OVERVIEW

The Laboratory Medicine course aims to prepare the students of the master's degree in the knowledge required to face any subsequent studies for the achievement of the corresponding Specialization Diploma in Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main aim of the course is to provide students with in-depth knowledge of the clinical significance of laboratory tests used in modern medical practice (screening for congenital diseases, targeted diagnostic testing based on clinical suspicion, ruling out disease, monitoring treatment efficacy, and prognosis). The integrated course aims to enable students to acquire the following skills: understanding the clinical significance of deviations from the respective reference values of the laboratory tests covered in the course; knowing how to select the most appropriate parameters for the study of specific organ or system pathologies; identifying possible factors that may interfere with the results of specific laboratory tests; know how to collect, organise and integrate laboratory test results for the purpose of defining and interpreting clinical problems; correctly apply methodologies for measuring laboratory parameters, interpreting them critically from a pathophysiological perspective, in order to contextualise them within the overall clinical picture, diagnosis and prognosis; acquire basic knowledge of the various omics sciences and the analysis of ‘big data’ generated by these technologies.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge in mathematics, physics, chemistry, anatomy and histology and in-depth knowledge in biochemistry, physiology, general pathology, general physiopathology, immunology.

TEACHING METHODS

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The Clinical Biochemistry course will be assessed with a written test with multiple choices. The Clinical Pathology course will be assessed with an interview with at least two teachers of the course.

The two tests can be taken by the student in the same exam session. Or the student can choose to take only one of the two tests in one exam session. In this second case, if the test in question is passed, it will be considered valid for the duration of the current exam session (summer, autumn, or winter), during which the other test must also be passed. If one of the two tests is not passed at the end of an exam session, both must be repeated in a subsequent session.

The achievement of the minimum objectives is necessary for the exam to be passed.

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

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The multiple choice written tests in clinical biochemistry will focus on all the topics covered in class. In most tests, only one answer will be considered correct; in a minority of tests, the candidate will have to demonstrate that he/she chooses the best among the answers proposed; in the case of answers with partial but incomplete content, a fraction of a point will be attributed, instead of the whole point.

In the clinical pathology interview, the candidate will be asked to comment on two / three groups of laboratory tests, with the respective clinical indications and possible interpretations; the candidate may also be required to draw up a protocol of laboratory investigations to be carried out in the event of pathologies proposed by the examiner.

Basic knowledge of both biochemistry and clinical pathology will be necessary, but not automatically sufficient, for the exam to be approved by the examiners.

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).