BIOB1000 Introduction to the Profession of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences Course description

The course deals with the professional role and practice of biomedical laboratory scientists, with a focus on pre- and post-analytical conditions, analysis instruments, control procedures, technology and automation systems, methods and analysis processes.

In medical biochemistry laboratories, it is the biomedical laboratory scientist’s responsibility to analyse biological material using advanced analysis instruments and assess the analytical quality of the test results. During practical training, emphasis is placed on introducing the students to procedures and quality assurance processes, and on the students acquiring an understanding of how analysis results contribute to the treatment of the patient. During the practical training, students will collect blood samples from patients and develop the ability to cooperate under supervision by experienced biomedical laboratory scientists with relevant skills and knowledge.

• Admitted to the Bachelor’s Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, or
• Admitted to the Complementary Education in Biomedical Laboratory Science 

• Passed first year or equivalent of the Bachelor’s Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, or 
• Admitted to the Complementary Education in Biomedical Laboratory Science 

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 

• can describe the methods and analysis principles used on the practical training institutions for instance hematology, coagulation and clinical chemical instruments
• can describe the measurement principles of the analysis instruments used at the practical training institution
• can describe significant factors that can affect measurements and analysis results in patient samples
• can describe sources of error relating to the methods used at the practical training institution
• can describe quality assurance in the practical training institution and explain how and why quality controls are used in analytical work in medical biochemistry
• can explain how laboratories can contribute to the patient treatment
• is familiar with the laboratory information systems (LIS), middleware solutions and management systems for analysis instruments at the practical training institution

Skills 

The student

• can comply with the laboratory’s daily routines and analysis procedures
• can participate in analysis work at the practical training institution
• can assess the suitability of sample material
• can assess the reliability of analysis results based on biochemical, methodological and technical knowledge
• can use and maintain a selection of analytical automated devices used at the practical training institution
• can safeguard the patient in the situation surrounding sample taking

General competence

The student

• can take responsibility and demonstrate initiative and independence in the work situation
• can cooperate with fellow students and patients regardless of their ethnic, religious and cultural background

Work and teaching methods comprise a seven week long supervised external practical training period in a laboratory for medical biochemistry.

No particular coursework requirements.

Note that there is an attendance requirement for practical training. For more information about the attendance requirement for practical training, see ‘Assessment of external practical training’ in the main section of the programme description.

Combined assessment:

Part 1) Assessment of practical training. The minimum attendance requirement for the practical training period is 90%. For more information about the attendance requirement in practical training, see ‘Assessment of external practical training’ in the main section of the programme description.

Part 2) Individual written home exam, 2,000 words (+/- 20%). The assignment is handed out at the start of the course and must be submitted after the end of the practical training period.

Both part 1 and 2 must be approved to pass the course. 

New assessment/exam. If the student fails part 1 (practical training period), he/she must normally retake the whole practical training period. If the student fails part 2, the home exam, he/she will be given one (1) opportunity to submit a reworked version.

Students can appeal the grade awarded for part 2, the home exam.

The course is an introduction to research and development work (R&D) in biomedical laboratory science. The students will develop an understanding of the importance of updating and developing biomedical laboratory science practice and become familiar with the ethical aspects of such projects. The goal of the bachelor's assignment is to give the students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a topic that is relevant to the biomedical laboratory sciences field.

The students are offered assignments related to various types of R&D work. The assignments are carried out in external laboratories at Norwegian institutions, in internal laboratories at the university or at foreign institutions by agreement.

• Passed first and second year or equivalent of the Bachelor’s Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, or
• Admitted to the Complementary Education in Biomedical Laboratory Science

Work and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, peer assessment and bachelor's thesis in groups.

Projects are normally carried out in groups of 3-4 students. The groups will have an academic supervisor when working on the thesis. In addition, the groups will be offered writing supervision at the university of up to eight hours. The writing supervision is to help students to structure their thesis. The students will also assess each other’s texts in the work with the bachelor’s thesis.

Students meet for seminars during the period they are working on the bachelor's thesis. There will be a start-up seminar and differently themed seminars relevant for the completion of the bachelor’s thesis. At the end of the period, the students will meet to present their theses to each other.

Detailed guidelines for the bachelor’s thesis will be published in the learning platform.