"From the BOC Newsletter to annual reports, the ASCP Board of Certification provides a variety of resources to assist Program Directors as they support their students' efforts to achieve certification."
Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX

ASCP BOC eLinks for Program Directors

ASCP BOC Updates

ASCP BOC COVID-19 Response

The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) takes the health and wellness of our constituents very seriously and understands that you and your students may be concerned about how this ongoing health crisis will impact program completion, exam application, exam eligibility, or exam scheduling. The ASCP BOC has created a COVID-19 page that we update regularly with the most current information. Thank you for your patience as we work to best support all constituents.

Updates to Online Application Process for all ASCP BOC examinations

Beginning in mid-March, 2022, applicants who are required to upload completed training and experience documentation forms, as well as Letters of Authenticity, must submit them electronically within the application itself. These documents, if required, must be uploaded before the application can be submitted.

Applicants will continue to request that official transcripts be sent from their educational institution(s) to the ASCP BOC. Applicants must note which institution(s) will be sending an official transcript to the ASCP BOC.

Program Directors will continue to verify a student’s eligibility through the EEV; there are no changes to this process.

ASCP Board of Certification – 2021 BOC Lab Hero Awards

From October through November 2021, hundreds of nominations and applications poured in from around the world. Award recipients received $100 to be donated to the healthcare charity of their choice. Award recipients made donations to the American Red Cross, Baby Quest Foundation, Heroes for Healthcare, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Foundation Fund.

During Lab Week, April 24-30, 2022, the BOC will further highlight each of the 2021 recipients on the BOC Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages.

We hope that you celebrated
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week!
April 24 - 30

Clinical Laboratory Educators’ Conference (CLEC)*

The ASCP Board of Governors Chair and the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) staff had a wonderful opportunity to meet with the program directors at Clinical Laboratory Educator’s Conference (CLEC) March 14-16 in Denver, Colorado. On Tuesday, March 15th, Susan Graham, MS, MT(ASCP)SHCM, Chair of the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) Board of Governors, gave the BOC update.

Pat Tanabe, MPA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCP BOC Executive Director and Kristin Blake, MA, Director, BOC Operations, staffed the BOC booth. The updated Program Director’s Guide to Certification was available in paper copy, and can now be found online: ascp.org/boc/pd/resources

In addition, three copies of the BOC Interactive Practice Examinations, one copy of the BOC Interactive Practice Exam - Phlebotomy, and one copy of the BOC Interactive Practice Exam - Histotechnology were raffled off to five lucky winners. We enjoyed meeting and talking with program directors and educators. Thank you for visiting us at the BOC booth!

Revised Examination Content Guidelines

Examination Content Guidelines for the C/SC, QIA, and California MLT (CMLT) licensure only exams administered beginning July 1, 2022, have been revised. The revised content guidelines are currently available on the Get Credentialed page of the BOC website.

Revised Publications Available Online

Go to www.ascp.org/boc to find the most current publications.

  • 2022 U.S. Procedures for Examination and Certification
  • 2022 International Procedures for Examination and Certification
  • Annual Exam Statistics

NEW in 2023: 1 CMP Point in Medical Ethics

CMP requirements will be revised to add 1 new CMP point in medical ethics (e.g., HIPAA, DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), sexual harassment/microaggressions, compliance, confidentiality training, IRB, etc.) for all certification cycles expiring in January 2023 moving forward, regardless of when you submit your completed online declaration form. This does not increase the overall total CMP points required.

NEW in 2024: Increase in Dedicated CMP Points

CMP requirements will be revised to increase from 2 to 8 points in the area of certification for the following categories: BB, C, CG, CT, H, HT, HTL, M, and MB. This will be in effect for all certification categories noted above expiring in January 2024 and moving forward, regardless of when you submit your completed online declaration form. This does not increase the overall total CMP points required.

CMP COVID-Related Continuing Education (CE) Claim Form
Extended through 12/31/2022

To date, close to 400 CMP participants have taken advantage of the COVID-related CE Claim Form for documenting CMP points towards recertification. The ASCP BOC recognizes the vital work of laboratory professionals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the critical professional development it necessitated. We have heard the on-going concerns about obtaining continuing education during the pandemic due to increased workloads and/or limited availability of in-person training or conferences. Therefore, this time-limited opportunity has been extended one year. COVID-related activities performed within the normal scope of work or outside normal job duties completed between 3/1/2020 and 12/31/2022 may count for up to 12 CMP points/CEUs towards recertification. For complete information, visit the CMP section of our website.

ASCP / ASCLS Position Paper on Nomenclature

The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) and the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) have collaborated to write a position paper titled, “Standardizing the Professional Title of Medical Laboratory Scientists.” The paper has been endorsed by all of the ASCP BOC Sponsoring, Participating, and Collaborating societies. The primary purpose of the paper is to address the inconsistency of professional nomenclature and the impact this has had on the profession and the professionals’ identity. Visit the ASCP BOC website to read the complete paper.

PDAC Live Zoom Events for Program Directors*

The ASCP BOC Program Director’s Advisory Committee (PDAC) is made up of volunteers with several years of program experience. One of their main roles is to manage the Program Director’s Facebook group. They have also started hosting live events over Zoom to discuss topics that are top of mind to program directors. PDAC will be hosting a three-part Zoom series in the spring focused on the writing and maintenance of a BOC exam. These events are scheduled for April 6, May 4, and June 1. The first event on April 6 discussed the writing of exam items, including how BOC exam items are written, how program directors can write good questions themselves, and how to incorporate appropriate references to support exam questions. Be sure to check the Facebook page for a recording of this event and for details about the upcoming events.

Sharing of PPR Information

The ASCP BOC would like to remind program directors that the Program Performance Report (PPR) is a paid subscription service meant for use by Program Directors and Program Administrators only; specific data from the PPR is not to be shared with the public. The information contained in the PPR should be handled in a confidential manner which respects the rights of the individual whose scores are reported. Individual student data, subtest means, scaled score comparisons, and the histogram are not public information. This information should not be shared publicly, including for recruitment efforts or marketing purposes.

Any data that is shared with accrediting bodies or program administration must be anonymized and aggregated where possible. As an outcomes measure for accreditation purposes, program directors may publicly share overall program pass rates (i.e. Our graduates have a X year average pass rate of XX percent on national certification exams; the national average is XX percent).

Update from the March 2022 BOC Board of Governors Meeting

The ASCP BOC Board of Governors met in Fort McDowell, Arizona on March 4-5. The Board of Governors discussed regular business; no changes were made to eligibility requirements or that will impact programs. The ASCP BOC and ASCP BOC BOG continue to value the work that you do as educators of laboratory professionals.

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Program Completion

Review the Updated Online Application

Before your students begin to apply, we encourage you to review the online application in order to better answer questions from your students. Updates were made to the application in March 2022; while the process for students who have completed a program remain the same, a few screens may look different. Log in to your ASCP account to apply without entering payment information. We encourage you to take screen shots to share with students and highlight any potential difficulties. Once saved, your application will remain in your account for six months. In addition, make sure to watch the video that guides applicants through the online application process at www.ascp.org/certification If you need assistance or have questions, email us at PDInfo@ascp.org.

Applying for an ASCP BOC Certification Exam – When and How Students Should Apply

Students should apply for an ASCP BOC certification exam no more than six weeks before program completion. If a student is uncertain about when they will be able to complete all components of the program, including clinical rotations, they should hold off on applying until they have a clearer timeframe.

Please make sure that your students know the correct date of their program completion; it is not necessarily the same as their graduation date. Students should enter their program completion date in the online application. Have students watch the application video, available here: www.ascp.org/certification

Applications are processed on a continual basis, as they are received. See the ASCP BOC COVID-19 document for the most up to date information regarding timelines.

Exam Eligibility Verification (EEV) Report*

Please remember to check your email for notifications of Examination Eligibility Verification (EEV) Reports to review. You may log in to your individual ASCP account from anywhere you have access to the Internet.

It is imperative that program directors do not sign off on a student's eligibility until they are certain the student will complete all components of the program, including clinical requirements and final exams, by the program end date indicated on the EEV.

If you have already signed off on a student’s eligibility and have since learned they will not complete their program by the date indicated, please immediately email Angela Nunn, Assistant Manager of Application Processing, at angela.nunn@ascp.org.

Please note: If the program end date entered by the student is within a week after their actual program completion date, it does not need to be updated on the EEV. Updating a program end date can add up to a week to the processing time of the application, so please be sure your students are aware of their correct program end date.

Your students will not be able to schedule appointments to take the examination until you sign off on their eligibility through the EEV.

Scheduling Exams at a Pearson VUE Testing Location

The status of Pearson VUE test delivery may change quickly during this time. Please be assured that the ASCP BOC is in constant communication with Pearson VUE regarding updates to the administration of examinations. Students should check the Pearson COVID-19 page often for updates.

Please be aware that testing centers continue to follow all federal, state, and local guidelines around COVID-19, which may impact capacity limits. We understand that you would like your students to test as soon as possible after program completion. As soon as they receive their Admission Notification, your students should go online to schedule their exam through the Pearson VUE website.

All available testing dates and locations will be found through the Pearson site. Candidates should schedule the first available exam appointment they can secure and continue to check back via their VUE web account regularly to see if there have been any cancellations. Testing appointments are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

All Pearson testing locations in the U.S. and U.S. territories are required to follow CDC guidance as it relates to masking and distancing requirements. It is the candidate’s responsibility to self-check the requirements for their specific testing location before arriving and ensure that they meet all requirements for their testing location. If a candidate appears at the test center without meeting these requirements, they may be denied testing and will need to reapply and submit a new application fee to test at a later date. It is the candidate’s responsibility to review the latest health and safety requirements at Pearson VUE test centers before appearing for their scheduled exam as requirements may change quickly.

Valid Identification at Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE temporarily allowed expired government ID’s to be presented due to the challenges in renewing IDs during COVID-19 closures. As of May 1, 2021, Pearson VUE and the ASCP BOC resumed the policy that requires a valid (not expired) ID be presented in order to test. Check the ASCP BOC COVID-19 page often for updates.

Use of Pass/Fail Grades*

We understand that some institutions are investigating the use of Pass/Fail grades during this time. Note that the ASCP BOC has always accepted the use of “Pass” on an official transcript in lieu of a passing grade, provided the quarter or semester hour credits assigned to the course are also indicated.

*United States only

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Applications and Documentation

For complete information, see the ASCP BOC COVID-19 document.

Submitting Official Transcripts*

The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) is requesting that all official transcripts be submitted electronically. Official transcripts for U.S. categories must be sent directly from a student’s academic institution to the ASCP BOC. For complete information, visit www.ascp.org/boc/transcript.

If submitting electronic transcripts, please make sure your students are aware of the security features your institution implements. Official transcripts must remain accessible for the processing of an application and maintained as part of an applicant’s permanent record. If access to an electronic transcript expires, in order to complete their application, your students may be required to purchase and submit another official transcript to the ASCP BOC.

If a student’s institution utilizes either Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse, students should choose “ASCP” as the receiving institution during the order process. Instructions are provided on the ASCP BOC COVID-19 document. If the electronic transcript will be sent directly from the registrar’s office, it should be sent to Transcripts.boc@ascp.org. See the ASCP BOC COVID-19 document for more specific instructions.

If your institution is unable to submit transcripts electronically, please mail them to the address below. Please note that there will be an additional delay of 2 weeks in the processing of all transcripts submitted through the mail.

ASCP BOC
Attention: Jackie Sanders
33 W. Monroe St, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603

Submitting Documentation*

Documentation forms submitted through the mail will not be accepted or processed. Beginning March of 2022, appropriate documentation forms, and letters of authenticity, must be uploaded as PDF files at the time of application. See the ASCP BOC website for further information.

Mailing Payment*

We understand that some programs pay the application fee for multiple students at one time. For complete information, see the Program Director’s section of the website. Payment information, invoices, and checks, should be mailed to:

ASCP Board of Certification
3462 Eagle Way
Chicago, IL 60678

Timeline for Processing of Applications

We appreciate your patience throughout the application process. ASCP BOC staff receive a high volume of documents and transcripts daily. All documents, including transcripts, are continuously processed as received.

Please review the ASCP BOC COVID-19 document for the most current information.

Exam Results

Immediately after completing the certification examination, your students will see their preliminary results on the computer screen, indicated as “Pass” or “Fail.” Within four business days, students will receive an email notification to log in to see their score report if their transcript has been fully processed by the ASCP BOC.

Any student who takes the certification examination without submitting a final academic transcript at the time of application will not receive access to their score report. As program director, encourage these students to submit their final transcripts verifying completion of the academic requirements within one year of their examination date. As a courtesy, monthly email reminders will be sent to these students reminding them to submit their official transcript to the BOC office. If their transcript is not received within one year of their examination date, their examination score will be invalidated and they will not be certified.

Students who have failed the exam are given subtest scores in order to help them focus their studying. Subtest scores are not provided to students who passed the exam because it does not serve a useful purpose, and we ask that you do not share this level of information with them.

*United States only

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Ethics and the Appropriate Use of Social Media

ASCP BOC Examination Questions - Copyright and Ethics Violations

ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) examinations are protected by copyright law. When your students apply for certification, they agree to adhere to the following statement stating, in part:

“I understand that this examination and all test questions are the exclusive property of the Board of Certification and are protected by copyright law. Because of the confidential nature of these copyright materials, I agree not to retain, copy, disclose or reveal any part of these examination materials . . .”

The ASCP BOC monitors the web and social media sites regularly for individuals or groups who claim to have questions from ASCP BOC examinations. These are sometimes called recalls, remembrances or brain dumps. Individuals who contribute to these sites, or share examination items in any manner, are infringing on the ASCP BOC’s exclusive copyrights.

Be aware that students who reveal specific information from the examination, such as recalling examination questions and responses, to their peers and instructors are committing copyright infringement. If certificants are found to be in violation, their certification will be revoked; all individuals found to be in violation will be barred permanently from taking any ASCP BOC examination.

Ethics Reminders

An ethics reminder has been added to all exams republished in 2020 through 2022. Examinees must agree to a statement at the end of their examination that they will not share exam items and that they understand this is a violation of copyright. Also, beginning in January 2020, applicants receive an email the day after their exam reminding them that they have signed multiple pledges stating that they will not share exam material. In these reminders it is clearly laid out that if examinees share this type of information, and are caught doing so, they may have their certification revoked and be permanently barred from taking an ASCP BOC examination in the future.

Integrity Pledges

Please remind your students not to share information from the examination with anyone. Several program directors have instituted Integrity Pledges that students sign which explicitly state that sharing of exam content is an ethical violation. Please email us at PDInfo@ascp.org if you would like examples of these pledges.

Posting of Wall Certificates on Social Media

Please inform your students not to post images of their wall certificates or ASCP BOC documentation on social media. While we appreciate their enthusiasm and pride in becoming certified, these images can be used by unscrupulous individuals to misrepresent themselves as being certified. To protect the integrity of ASCP BOC credentials and records, and for patient safety and welfare, it is important for individuals to protect their certificates from misuse. Please share the following with your students:

  • Do not share your wall certificate, score report, or ASCP Member ID card (if applicable) with anyone.
  • Do not post a copy or image of your wall certificate, score report, or ASCP Member ID card (if applicable) on the Internet or social media.

For complete information, please visit our website.

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PPR Information

Program Performance Report (PPR)*

Emails with a link to access the 2022 Program Performance Report (PPR) invoices were sent to all program directors of NAACLS, CAAHEP, and ABHES accredited/approved programs, as well as BOC documented structured phlebotomy and MLA training programs, on October 12, 2021 and December 6, 2021. The invoice amount is $150 per program and covers the period of January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022. The invoice can also be accessed through your ASCP account under “Management Tools.” Payment instructions are included on the invoice.

Instructions for Electronic Payments
If your Accounts Payable Department will be submitting payment electronically, please work with your colleagues to ensure that the order number is included with the electronic payment. To ensure that your payment is applied to the correct order, email PDInfo@ascp.org and provide the date the electronic payment was sent, the name that appears as the sender, tracking details, and any other identifying information. Not following these procedures may result in significant processing delays, during which time you will not have access to PPR data.

If you would like a receipt to confirm payment, please send your request to PDInfo@ascp.org; a receipt will be emailed to you within 3-5 business days.

Please note that your PPR invoice must be paid to access data for previous years. If you believe your invoice has been paid, please log in to your account to ensure that you have access to PPR data and do not see a link to the 2022 invoice. If you see a link for an invoice, it is likely that payment has not been received and/or fully processed. For complete information, see pages 30-34 of the Program Director’s Guide.

If you have questions, please contact us at PDInfo@ascp.org.

Access to Program Performance Reports for Faculty*

If there is someone other than the program director who should also have access to the PPR information, please email PDInfo@ascp.org with the name of the institution, school code, and name and email address of the individual(s) who should have PPR access. Please note that the Program Director will remain the only person able to access the Exam Eligibility Verification (EEV) to verify students’ completion of the program.

Do You Have Students Missing From Your PPR or EEV Reports?*

When your students complete the online application, please remind them to use the drop-down list of programs to select the program they completed. Some schools have programs in multiple cities or states. Please advise your students to make sure they choose the correct program in the correct location. Students should not enter the name of the program manually as the school name will not be recognized, and these students’ names will not appear on your PPR or EEV reports. If your program is not listed, please let us know immediately by contacting us at PDInfo@ascp.org.

*United States only

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Important Information for Students

Important Information for Students in California and New York

Please ensure that your students become certified and complete the examination for state licensure by applying for certificationPlease ensure that your students become certified and complete the examination for state licensure by applying for certification and licensure on the online application. If students apply for licensure only, they will be required to reapply for certification and take the certification examination. By applying for and taking the certification examination, their examination scores are acceptable for licensure in California and New York. All other state licensure requirements must be met to obtain state licensure. For additional information, see the CA and NY NAACLS student information form. For complete information, please visit our website: State Licensure.

Applicants Requesting Modifications Due to a Disability

If any of your students require a modification due to a disability, your students must notify our office in writing before they apply. Complete information is available on the BOC website.

Official Transcripts*

Students from NAACLS, CAAHEP, and ABHES accredited/approved programs are able to sit for their BOC exam one time prior to official transcripts being received and processed by the ASCP BOC.

If a degree is required to meet eligibility requirements, please remind your students to request an official college/university transcript be sent to the ASCP BOC. This official transcript is required before examination scores are made available. Please note that students are not certified until their transcript is received and processed by the ASCP BOC.

Official transcripts for U.S. categories must be sent directly from a student’s academic institution to the ASCP BOC. For complete information, visit www.ascp.org/boc/transcript.

*United States only

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Get Involved!

Program Directors Group on Facebook

If you haven’t already, please join the ASCP BOC Program Director’s Group on Facebook. The group is for directors of NAACLS, CAAHEP, and ABHES-accredited or approved laboratory programs, as well as education and clinical coordinators and faculty, whose students seek ASCP BOC certification. Supported by volunteers with several years of program experience, the group aims to become the program director’s resource for information and support.

BOC Facebook Page

In addition to the Program Director’s Group, the ASCP BOC also has a Facebook page. You can follow the page to see the BOC Study Guide Question of the Week and to follow what is happening with the ASCP BOC.

Certification Exam Committees and Qualification Work Groups*

All ASCP BOC Examination Committees and Work Groups consist of laboratory professionals representing broad geographic regions of the United States and laboratory facilities of various types and sizes. They are responsible for the development, maintenance, and evaluation of exam items, as well as setting the standards for exams and performing job task analyses. To review the current Exam Committee and Work Group openings and submit an application, please visit the BOC Volunteer page.

*United States only

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Program Director Resources

BOC Resources Video

Check out a video that will help you find the online BOC resources designed just for you and guide you and your students through the certification process and beyond.

Educational Resources Available Online*

The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) has compiled a list of educational resources from a number of different social media channels. These resources are being brought to U.S. and Canadian program directors and educators to help support programs and students during the transition to distance education. This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by the ASCP BOC. The list can be found here: www.ascp.org/boc/pd/resources. If you have additions or corrections to this resource list, please contact us at PDInfo@ascp.org.

Annual Exam Statistics Available Online

2021 ASCP BOC examination statistics are available here: Annual Exam Statistics. See information about 2021 examinees, including NAACLS/CAAHEP/ABHES first-time pass rates, as well as the total number of certificants in all categories. Information is available for US and International certifications as well as qualifications.

Changes in Program Director or Program Information

Please be sure to notify the ASCP BOC office at PDInfo@ascp.org if there has been, or will soon be, a change in program director. Please also let us know if any of your program information changes such as email address, program status, name of institution, or mailing address.

For program directors from international countries, and for questions regarding ASCPi certification, please email Angela Sreckovic at Angela.Sreckovic@ascp.org.

Program Director’s Guide to Certification*

The updated Program Director’s Guide to Certification contains information about ASCP BOC exams, a useful Application Timeline, detailed information about how to best help your students before and after the examination, and complete information about the EEV and PPR. Find it here.

Certification Examinations

Brief explanations on a variety of topics related to the ASCP BOC certification examinations are available here.

How to Locate Your Certification Number

If you need to locate your certification number, you may access it by logging in to your ASCP account and clicking on "Home Page" under "My BOC Activities." Then click on the "View Certifications" link.

If you require primary source verification of your certification, you can place an order through our website at Verification of Certification. There is a $16 charge for this service.

Structured Training Programs in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology

Do you have a NAACLS accredited Medical Laboratory Science training program? If so, have you ever considered offering a separate structured program in a single categorical area for students who may not have the time or money to complete a full MLS program? Individuals who complete structured training programs in a single area under the auspices of a NAACLS accredited MLS program, with the requisite academic education, qualify for a technologist examination in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, or microbiology under Route 3. See detailed information on the structured program requirements.

Value of Certification Survey Responses

The ASCP BOC is working to evidence the many values of becoming certified. One of these efforts was on display at #ASCP2021 in the BOC poster presentation, “Value of Certification Qualitative Survey: Comparison of Multi-Organizational and BOC Survey Responses.” View the full poster at https://bit.ly/3BC6dYM

Addressing Opportunities & Misunderstandings of ASCP BOC International Certification in the Philippines

As part of ASCP2021, the BOC was a Blue Ribbon Finalist in the Education Practice Category for our poster presentation on “Addressing Opportunities & Misunderstandings of ASCP BOC International Certification in the Philippines. View the full poster at https://bit.ly/3mEfX0r.

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ASCP Board of Certification Contacts

Please contact the following individuals if you have questions or concerns regarding:

Share eLinks

Feel free to forward eLinks to Education Coordinators or other program officials who might benefit from the information included in this Newsletter.

Having Difficulty Receiving Emails?

Please add ascp@site02.ascpmail.org to your "safe" email list. This will ensure that emails regarding Program Performance Reports (PPRs), Examination Eligibility Verification (EEV) reports, and this newsletter will be delivered directly to you, and not to spam or junk mail.

Also, make sure that you have opted in to receiving BOC emails. Log in to your ASCP account and choose "Profile and Settings." From there, choose "Communications" to review your preferences. Please make sure that "Board of Certification" is not checked.

Questions or Comments?

If you have any questions or comments on the information contained in this issue, please email us at PDInfo@ascp.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

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