Learning objectives
The objective of the course of Analytical CHEMISTRY (MODULE 1) is to provide students, through theoretical lectures and exercises in the classroom, knowledge relating to principles of chemical equilibrium, calculation of pH of acid, base and saline solutions and principles and applications of the main techniques of volumetric analysis and instrumental analysis (chromatography and spectrophotometric techniques).
The course of Biochemical-Clinical Analysis (MODULE 2) aims to provide the informations and the scientific underground to approach correctly the main topics in Clinical Biochemistry by students of pharmaceutical sciences.
This knowledge is needed especially by a professional like the chemist which is at the connection between patients and medical structures also to orientate between many specific diagnostic devices and tools for specimen's collection, treatment and managing commonly available in the chemist shop.
Prerequisites
The candidate must have knowledge of General Chemistry exam.
There are no obligatory prerequisites, but Clinical Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary science and needs the basic knowledge in Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Course unit content
For the first Module (5 CFU) of Analytical Chemistry (MODULE 1) the following contents are foreseen: A first part of the course concerns the presentation of the role of analytical chemistry, underlining the importance that its application finds in various sectors and in particular in the pharmaceutical sector. This section will deal with topics such as sampling, treatment techniques of a sample and the theory of errors related to obtaining a reliable analytical data.
In a second part will be shown the application of some basic concepts of general chemistry that the student already knows, by reviewing fundamental references to topics such as chemical balance, pH, buffer solutions, salt hydrolysis, titrations, solubility and electrochemistry. This in order to provide the basis for the understanding of analytical methods based on these principles, such as volumetric and gravimetric analysis.
The third part is dedicated to analytical instrumental chemistry for qualitative and quantitative determination. The main topics that will be explored are the spectrophotometric methods and the chromatography.
The main instruments and potentials of modern analytical techniques will be described, focusing attention on applications in the pharmaceutical field.
For the second module Biochemical Clinical analysis (MODULE 2):
The first part of the course concerns the study of biological samples to know their characteristics and possible alterations in relation to the preparation of the subject to the sampling as well as to the collection, treatment and preservation of the sample (pre-analytical variability).
Subsequently, the basic principles of the methods and related instruments used in the dosage techniques most frequently used in clinical biochemistry will be recalled: analytical and post-analytical variables that can influence the data, principles and procedures of quality control with particular reference to outside the centralized laboratory (POCT: Point Of Care Testing). Evolution of POCT technology - Preparations for diagnostic tests.
In the third part of the course we will consider the different situations in which it is possible to apply the POCT technology, with particular reference to the skills that are required to professionals working in the pharmacy (Legislative Decree 153/2009): hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, diabetic disease and complications ; (auto) glucose monitoring; dyslipidemias, diagnostic products in the monitoring of triglycerides, cholesterol and lipoproteins in the blood; self-monitoring and cardiovascular risk. Urine analysis.
Furthermore, the bases will be provided to understand and treat the most common function and organ lesion markers: cytolysis indexes; clinical enzymology; cardiac function parameters; parameters of hepatic and renal function; tumor markers; therapeutic monitoring of drugs and drugs of abuse.
Full programme
The Analytical Chemistry module (MODULE 1) has the following program:
The role of Analytical Chemistry. Concept of analytical procedure and qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Stages of a typical quantitative analysis. Sampling. Sample treatment. Extraction.
Uncertainty associated with a measure: types of error; sensitivity, accuracy and precision. Expression of the analytical data.
Gaussian distribution. Standard deviation. Significance test. Quality of the analytical data.
Basic general concepts
Unit of measurement of solution concentration. Preparation of weighing and dilution solutions. Calculation exercises.
Ionic product of water. Chemical equilibrium.
Acids and bases. Calculation of the pH and concentration of the species present at the equilibrium of solutions of acids and strong bases. Calculation of the pH and of the concentration of the species present at the equilibrium of weak acid and base solutions. Polyprotic acids. Ionisation according to pH.
Salt hydrolysis. Calculation of the pH of saline solutions.
Buffer solutions. Calculation of the pH of buffer solutions. Buffering capacity.
Precipitation balances. Solubility product. Types of precipitates. Ion to common. Effect of pH on solubility.
Standard potential, eq by Nernst. Stack, pH meter
Volumetric Analysis
General principles. Determination of the title of a solution. Definition of primary standard.
Acid-base titrations. Titration curves of strong acids with strong bases and vice versa. Titration curve of weak acids with strong bases and vice versa. Indicators for acid-base titrations.
Complexometric titrations. EDTA.
Oxidation-reduction titrations.
Precipitation titrations (Mohr method and Volhard method).
Instrumental Analytical
Spectroscopic methods of analysis
Electromagnetic waves. Property. Absorption and emission. Origin of spectra, relationship between electronic structure and absorption bands. Spectral fields of analytical interest and types of energy transitions.
UV-visible spectrophotometry. Lambert-Beer Law. Limitations. Instrumentation. Quantitative analysis.
Molecular fluorescence. Characteristics of fluorescent substances. Derivatizing. Instrumentation.
Molecular spectrophotometry in Infrared absorption. Origin of the spectra. Bands characteristics. Instrumentation.
Chromatographic analysis methods
Introduction to chromatographic methods. Principles. General description of the chromatographic techniques. Liquid chromatography. Qualitative and quantitative analysis. Mechanisms of separation. Adsorption and breakdown chromatography. Direct and inverse phase, ion exchange, molecular exclusion.
Chromatographic parameters. Van Deemter's equation.
Instrumentation for HPLC. Injector, columns, pumps. Refractive index detector; UV-DAD; fluorescent. Isocratic and gradient elution.
Gas chromatography. Principles. Instrumentation: injectors, columns, detectors.
Construction of a calibration line. Method to external and internal standards. Linearity. Detection limit, quantification limit.
The Biochemical-Clinical Analysis module (MODULE 2) provides the following program:
Part 1. The clinical chemistry laboratory: general. Analyzes in the clinical chemistry laboratory. The biological sample: subject preparation, collection, treatment and conservation (pre-analytical variability).
Part 2. Analysis of biological samples, separation and measurement techniques. Main biochemical methodologies and evaluation principles of molecules of chemical-clinical interest. Analytical and post-analytical variables that can influence the data. Quality control. Prepared for diagnostic tests.
Part 3. Chemical-clinical analyzes outside the centralized laboratory. (POCT: Point Of Care Testing). Criteria for decentralization.
Bibliography
- Harris, Chimica Analitica Quantitativa, Ed. Zanichelli
- Skoog, West, Holler, Crouch, Fondamenti di Chimica Analitica. EdiSES.
- Hage, Carr, Chimica Analitica e Analisi Quantitativa. Ed. Piccin
PowerPoint files used for lessons
- Kellerman G. Valori anormali di laboratorio. Mc Graw Hill
- Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. Elsevier Saunders, St.Louis (Missouri)-USA.
Teaching methods
For the first part of the program (MODULE 1) the explanations will be based on lectures with the help of the blackboard for the realization of examples and explanatory graphs. For the instrumental part during the lessons the teacher will make use of the aid of projection of schemes and photographs that will help the description of the instrumentation. Exercises: Simple exercises will be proposed in order to reproduce some common procedures that can occur in a laboratory for the preparation of solutions, etc. Other exercises will be dedicated to show the use of common software dedicated to the processing of analytical data, for example for the construction of calibration lines, graphs, or for the calculation of results by using some statistical notions. The Clinical Biochemical Analysis module (MODULE 2) mainly uses lectures, but structured so that to any necessary illustration of the basic themes of Clinical Biochemistry follow simulations of situations that may arise during the professional activity, depending on the different types of activity (rural, urban, hospital, laboratory of analysis). Compatibly with the time available, the student will try to familiarize himself with the databases available for an autonomous update on the themes of Laboratory Medicine and, possibly, bringing small groups to visit facilities in which a Biochemical Clinical analysis laboratory is operating.
Assessment methods and criteria
The examination of the Analytical Chemistry (module 1) includes a three-hour written test. The questions will cover the theoretical principles but also the processing of data by exercises, and the construction of graphs.
For the purposes of evaluation, the teacher's attention will be focused on the training aspect rather than on the descriptive and informative one, in order to verify if the student, in addition to acquiring knowledge, has acquired awareness of the usefulness of them for the solution of common problems that can be encountered in practical laboratory work.
For the overall opinion, reference can be made to the following items: Knowledge and understanding of the subject: 80%
- Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: 15%
- Communication skills: 5%
The written exam will be passed if both the exercises and the theory questions are sufficient. They result sufficient when more than the half of the questions are correct.
For the Clinical Biochemical Analysis module (MODULE 2) a final oral exam is planned, focusing on the topics of the program. The student must demonstrate that he / she has understood and is able to use the fundamental concepts of each topic, answering questions aimed at verifying the technical skills (criteria that allow to obtain a reliable laboratory data), the knowledge on the levels of investigation and management of practical situations. In each of these situations the degree of mastery of the argument will be verified and on this criterion the score will be attributed, useful for the final vote.
Other information
The material used for the preparation of teaching activities (slides, texts other than the reference ones, different sources accessible on the net, etc.) is explained during the lessons and is available at the request of the student.
