CAP Pro Course - Point-of-Care Testing - Provider-Performed Microscopy and Limited Waived Testing (2026 & 2027)

Author: Alice Travanty, BS, MLS(ASCP)
Reviewer: Sheryl A. Whitlock, MA.Ed, MLS(ASCP)BB and Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Demonstrate knowledge of what is included in provider-performed microscopy and limited waived testing and the requirements for operators.
  • Discuss preanalytical factors that could affect patient results.
  • Describe the performance and interpretation of results of provider-performed microscopy and limited waived testing.
  • Identify elements of quality management that apply to provider-performed microscopy and limited waived testing.

Course Outline

  • Demonstrate knowledge of what is included in provider-performed microscopy and limited waived testing and the requirements for operators.
      • Provider-Performed Microscopy (PPM) and Limited Waived Testing Definition
      • Competency Assessment Requirements for Provider-Performed Microscopy (PPM) and Limited Waived Testing
      • Which of the following statements is NOT a requirement for the competency of moderately complex tests that are being performed by the clinic under a P...
      • Dr. Jones has a practice not far from the clinic where Dr. Rogers sees patients. Dr. Rogers has a PPM testing license. Dr. Jones asks if he could send...
      • Dr. Smith would like to hire additional personnel to assist in the practice. The personnel would also perform patient laboratory testing. The laborato...
      • Dr. Andrew's office laboratory has a PPM certificate. The physician would like to perform a quantitative semen analysis. Which of the following is a t...
  • Discuss preanalytical factors that could affect patient results.
      • Specimen Collection and Handling
      • When the physician assistant performs testing for fecal leukocytes, how soon do they need to test the sample if it is not refrigerated?
      • A sample is to be analyzed using urine dipsticks. If the urine sample is not refrigerated, how long is the sample good for?
      • A pinworm test is ordered on a child. A physician assistant is asked to give the parents instructions on how to collect the sample. What should she te...
      • A 27-year-old female patient complains of severe vaginal itching. When a vaginal wet mount is ordered, what media should be used for storage and trans...
      • A patient is having a routine physical examination. The physician provides the patient with a home occult blood collection kit containing three collec...
  • Describe the performance and interpretation of results of provider-performed microscopy and limited waived testing.
      • Pinworm Test
      • Wet Mount Preparations
      • Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) Preparations
      • Nasal Smears
      • Fecal Occult Blood Test
      • Semen Analysis, Qualitative
      • Fecal Leukocytes
      • Ferning
      • Dr. Brown is performing a fern test on her pregnant patient. Which of the following slides shows a positive result for ferning?
      • A nurse practitioner is performing a test for pinworm. Which of the following will NOT help her identify a pinworm egg?
      • When examining a wet mount prep for clue cells, what is the criteria for identifying a clue cell?
      • A nurse practitioner is performing a wet mount. Which of the following criteria is necessary for a definitive report of Trichomonas vaginalis being pr...
      • A physician assistant is asked to evaluate a nasal smear from a patient for allergic rhinitis. What will he look for in the stained slide?
      • The fecal occult blood test that is performed in a local clinic uses a test device that turns blue when the test is positive. A patient's test area sh...
  • Identify elements of quality management that apply to provider-performed microscopy and limited waived testing.
      • Quality Management (QM) and Quality Control (QC)
      • Instrument Maintenance
      • Handling Reagents
      • Dr. Roberts performs urine microscopic testing. He uses a centrifuge to spin down the urines and a microscope to examine the urine sediment. Which of ...
      • When the nurse midwife is going to use the microscope, she finds that the eyepieces are dirty. What should be used to clean the eyepieces of the micro...
      • Dr. James, whose office laboratory has a PPM certificate, has paper records for provider training, and he is wondering how long these records need to ...
      • When checking the expiration date on urine dipsticks, you determine that the strips expired the previous day. Which of the following statements is tru...
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for MLS, MT, and MLT personnel, medical laboratory science students and interns, pathology residents, and practicing pathologists.
Author Information: Alice Travanty, BS, MLS(ASCP) was the Point-of-Care Coordinator for St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin until her recent retirement from that position. She serves as a technical consultant for Tosa Pediatrics. Alice is the author of article "Connectivity Aids Compliance" in Advance for Administrators of Laboratory Vol 20, Issue 11, page 18. She graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Medical Technology and holds a Point-of-Care Specialist certificate from AACC.
The author has no conflict of interest to disclose.  
Reviewer Information:
Sheryl A. Whitlock, MA.Ed, MLS(ASCP)BB is the owner of ARK Laboratory Consulting, LLC and a part time technical consultant for McKesson. Sheryl served as the laboratory coordinator for the Student Health Services Laboratory at the University of Delaware for 15 years. Sheryl received her Master’s degree in Education from Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania. She has more than 35 years of experience in laboratory science and has written and published textbooks and laboratory manuals as well as having contributed to numerous online and print articles in the field of laboratory medicine.
Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds Medical Laboratory Scientist and Specialist in Hematology certifications through the ASCP Board of Certification. He was a professor at Thomas Jefferson University for seven years before transitioning into his current role as Education Developer at MediaLab by Vastian. His areas of expertise and professional passions include clinical hematology and interprofessional education.

This course is part of the CAP Competency Assessment Hub.

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