Course content

The course aims to provide a hands-on introduction to modern techniques used for analysis in medical laboratories. The course is divided in four modules (A, B, C and D) running in sequence and taking place in a laboratory setting under the supervision of one or several instructors who are trained to operate manual and robotized scientific instrumentation. There will also be final seminars tying up the course work done in the modules. Module A is devoted to routine techniques used for analysis of biological samples and will also address safety and health issues related to working in a laboratory environment. Students will learn how to handle human biological material and operate various instruments including spectrophotometer, fluorometer, reflectometer, electrochemical instruments and cells counters. Module B will focus on the analysis of data obtained from scientific instrumentation. The goal here is for students to learn how to evaluate the precision, accuracy, and sensitivity and linearity of the different methods of quantification using the various analytical instruments and interpret data. Module C gives an introduction to medical microbiology through tutorials and practical laboratory work. Module D will explore the use of genome sequencing in clinical diagnosis via a tutorial taught in cooperation with staff from the department of pathology and medical genetics at St. Olav's hospital. A tour of the Genomics Core Facility at NTNU will also probably be included. Students will learn about the theoretical principles of whole genome sequencing and practical aspects of its use in medical genetics. They will also explore and discuss ethical challenges arising from the use of this novel technology for patients and pre-symptomatic individuals in clinical medicine and in medical research.

Learning outcome

After working with module A, Fundamentals of Laboratory Techniques, the student should be able to:

• Organize herself/himself in a medical laboratory, and know about safety in the lab.
• Use and maintain pipettes and other volumetric tools in the laboratory.
• Use spectrophotometers for reading absorbance to quantify analytes in biological samples.
• Take enzyme activity measurements in biological samples.
• Use automatized instrumentation for quantitative measurements.
• Use cell counters and microscope to differentiate blood cells.
• Explain theoretically how the techniques used in the laboratory course work.
• Use control charts correctly to assess the quality of his/her own work.

After working through Module B, Evaluation of Methods, the students should be able to:

• Interpret method evaluation data from assay kit inserts.
• Investigate linearity, precision and accuracy of a quantitation method.
• Process data from method evaluation statistically and interpret it.
• Assess and compare analytical methods from obtained validation data and choose between methods based on validation data.

After working through Module C, Introduction to medical microbiology, the students should be able to:

• Understand what medical microbiology entails
• Understand how to work with bacteria in a safe manner
• Cultivate and identify bacteria responsible for urinary tract infection

After working through Module D, Genome sequencing in Clinical Practice and Medical Research: Practical and Ethical Challenges, the students should be able to:

• Describe and show that they understand the basic steps of genome sequencing.
• Give examples of how genome sequencing is used in clinical practice and medical research today.
• Explain advantages of today's genome sequencing technologies compared to traditional sequencing methods.
• Describe some challenges that a clinical department as medical genetics have when they use genome sequencing today.
• Give an overview of ethical issues highlighted when genetics and genomics are discussed.
• Present a specific use of genome sequencing in clinical medicine where its use raised ethical concerns. In addition, explain in depth the basis for the ethical concerns raised by such use of genome sequencing.

For all modules:

• Be able to present and discuss the above bullet points with tutors and students in a seminar.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, tutorials, laboratory classes, workshops, group and individual assignments. Estimated time total: 200 hours. Lectures/seminars/guidance: 50 hours. Laboratory exercises: 35 hours. Self study: 115 hours.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

This course is run as an intensive course in May/June. It has restricted access and not offered on a regular basis. The course is only offered to pre-approved students from OSU as part of the TRONDBUSS student mobility program. The number of places is restricted and approval goes first through OSU and then through NTNU/IBF.

Course materials

Manuals developed for this course. Selected textbooks and scientific articles. Details will be distributed at the start of the course.