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100+ Free CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology Practice Questions
Fellowship of the College of Pathologists of South Africa — Haematology: FC Path(SA) Haem practice questions are available now; exam metadata is being verified.
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2026 Statistics
Key Facts: CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology Exam
100 Qs
Practice MCQs
OpenExamPrep Practice Bank
50%
Passing Cut-off
CMSA Regulations
R24 650
Part II Exam Fee
CMSA SS2026 Fee Schedule
verified
Metadata Status
OpenExamPrep Verification
CMSA
Examining Body
College of Pathologists of SA
CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology is the premier specialist credential for haematologists in South Africa. This 100-question practice bank covers red cell disorders, leukaemia and lymphoma, haemostasis, transfusion medicine, bone marrow morphology with cytogenetics/molecular diagnostics, and laboratory quality management.
Sample CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A 28-year-old woman from KwaZulu-Natal presents with fatigue and microcytic hypochromic anaemia. Ferritin is 4 µg/L, serum iron low, and TIBC elevated. What is the most likely underlying cause in the South African primary care setting?
A.Thalassaemia trait
B.Iron deficiency anaemia
C.Anaemia of chronic disease
D.Sideroblastic anaemia
Explanation: Microcytic hypochromic indices with very low ferritin and elevated TIBC are classic for iron deficiency. In South Africa, dietary insufficiency, hookworm infestation, and menorrhagia are common contributors.
2A newborn at a Johannesburg academic hospital develops jaundice within 24 hours of birth. Mother is blood group O Rh-positive; baby is group A Rh-positive with a strongly positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT). What is the most likely diagnosis?
A.ABO haemolytic disease of the newborn
B.Rh haemolytic disease of the newborn
C.G6PD deficiency
D.Hereditary spherocytosis
Explanation: Early-onset hyperbilirubinaemia with maternal group O and infant group A/B with positive DAT indicates ABO HDN, the most common cause of neonatal immune haemolysis. Anti-A IgG crosses the placenta from group O mothers.
3Which haemoglobin variant is most prevalent among individuals of African ancestry in South Africa and confers partial protection against Plasmodium falciparum malaria?
A.Haemoglobin C (HbC)
B.Haemoglobin S (HbS)
C.Haemoglobin E (HbE)
D.Haemoglobin D Punjab
Explanation: HbS heterozygosity (sickle cell trait) is common in sub-Saharan African populations and reduces malaria parasite survival. Homozygous HbSS causes sickle cell disease.
4A patient with known sickle cell disease (HbSS) from Limpopo presents during the dry winter months with acute chest pain, fever, and new pulmonary infiltrates. What is the most appropriate immediate management priority?
A.Oral iron supplementation
B.Exchange transfusion and supportive care including oxygen
C.Therapeutic phlebotomy
D.High-dose folic acid alone
Explanation: Acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease is a medical emergency requiring oxygen, analgesia, antibiotics, and often simple or exchange transfusion to reduce HbS percentage. Iron supplementation is contraindicated without proven deficiency.
5Peripheral blood film shows macro-ovalocytes, hypersegmented neutrophils, and low serum vitamin B12. In a South African patient with prior partial gastrectomy, what is the most likely mechanism?
A.Impaired intrinsic factor-mediated B12 absorption
B.Dietary folate deficiency only
C.Chronic blood loss
D.Bone marrow infiltration
Explanation: Gastrectomy removes parietal cells producing intrinsic factor, causing B12 malabsorption and megaloblastic anaemia with hypersegmented neutrophils. This is a classic post-gastrectomy complication.
6A young man of Mediterranean ancestry develops acute intravascular haemolysis with dark urine after eating fava beans. G6PD assay performed during the acute episode is normal. What is the correct interpretation?
A.G6PD deficiency is excluded
B.Retesting G6PD activity after the haemolytic episode resolves is required
C.The patient has autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
D.Favism cannot occur in G6PD-normal individuals
Explanation: During acute haemolysis, reticulocytosis introduces young RBCs with higher G6PD activity, producing false-normal results. Testing should be repeated 2–3 months after the episode when the reticulocyte count normalises.
7A 45-year-old man presents with haemolytic anaemia, spherocytes on blood film, elevated MCHC, and increased osmotic fragility. DAT is negative. What is the most appropriate confirmatory test?
A.Haemoglobin electrophoresis
B.Eosin-5-maleimide (EMA) binding or osmotic gradient ektacytometry
C.Bone marrow aspirate for ring sideroblasts
D.Serum haptoglobin only
Explanation: Hereditary spherocytosis is confirmed by EMA binding reduction on flow cytometry or ektacytometry showing increased osmotic fragility. Negative DAT excludes autoimmune cause.
8Iron studies in a patient with chronic HIV infection on antiretroviral therapy show: ferritin 450 µg/L, serum iron low, TIBC low-normal. What pattern best explains these findings?
A.Iron deficiency anaemia
B.Anaemia of chronic inflammation
C.Haemochromatosis
D.Thalassaemia major
Explanation: Chronic inflammation (including HIV) elevates hepcidin, trapping iron in macrophages: low serum iron, low TIBC, and elevated ferritin. This is anaemia of chronic disease/inflammation.
9A pregnant woman at a Cape Town antenatal clinic is found to have Hb 9.2 g/dL, MCV 68 fL, and Hb electrophoresis showing HbA 97%, HbA2 3.5%. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A.Beta-thalassaemia minor
B.Alpha-thalassaemia trait
C.Iron deficiency only
D.Sickle cell trait
Explanation: Microcytic anaemia with elevated HbA2 (≥3.5–4%) is diagnostic of beta-thalassaemia trait. Iron studies should still be checked as dual pathology is common in SA.
10Which laboratory finding is most characteristic of intravascular haemolysis rather than predominantly extravascular haemolysis?
A.Splenomegaly with spherocytes
B.Haemoglobinuria and low haptoglobin
C.Elevated indirect bilirubin only
D.Positive direct antiglobulin test
Explanation: Intravascular haemolysis releases free haemoglobin into plasma, saturating haptoglobin and causing haemoglobinuria. Extravascular haemolysis in the spleen typically spares significant free plasma haemoglobin.
About the CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology Practice Questions
Verified exam format metadata for Fellowship of the College of Pathologists of South Africa — Haematology: FC Path(SA) Haem is pending. The practice questions above remain available while official exam length, timing, passing score, fee, and administrator details are reviewed.