Guidelines for Writing Examination Items (Questions) Enclosed are the content outlines for the Immunology certification examinations. The content outline specifies the breakdown of content and overall structure of the examination and indicates how many test questions are assigned to each topic area from a total of 70 questions. The content outline will guide you in creating new items to match certain topic areas. We would appreciate at least two (2) new items for each major roman numeral on the content outline(s). This means we are asking you to write two items for Roman numeral I, two items for Roman numeral II, and so on for each of the Roman numeral sections of the Content Outline. We would appreciate items submitted in advance, preferably no later than Tuesday, February 25, 2020. • Please use the “Item Writing Template” to create your new items. This is the proper format to be used for all items you submit. Font: Times New Roma. Font Size: 11 • Please identify the Content Outline position for each item (e.g., Chemistry Content Outline, Roman numeral I. “Proteins”, A. “Total Proteins” should be noted as “I.A.”). • New items must be multiple choice with four (4) possible answers. Remember to avoid "double negatives," "not" questions (e.g., "Which of the following is NOT true?"), and those allowing "all (or none) of the above," or "a and b" as a possible answer. • Each new item that you create must be accompanied with a reference [Author, Publication Year, Title, Edition, Page Number(s)] containing the correct answer. IMPORTANT: references must be from an AAB Review Manual, Governmental Regulations, Association or World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines, or a text or manual published within the last six (6) years. • The most challenging and desired new examination items are those requiring examinees to ‘apply’ their knowledge or to ‘make judgments’ based on acquired knowledge through scenario type questions (we would like to avoid simple ‘recall’ type questions). These scenario or situational items are more difficult to write, and require extra effort to research the source of the items reference. • Graphics usually enhance an item, and you are encouraged to write new items with accompanying pictures, charts, or photomicrographs wherever possible (visuals should be forwarded in an electronic version, preferably ‘tif’ format). • All items must be submitted electronically in a Word Document as an email attachment to [email protected]. • To maintain security and confidentiality, please sign and complete the enclosed Pledge of Personal Ethics and Confidentiality Form and return it along with your new examination items. Remember, the items you create may be on future forms of the ABB and ABOR certification examinations and are not to be shared with others. • You will earn continuing education for writing examination items - You may receive up to four (4) contact hours of continuing education in each two-year recording period for writing examination items. One (1) contact hour is awarded for every six (6) examination items submitted in the correct format. Items must also be original and accepted by the Item Writers' Committee to receive continuing education credit. Immunology Content Outline Medical Technologist [MT(AAB)] Total Number of Questions = 70 # of Questions Percent (%) 17-18 25% I. Theory and Principles of Immunology A. Natural Immunity B. Immunogenicity and Antigens C. Immune Response System/Immune Regulation D. Cellular Immunity E. Humoral Immunity/Immunoglobulins F. Complement System G. Immunization 17-18 25% II. Immunology Practices - Laboratory Methods A. Immunoassays 1. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) 2. Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) 3. Fluorescence Immunoassay (FIA) 4. Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CIA) B. Molecular Techniques 1. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)/qPCR/Real-Time PCR 2. Reverse Transcription 3. Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) 4. Sequencing 5. FISH C. Agglutination/Precipitation D. Nephelometry/Turbidimetry E. Electrophoresis 1. Serum Protein Electrophoresis 2. Immunofixation Electrophoresis F. Flow Cytometry G. Other 10-12 15% III. Immune Disorders A. Autoimmune Disease B. Immunodeficiency Diseases C. Immunoproliferative Diseases D. Hypersensitivity Reactions 17-18 25% IV. Infectious Disease Immunology A. Bacteria 1. Streptococcus 2. Treponema 3. Borrelia B. Viruses 1. HIV 2. Hepatitis 3. EBV 4. CMV 5. Herpes Simplex Revised August 2017 Page 1 of 2 Implemented Form QQ Immunology Content Outline Medical Technologist [MT(AAB)] Total Number of Questions = 70 # of Questions Percent (%) 6. Varicella-Zoster 7. Rubella 8. West Nile Virus C. Parasites 1. Toxoplasma 2. Giardia 3. Cryptosporidium D. Fungi 1. Cryptococcus 3-4 5% V. Tumor Immunology and Transplantation Immunology A. Tumor Immunology B. Transplantation Immunology 3-4 5% VI. Quality Control/Quality Assurance The Content Outline lists the topics covered by the examination and the approximate percentage of questions in each topic. The Content Outline is intended as a study GUIDE only. The actual number of questions in each topic on the examination you take may vary slightly from this Content Outline. Revised August 2017 Page 2 of 2 Implemented Form QQ Pledge of Personal Ethics, Confidentiality, and Originality of Material READ THESE STATEMENTS CAREFULLY I agree that the material included here is strictly CONFIDENTIAL. It may NOT be communicated, transmitted or reproduced by any means - whether orally, electronically, or in writing - except for purposes consistent within the examination development or administration process. I authored the questions that I submitted to the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB)/AAB Board of Registry (ABOR), in connection with this project. The questions submitted are original and were not taken or copied from another examination, copyrighted work, study guide, manual, or website without permission. Unless otherwise noted, any photographs, images, or graphic designs that I provided for this project are my own original material, or if reprinted from a work that belongs to another person or entity, such materials are being reprinted with permission (please attach contact information for the source of copyright permission and printed copy of permission document). If I submit one or more photographs, images, or graphic designs for which I do not have a copyright release, but that I believe will be useful, I agree to include the source/contact information for such photographs, images, or graphic designs. I further agree to identify such materials as being unoriginal and agree to inform ABB/ABOR that I do not have a copyright release for such photographs, images, or graphic designs as applicable. I agree to abide by these statements. Sign your name here Date Please provide the following information: Print full name (first, middle initial, last) Title / Position Department Institution Street (mailing) address City, State, Zip, Country Telephone number Fax number Email address American Board of Bioanalysis/AAB Board of Registry, 906 Olive Street, Suite 1200, St. Louis, MO 63101 Telephone: (314) 241-1445, Fax: (314) 241-1449, Email: [email protected]/[email protected], Web: www.abbcert.org/www.aab.org .