100+ Free CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology Practice Questions

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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 Exam

FC Path(SA) Haematology is the fellowship qualification awarded by the College of Pathologists of South Africa, certifying specialist haematologists for clinical laboratory leadership, bone marrow diagnosis, transfusion medicine, and haematological malignancy management across South Africa.

Assessment

The CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology examination comprises Part I (haematological physiology and immunology) and Part II (final exit examination). Part I consists of two digital written papers with no oral component. Part II consists of two digital written papers plus a modified clinical/practical/oral examination covering applied clinical haematology, morphology, transfusion medicine, and laboratory management.

Time Limit

3 hours per written paper

Passing Score

Overall 50% with written/practical subminimums

Exam Fee

R24 650 (Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) — College of Pathologists)

CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology Exam Content Outline

20%

Red Cell Disorders, Anaemia and Haemoglobinopathies

Iron deficiency, megaloblastic anaemia, haemolytic anaemias, sickle cell disease, thalassaemia, G6PD deficiency, and red cell membrane/enzyme defects.

20%

White Cell Disorders, Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma

AML, ALL, CML, CLL, MDS, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and flow cytometric immunophenotyping.

20%

Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Coagulopathy

Platelet function, von Willebrand disease, haemophilia, DIC, antiphospholipid syndrome, VTE prophylaxis/treatment, and coagulation factor assays.

15%

Transfusion Medicine

ABO/Rh/Kell serology, compatibility testing, transfusion reactions, massive transfusion, irradiated/leukocyte-reduced components, and SANBS protocols.

15%

Bone Marrow Morphology, Cytogenetics and Molecular Haematology

Marrow aspirate/trephine interpretation, WHO classification, karyotyping, FISH, PCR, and NGS in haematological malignancy.

10%

Laboratory Management, Quality Assurance and Instrumentation

FBC analyser validation, Westgard rules, ISO 15189, EQA programmes, and measurement uncertainty.

How to Pass the CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Overall 50% with written/practical subminimums
Assessment: The CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology examination comprises Part I (haematological physiology and immunology) and Part II (final exit examination). Part I consists of two digital written papers with no oral component. Part II consists of two digital written papers plus a modified clinical/practical/oral examination covering applied clinical haematology, morphology, transfusion medicine, and laboratory management.
Time limit: 3 hours per written paper
Exam fee: R24 650

Keys to Passing

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
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CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master bone marrow morphology and correlate blast percentage, dysplasia, and ring sideroblasts with WHO 2022 classification categories.

2Review SANBS transfusion guidelines, compatibility testing algorithms, and management of acute haemolytic transfusion reactions.

3Apply coagulation cascade knowledge to interpret PT, aPTT, mixing studies, and lupus anticoagulant testing in anticoagulated patients.

4Understand flow cytometry immunophenotyping panels for acute leukaemia lineage assignment and MRD monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the examination structure of FC Path(SA) Haematology?

Part I comprises two digital written papers examining haematological physiology and immunology with no oral component. Part II, the final exit examination, comprises two digital written papers plus a modified clinical/practical/oral examination before CMSA haematology examiners.

What is the passing score and fee for FC Path(SA) Haematology Part II?

The Part II examination fee is R24 650 (SS2026 fee schedule). Candidates must attain an overall mark of at least 50% with subminimum requirements in written, practical, and oral components as specified in CMSA regulations.

What topics are covered in this 100-question practice bank?

The bank covers red cell disorders and haemoglobinopathies, leukaemia/lymphoma/myeloma, haemostasis and thrombosis, transfusion medicine, bone marrow morphology with cytogenetics and molecular diagnostics, and laboratory quality management.

100+ Free CMSA FC Path(SA) Haematology Practice Questions

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