AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Acquire basic knowledge of analysis laboratories, organization and knowledge of the specificities in the various laboratory branches, calibrations and quality controls; spectrophotometry and colorimetric reactions, enzymatic reactions, potentiometry, turbidimetry and nephelometry, errors in the laboratory and the phases of the analytical process; urinalysis and health legislation; cardiac markers, acid-base balance, blood gas analysis, immunosuppressant drugs and urgent/emergency toxicological tests. Methods for determining the main parameters assayed in clinical chemistry, quality and interpretation of clinical data; interference; acquisition of the techniques, the execution and reporting of the blood count and the search for pathological Hb variants

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The part relating to the Medical Technical Sciences, in line with the disciplines of the topics covered in the Clinical Pathology part, is entrusted to Professors belonging to the professional profile of Biomedical Laboratory Technician, focusing attention on analytical techniques. 

At the end of the integrated course, the student faces and acquires concepts that allow him to know the emergency laboratory, its clinical importance, the timeliness of the results, the tests that are performed, the dosage methods, the tests with forensic value and the legal aspects of these tests. He also acquires knowledge on methods of dosing specific tests for myocardial infarction. Acquires skills on the execution of I and II level tests relating to coagulation, on the dosage of immunosuppressant drugs and on the execution of blood gas analysis and its clinical significance.
Knowledge of the different specialized branches of the laboratory. acquisition and knowledge of the organization of a laboratory and of the phases that make up the process of analyzing a sample; the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytic phase; errors in the laboratory; internal quality controls and EQAs. Techniques in clinical chemistry: turbidimetry spectrophotometry, nephelometry, enzymatic and potentiometric reactions. The main methods used for dosages in clinical chemistry and their clinical significance; urine test; hints of health legislation. 

Acquisition of notions that allow to know the hematology laboratory and its clinical importance in the diagnostic process. The old dosing methods for carrying out the blood count compared with the new automated methods, which are faster, more accurate and more sensitive which allow, by reading the flags and cytograms, to verify the instrumental results. Identification of haematological pathologies and execution of the peripheral blood smear; acquisition of knowledge on some analytical techniques used for the diagnosis of pathological hemoglobins, other diagnostic techniques related to the screening of 1st level hemoglobinopathies, analytical techniques related to the diagnosis of other biological fluids analyzed in the hematology sector. During the process of analyzing the blood count and other hematological tests, the student acquires notions on the use of quality controls dedicated to the sector.

TEACHING METHODS

Classroom lessons

Students with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department before class begins, in order to arrange the specific teaching methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Technical Medical Sciences Hematology techniques Dr. Valentina Porcile (1 CFU)

• Notes on blood physiopathology

• Manual cell counting techniques

• Complete blood count

• Morphological examination: peripheral blood smear, staining and observation under the microscope

• Hemoglobin variants: meaning and diagnostic techniques

• E.S.R.: meaning and diagnostic techniques

• Cerebrospinal fluid, cavitary effusions and synovial fluid: cell counting techniques

• Diagnostic techniques for the classification of some anemias

• Internal and external quality controls in hematology

• Suitability of the sample in hematology

Technical Medical Sciences Dr. Cristina Cusato (1 CFU)

• The emergency laboratory: description of an emergency laboratory. Tests performed in the emergency laboratory and their importance. The principles of the methods. The Tat (response times). The organization of work.

• Coagulation: Description of analysis methods. The coagulometer, the normal values ​​​​of coagulation tests.

• Chain of custody: Legal aspects and forensic value of the tests. Principles of blood alcohol measurement methods and toxicological tests. Non-conformity and its importance.

• Immunosuppressive drugs: description of tests and principles of dosing methods. Clinical importance. Differences in use between various immunosuppressants.

• Blood gas analysis: description of tests and principles of dosing methods; principles of acid-base balance. Poct (point of care).

• Cardiac enzymes: troponins and Bnp. Differences between new and old assay methods and tests. Normal values ​​and their clinical value.

Technical Medical Sciences Clinical chemistry techniques Dr. Laura Marcomini (1 CFU)

• Instrumental analytical techniques:  nephelometry, turbidimetry, enzymatic reactions, indirect potentiometry and Trinder method.

• Main dosages in Clinical Chemistry: AST, ALT, gGT, PCE and dibucaine number, LDH, total and direct bilirubin, CPK, ALP, total and pancreatic amylase, lipase, urea and urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, clearance calculation endogenous, Iron, Ferritin, Glucose, Total Cholesterol, HDL and LDL, Triglycerides, APO A and B, Sodium, Potassium, Chlorine, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium.

• Interpretation of clinical data and interferences.

• Serum indices and related interferences

• Insights into the quality of the analytical system (the phases of the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical process, specificity, sensitivity, accuracy and precision)

• Pre-analytical variables that can compromise the reliability of the result.

Technical Medical Sciences Dr. Alessandra Signoretti (1 CFU):

• Introduction to analysis laboratories.

• Anticoagulants and sampling methods

• The phases of the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical process (specificity, sensitivity, accuracy and precision).

• Errors in the laboratory, quality controls, calibration.

• Light and its characteristics.

• Spectrophotometry

• Dilutions.

• Chemical-physical examination of urine

• Hints of health legislation

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Clinical biochemistry and laboratory medicine, Authors: Marcello Ciacci, Giuseppe Lippi
 ISBN 8879599585, 9788879599580- Edises, 2017 (mandatory purchase).
The “hidden” science that saves lives. Author: Mario Plebani. Series Lessons in Laboratory Medicine 1st volume. Editions: Cortina Padova international bookshop (mandatory purchase). 
Lecture notes

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

I year II semester

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Verification with assessment methods in oral form

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students must demonstrate that they have acquired the skills related to all MED / 46 courses. 

If the candidate has not achieved the minimum objectives, the exam will not be deemed passed

During the exam, the rules regarding the assessment method of DSA certified students or students with other educational needs indicated by the university will be respected. (e.g.: additional time in the case of written exams, use of concept maps to be viewed for approval by the teachers at least one week before the exam date).