sequencing, and Advanced Techniques

The second half of Content Area II: PCR and its variations, isothermal methods, Sanger and next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and array and mass-spec platforms — the engines behind nearly every clinical assay.

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Unit 8

The Polymerase Chain Reaction

4 lessons · 17 min

  1. 1 PCR Principles and the Thermal Cycle 4 min Start
  2. 2 Primer Design and Optimization 4 min Start
  3. 3 Real-Time PCR, RT-PCR, and Nested PCR 5 min Start
  4. 4 PCR Variations 4 min Start
Unit 9

Non-PCR Amplification

1 lesson · 4 min

  1. 1 Isothermal and Signal Amplification 4 min Start
Unit 10

Sequencing and Bioinformatics

4 lessons · 18 min

  1. 1 Sanger Sequencing 4 min Start
  2. 2 Next-Generation Sequencing 5 min Start
  3. 3 Pyrosequencing, RNA-seq, and Long Reads 4 min Start
  4. 4 Bioinformatics for the Clinical Lab 5 min Start
Unit 11

Other Molecular Techniques

2 lessons · 8 min

  1. 1 Melt-Curve Analysis and Epigenetic Detection 4 min Start
  2. 2 Arrays and Mass Spectrometry 4 min Start

Course 4 of 6

Molecular Laboratory Operations, Quality, and Regulation

Content Area III (Laboratory Operations). Contamination control, quality assurance, validation, and the U.S. regulatory framework that govern how a molecular test is run and reported. High-tier, primary-source citations.

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Unit 12

Contamination Control

3 lessons · 12 min

  1. 1 Where False Positives Come From 4 min Start
  2. 2 Lab Layout and Unidirectional Workflow 4 min Start
  3. 3 Decontamination, UNG, and Monitoring 4 min Start
Unit 13

Quality Assurance

3 lessons · 12 min

  1. 1 Controls for Molecular Assays 4 min Start
  2. 2 Specimens and Reagents 4 min Start
  3. 3 Instruments, Proficiency Testing, and Reporting 4 min Start
Unit 14

Validation and Regulation

3 lessons · 13 min

  1. 1 Test Categories: IVD, LDT, ASR, RUO 4 min Start
  2. 2 Verification and Validation 5 min Start
  3. 3 Who Regulates What: CMS, FDA, CAP, TJC, CLSI 4 min Start
Unit 15

Personnel and Safety

2 lessons · 8 min

  1. 1 Competency Assessment and Continuing Education 4 min Start
  2. 2 Chemical and Biological Safety in the Molecular Lab 4 min Start

Course 5 of 6

Molecular Infectious Disease and Oncology

The first half of Content Area IV (Applications): infectious-disease and oncology molecular testing — the highest-volume clinical use cases, where the techniques and operations of the prior courses come together.

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Unit 16

Infectious Disease

3 lessons · 12 min

  1. 1 Qualitative Pathogen Detection 4 min Start
  2. 2 Quantitative Viral Load 4 min Start
  3. 3 Genotyping, Resistance, and Molecular Epidemiology 4 min Start
Unit 17

Hematologic Malignancies

2 lessons · 8 min

  1. 1 CML and BCR::ABL1 Monitoring 4 min Start
  2. 2 Leukemia and Lymphoma Markers and Clonality 4 min Start
Unit 18

Solid Tumors and Hereditary Cancer

2 lessons · 9 min

  1. 1 Solid Tumor Biomarkers and Companion Diagnostics 5 min Start
  2. 2 Hereditary Cancer: BRCA and Lynch Syndrome 4 min Start

Course 6 of 6

Molecular Genetics, Identity, and Pharmacogenomics

The second half of Content Area IV: inherited disorders, HLA, genetic identity, engraftment, and pharmacogenomics — the genetics applications that round out the credential's clinical scope.

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Unit 19

Inherited Disorders

5 lessons · 20 min

  1. 1 Hemoglobinopathies: Sickle Cell and Thalassemia 4 min Start
  2. 2 Inherited Thrombophilia: Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin 4 min Start
  3. 3 Repeat Expansion Disorders 4 min Start
  4. 4 Single-Gene Disorders: CF, Gaucher, Hemochromatosis 4 min Start
  5. 5 Imprinting, Mitochondrial Disease, and Disease-Associated HLA 4 min Start
Unit 20

Identity, Engraftment, and Pharmacogenomics

3 lessons · 14 min

  1. 1 Genetic Identity: STR Profiling and Parentage 4 min Start
  2. 2 Engraftment, Chimerism, and HLA Typing 5 min Start
  3. 3 Pharmacogenomics 5 min Start