BIOB1400 Hematology Course description

Hematology is the study of blood and blood diseases. This is a basic hematology course, focusing on the blood cells’ morphology, development and function, and the most important blood diseases. The course will give students a foundation for analysing hematology and coagulation samples, and for quality assuring, interpreting and assessing test results. The course includes a three days’ external practical training at an outpatient clinic, where students will take blood samples from patients.

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, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of the structure and function of the different blood cells
• can characterise blood cells in a non-pathological blood sample and describe the selected pathological cells/conditions
• can describe the principles for different methods of measuring selected hematology and coagulation analyses
• can describe the significance of different analyses for diagnosis and treatment
• can explain the principle for manual counting and differentiation of blood cells
• can explain different sources of error relating to hematological analyses and how the sources of error can affect the results
• can explain the hemostasis mechanism
• can describe some blood diseases
• is familiar with the relevant procedures for taking blood samples from adults and children

Skills

The student

• can carry out regular manual and automatic hematology and coagulation analyses
• can prepare blood smears and identify cells in blood
• can assess and assure the quality of sample materials and test results
• can assess and interpret scattergrams (plots) from automatic cell counters
• can interpret test results in conjunction with other parameters
• can use and maintain a selection of analytical automated devices
• can master capillary and venous blood sample taking of adults pursuant to the applicable procedure under supervision

General competence

The student

• can make plans for and carry out own laboratory work by using relevant documents such as procedures, product information and method applications

Work and teaching methods used are lectures, group work, peer assessment and laboratory work individually and in groups. Students take three days’ practical training at an outpatient clinic, including taking samples from patients. The students will submit a reflection note after practical training.

Parts of the teaching used is the ‘flipped classroom’, where digital learning resources will be made available to students in advance and the time they spend at the university will be used to work on assignments and group work. Digital learning resources are also used in the form of practical assignments in digital morphology.

In order to be permitted to take the exam, the following must have been approved:

• a minimum of 90 per cent attendance in laboratory teaching
• a minimum of 90 per cent attendance in external practical training in an outpatient clinic
• individual reflection note from practical training, 800 words (+/- 10)

Supervised individual written exam, combination of multiple choice and free text assignments, 4 hours.

No aids are permitted.

Grade scale A–F

All exam papers are assessed by two examiners. A minimum of twenty per cent of the exam papers will be assessed by an external examiner. The external examiner’s assessment shall benefit all students.

7 credits overlap with the course BIO1400 Hematology and Immunology