BIOB1510 Laboratory Technology and Quality Assurance Course description

The course comprises fundamental methods and laboratory techniques that are key in medical laboratories, and build on knowledge about quality assurance from previous courses. The students acquire practical experience of using different methods and quality assurance of these methods through laboratory work. The course includes a two days’ external practical training at an outpatient clinic, where students will draw blood samples from patients.

The student must have an approved completion of the blood sample collection course in BIOB1000 (coursework requirement) in order to take the two days’s external practical training at an outpatient clinic with blood sample collection from patients.

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 explain fundamental methods, such as spectrophotometry, electrophoresis and immunochemical techniques
• can give an account of the structure and measuring techniques of selected instruments
• is familiar with fundamental aspects of quality assurance
• is familiar with different sources of error and how they contribute to uncertainty in analysis results
• can describe selected methods used in point of care analysis and self-testing and how these are quality assured
• is familiar with the relevant procedures for collection of blood samples from adults
• can explain various blood sampling techniques and is familiar with pre-analytical conditions that are essential for obtaining a correct analysis result

Skills

The student

• can perform fundamental biomedical analyses and use analysis instruments that are available in the course in an independent manner
• can follow a standard operating procedure and write basic procedures
• has basic skills in setting up control charts and evaluating quality control results
• can assess which pipette techniques are suitable for different sample materials
• can use, control and adjust pipettes correctly
• can adjust and use a microscope and perform basic maintenance
• can master capillary and venous blood sample collection of adults under supervision and according to the applicable procedure

General competence

The student

• can understand and perform basic laboratory work pursuant to given procedures in a manner that is accurate and assures quality

Work and teaching methods include lectures, seminars and laboratory work.

Students take two days’ practical training at an outpatient clinic, including blood sample collection from patients. After practical training at the clinic, the students will present posters in groups. The posters are used for presenting relevant topics from practical training, such as the meeting with patients and preanalytical conditions.

Digital learning resources are made available for students before the laboratory sessions. The time in the laboratory is therefore generally not used to demonstrate how to solve the assignments.

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
• a minimum of 90 per cent attendance in external practical training in an outpatient clinic
• digital poster presentation in a group

Individual practical exam, 3 hours.

Alphanumeric/financial calculator with cleared memory.

Grade scale 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.

• 9 credits overlap with BIOB1500 Laboratory Technology and Quality Assurance
• 1 credit overlap with BIOB1210 Anatomy and Physiology (external practical training)