Reading List

Source: MB(ASCP) and SMB(ASCP) Certifications > Applicant Resources > Reading List

ASCP makes it clear that their suggested reading/reference list for the Technologist in Molecular Biology, MB(ASCP), and the Specialist in Molecular Biology, SMB(ASCP), certification exams “is intended only as a partial reference source”. The suggested reading/reference list below was last revised on ASCP’s website January 2025

Journals

• Horak, P., et al. (2022). Standards for the classification of pathogenicity of somatic variants in cancer (oncogenicity): Joint recommendations of Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen), Cancer Genomics Consortium (CGC), and Variant Interpretation for Cancer Consortium (VICC). Genetics in Medicine, 24(5), 986-998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gim.2022.01.001
• Jennings, L.J., et al. (2017). Guidelines for Validation of Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Oncology Panels: A Joint Consensus Recommendation of the Association for Molecular Pathology and College of American Pathologists. The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, 19(3), 341–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoldx.2017.01.011
• Li, M.M., et al. (2017). Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation and Reporting of Sequence Variants in Cancer: A Joint Consensus Recommendation of the Association for Molecular Pathology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and College of American Pathologists. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, 19(1), 4–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoldx.2016.10.002
• Quan, P. L., Sauzade, M., & Brouzes, E. (2018). dPCR: A Technology Review. Sensors, 18(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/s18041271
• Rehm, H.L., et al. (2013). ACMG Cinical Laboratory Standards for Next-Generation Sequencing. Genetics in Medicine, 15(9), 733–747. https://doi.org/10.1038/gim.2013.92
• Richards, S., et al. (2015). Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants: A Joint Consensus Recommendation of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology. Genetics in Medicine, 17(5), 405–424. https://doi.org/10.1038/gim.2015.30

Texts

General Molecular Biology

• Alberts, B., et al. (2022). Molecular Biology of the Cell (7 th ed.). New York: Garland Science.
• Buckingham, L. (2019). Molecular Diagnostics: Fundamentals, Methods, & Clinical Applications (3 rd ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.
• Coleman, W.B. & Tsongalis, G.J. (Eds.). (2018). Molecular Pathology: The Molecular Basis of Human Disease (2 nd ed.). Elsevier Inc.
• Leonard, D.G.B. (Ed.). (2016). Molecular Pathology in Clinical Practice (2 nd ed.). New York: Springer. (Chapters 1 – 2 ONLY)
• Rifai, N., et al. (Eds.). (2018). Principles and Applications of Molecular Diagnostics. Elsevier Inc.

Applications of Molecular Science

• Cohn, R., Scherer, S., & Hamosh, A. (Eds.). (2023). Thompson & Thompson Genetics and Genomics in Medicine (9 th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Inc.
• Coleman W., & Tsongalis G. (Eds.). (2023). Diagnostic Molecular Pathology: A Guide to Applied Molecular Testing (2nd ed.). Academic Press.
• DeVita, V.T., et al. (2021). DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg’s Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology: Primer of the Molecular Biology of Cancer (3 rd ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health.
• Jorde, L.B., Carey, J.C., & Bamshad, M.J. (2019). Medical Genetics (6 th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Inc.
• Kulkarni, S., & Roy, S. (Eds.). (2015). Clinical Genomics: A Guide to Clinical Next Generation Sequencing. Elsevier Inc.
• Persing, D.H., et al. (Eds.). (2016). Molecular Microbiology: Diagnostic Principles and Practice (3 rd ed.). Washington D.C.: ASM Press.

Mathematics

• Doucette, L.J. (2021). Mathematics for the Clinical Laboratory (4 th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier.
• Stephenson, F.H. (2016). Calculations for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: A Guide to Mathematics in the Laboratory (3 rd ed.). London: Academic Press.

Management

• Garcia, L.S., et al. (Eds.). (2024). Clinical Laboratory Management (3 rd ed.). Washington D.C.: ASM Press.
• Harmening, D.M. (2020). Laboratory Management: Principles and Processes (4 th ed.). St. Petersburg: D.H. Pub. & Consulting, Inc.

Online

• ACMG Technical Standards for Clinical Genetics Laboratories (2021 Revision)
• Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) “Molecular in My Pocket TM” Reference Card Series
• American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) Educational Resources
• American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Molecular Resources
• Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)
• College of American Pathologists (CAP)
• WHO Classification of Tumors Online