BIOB1400 Hematology Course description

Hematology is the study of blood and blood diseases. This is a basic hematology course, focusing on the blood cells’ development, function and morphology, 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.

• 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

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

Skills 

The student

• can carry out regular manual and automatic hematology and coagulation analyses
• can perform start-up, daily maintenance and quality control of hematology and coagulation instruments
• can identify and characterise normal and certain pathological cells/conditions in the blood by means of manual and digital morphology
• 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

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

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

• Hematology and morphology 8 credits
• Hemostasis 2 credits

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 structure of the human genome and different types of inheritance
• can describe different forms of genetic variation and their significance
• can explain gene regulation
• can explain the significance of DNA damage, how it can occur and how it can be repaired
• is familiar with the use of tumor markers and other biomarkers in patient diagnostics and individually adapted medicine
• can describe the principles behind the most common analysis methods in molecular diagnostics and explaining the methods’ areas of use
• is familiar with different forms of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)
• can describe how DNA analyses can be used for personal identification in forensic medicine
• can describe different sequencing technologies and their areas of use
• can explain how chromosome anomalies and hereditary diseases can be determined by using different methods
• is familiar with the laws and regulations that regulate genetic testing and the requirements relating to genetic counselling
• is familiar with methods and laws relating to sperm donation, egg donation and in vitro fertilisation
• can discuss the significance of the Biotechnology Act for assisted reproduction

Skills

The student

• can conduct and quality assure different gene technology methods and assess any sources of errors related to these
• can apply analysis instruments used in molecular diagnostics
• can process data and interpret the results of different genetic/DNS analyses, both technical and biomedical
• can carry out bioinformatics analyses of sequencing data from different sequencing platforms
• can collect information from different databases and using basic bioinformatics tools
• can carry out work using gene technology methods in a responsible manner to minimise the risk of contamination

General competence

The student

• can discuss ethical consequences of gene testing in a medical perspective
• can reflect on how new technology in molecular diagnostics can impact the healthcare system’s economy and resource allocation, as well as potential consequences for health inequalities

Work and teaching methods include lectures, assignments, literature searches, group work and laboratory work. The course entails a half-day’s practical training visit to an external laboratory.

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. Self-study, activity, reflection and cooperation is a pre-condition for completion of the course.

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
• laboratory reports in accordance with specified criteria
• oral presentation of group work on ethical issues in molecular diagnostics

A-F.

All answers are assessed by two examiners. An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

A-F.

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

• Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics, 15 credits