BIOPRA1 Medical Biochemistry Practice Course description

The course covers knowledge of pre-analytical issues, analysis instruments, technology, methods and analysis processes. In medical biochemistry laboratories, it is the medical laboratory technician's responsibility to analyse biological material using advanced analysis instruments and to assess the analytical quality of the test results. The course places emphasis on introducing procedures and quality assurance processes, and understanding how analysis results contribute to treatment of the patient. During practical training, students will take blood tests and develop the ability to cooperate and ethically reflect when dealing with patients and colleagues.

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

• External practical training at a laboratory 12
• Ethics, communication and cooperation 3
• Total 15

Passed the first year of the 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 is capable of

• describing the principles of methods and analysis used at the practical training institution
• describing the measurement principles of the analysis instruments used at the practical training institution
• describing significant factors that can affect measurements and analysis results in patient samples
• describing sources of errors in methods used at the individual practical training institution
• describing quality assurance in laboratory services and explaining how and why quality controls are used in analytical work in medical biochemistry
• showing insight into the methods- areas of use and explaining how laboratory investigations can contribute to the treatment of patients
• describing what tasks the medical biochemistry laboratory performs in the health services and discussing the professional role of a medical laboratory technician
• describing ethical theories relevant to the work of a medical laboratory technician
• describing communication theories relevant to the work of a medical laboratory technician

Skills

The student is capable of

• following the laboratory's day-to-day routines and analysis procedures 
• planning and carrying out his or her own analytical work at the practical training institution
• assessing the suitability of sample material
• using and maintaining a selection of analytical automated devices used at the practical training institution
• assessing the reliability of test results based on biochemical, methodological and technical knowledge
• identifying and correcting deviations from the procedures and routines that apply
• safeguarding the patient in the situation surrounding sample taking

General competence

The student is capable of 

• taking responsibility and demonstrating initiative and independence in the work situation
• cooperating with patients and health care staff in the same profession and across professions
• identifying, reflecting on and discussing professional and ethical issues related to practical training

Work and teaching methods used in the course are practical training, lectures and project work. Practical training is carried out over eight weeks at a medical biochemistry laboratory, where the students will perform the work of a medical laboratory technician relevant to the practical training institution in question. Students will complete a project on the topic of communication and ethics.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can be awarded final practical training approval and take the exam:

• a minimum of 90% attendance during the period of practical training
• a minimum of 80% attendance in scheduled project work

Practical training:

Assessment content:     Criteria for practical training

Form of assessment:     Midway and final assessment

Exam:

Practical training must be passed in order to take the exam.

Exam content: The learning outcomes

Exam form:        The home exam consists of two parts:

1. Individual written assignment from practical training, 2,000-2,500 words. The assignment is handed out at the start of the course and must be submitted by the end of the practical training
2. Written group report from project, 1,500-2,500 words. The report is submitted at the end of the project.            

Students must pass both parts of the exam. If the student is awarded a fail in one part of the exam, this part of the exam must be retaken.

All

Pass/fail

Practical training: The midway and final assessments are made by the practical training supervisor and the contact lecturer at OsloMet. The final decision on whether the course is approved or not is made by the university.

Exam: All answer papers are assessed by two internal examiners. An external examiner contributes to the preparation of the question papers and assessment criteria.