BIO1400 Hematology and Immunology Course description

Hematological and immunological analysis are key aspects of medical laboratory science and constitute an important part of a medical laboratory technician's work. The course deals with a selection of hematological analyses, with the main focus on erythrocyte diseases and hemostasis in the hematology field, basic knowledge of immunology, quality control of analysis results and pre-analytical issues. It also covers topics in the electrochemistry field. Students take three days' practical training at an outpatient clinic, including taking samples from patients.

The course consists of the following subject areas, specified below as the number of credits:

• Hematology and quality control 4
• Immunology 3
• Chemistry 2
• Practical training 1

The student must have been admitted to the study programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The student

• is capable of describing the principles behind a selection of important hematological analyses and coagulation analyses, and their significance for diagnosis and treatment
• is capable of explaining the hemostasis mechanism
• is capable of describing the cause of certain diseases related to erythrocytes and hemostasis
• is capable of describing pre-analytical issues and the concepts of biological and analytical variation
• is capable of describing the importance of quality control in the assessment of analysis results
• is capable of describing the structure and function of the immune system
• is familiar with the basis of antigen-antibody reactions used in immunological analysis
• is capable of describing the blood as a transport and buffer system
• is capable of describing the principle of potentiometric measurements and blood gas analysis

Skills

The student is capable of

• performing a selection of common hematological analyses and coagulation analyses
• performing simple immunological analyses
• performing venipuncture and taking capillary tests
• following procedures to prevent infection

Work and teaching methods include lectures, practical laboratory work, student work carried out individually and in groups, and three days- practical training in taking blood samples from patients at an outpatient clinic. Students will write reports in connection with the laboratory work and a reflection note from their practical training.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• a minimum of 90% attendance in practical laboratory work and practical training at an outpatient clinic
• a minimum of 80% attendance in scheduled group work
• laboratory reports in accordance with specified criteria
• reflection note from practical training, 800 words (+/- 10%)

The course deals with analysis of linear and dynamic systems in the time domain and the frequency domain. The course also provides a basic introduction to modeling of fluid systems and thermal systems and provides 3 credits in chemistry.

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has knowledge of:

• methodologies for modelling simple physical systems (such as mechanical, electrical, physiological, thermal and fluid systems)
• different dynamic systems models for linear systems (in particular 1st and 2nd order systems) with the help of differential equations, block diagrams, state spaces and transfer functions
• Laplace transformation and transfer functions
• Inverse Laplace transform and time responses
• methods for performing stability analyses of open and feedback control systems
• Bode diagram, Frequency analysis and frequency response
• basic tools for stability analysis of open-loop and feedback systems
• numerical simulation of dynamic systems using MATLAB/SIMULINK

Skills

The student is capable of:

• setting up mathematical models of simple physical systems
• describing continuous, linear dynamic first-order and second-order systems with the help of differential equations, block diagrams, state spaces and transfer functions, and converting between different models
• identifying first-order and second-order systems based on their response in time and frequency domains
• performing stability analyses of open and feedback control systems
• performing a Laplace transform and an inverse Laplace transform
• applying Laplace-based techniques to frequency and transient analyses of first-order and second-order systems

General competence

The student is capable of:

• analyzing a modelling problem and specifying a solution method
• finding mathematical models that can be used to solve control engineering problems
• discussing and justifying their choices and priorities in the modelling of continuous dynamic systems
• applying the knowledge to analyze and possibly control dynamic systems
• conducting academic studies and written work in an honest and ethical way, without any form of plagiarism and inappropriate behavior in work assignments and project reports.

The teaching consists of lectures combined with exercises.