Course content

The blood, blood cells and normal haemostasis. Blood diseases and coagulation disorders. Laboratory equipment, automated and manual methods for analysis and examination of human-biological material for haematological and coagulation analyses, technology, possibilities, limitations, and sources of error. Quality assurance of analysis results, including pre- and post-analytical conditions in hematology and coagulation analyses. Interpretation and assessment of manual and instrumental analysis results and the BLS's role and tasks in relation to diagnostics and treatment of haematological diseases and coagulation disorders.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student

• have knowledge of the development of the various blood cells and their morphology

• can explain the mechanisms of hemostasis and the coagulation cascade

• can explain methodology and analysis principles in selected automated analysis instruments for hematology and coagulation analyses, including technological limitations and sources of error

• can explain the most important blood diseases and hemostasis disorders and the clinical usefulness and importance of the most common analyzes for diagnostics and treatment

• can explain various sources of error and their influence on analysis results, as well as account for important pre-analytical conditions in hematology and haemostasis

• knows about immunophenotyping as a method for investigating haematological conditions

Skills

The student

• Can perform the most common manual and automated hematology and hemostasis examinations

• Can recognise, identify and characterize normal blood cells and some pathological cells in blood smears using a microscope

• can carry out start-up, regular maintenance and quality control of selected hematology and coagulation instruments

• can interpret histograms and cytograms from selected automatic cell counters and assess the probability and reliability of analysis results

• can assess the necessary follow-up of abnormal analysis results

• can interpret analysis results in connection with other relevant examinations in relation to certain blood diseases and coagulation disorders

Competence

The student

• Knows the BLS's role in diagnostics and follow-up of haematological diseases and coagulation disorders

• can make reasoned choices about methods and follow-up of abnormal analysis results and can communicate analysis results correctly to the requester

Learning methods and activities

Expected total work load: 200 hours. Lectures: 24 hours. Laboratory course: 40 hours (6 laboratory exercises and a Team-based learning (TBL) task. Self study: 136 hours.

Compulsory assignments

• Laboratory course

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Ordinary study progression as BLS

Required previous knowledge

The course is reserved for students enrolled in Bachelor of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, NTNU, Trondheim. The exam in HBIOT1010 Medical Laboratory Technology, Introduction to Medical Laboratory Sciences must be passed in order to begin this course.

Course materials

Oxford University Press, Fundamentals of Biomedical Science: Haematology, Gary Moore, Gavin Knigt and Andrew Blann.

Credit reductions