Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide the student with the knowledge considered basic for the training of a professional biomedical laboratory technician.
In particular, the course aims to provide the student with:
- basic knowledge concerning the evolution of health professions in Italy and laboratory medicine in particular (regulatory and professional evolution)
- adequate knowledge on the aspects related to pre-analytical and analytical variability;
- the acquisition of the venous sampling technique (as a possible source of pre-analytical error)
- specific notions related to the main clinical chemistry techniques used in laboratories on biological samples;
- an understanding of the principles of interpretation of the results of laboratory tests;
- the appropriate criteria for the evaluation of an analytical system;
- the elements for the assessment of the diagnostic reliability of manual, semi-automatic or automatic laboratory surveys, in relation to the use of both internal and external Quality Controls;
- the role of the laboratory in the management of clinical risk and appropriateness to guarantee the continuous quality system as a prerequisite for the accreditation of the laboratories of analysis.
Prerequisites
Passing examinations of Human physiology, clinical biochemistry and clinical molecular biology -of the course.
Course unit content
The course is designed with a methodology to provide the student with Biomedical Laboratory Techniques with all those basic knowledge related to the specific professional. This course provides an initial historical and regulatory excursus regarding the development of laboratory medicine through the examination of the main Laws regulating health professions in Italy, the Code of Ethics and the specific professional profile, to delineate the function of the biomedical laboratory technician within a multiprofessional team, analyzing also the potential for professional development. The patient's preparation phase for the collection of biological materials will be analyzed, as a fundamental index of pre-analytical variability. You will gain a practical experience on venous drawing techniques. Specific issues will be addressed regarding the treatment and conservation of the various biological materials until they acquire the knowledge of the main analytical techniques used in basic laboratory diagnostics. Lastly, they will discuss issues related to the critical evaluation of the obtained results, the pre-analytical and analytical error, the quality assurance of the laboratory, to the knowledge of the indispensable requirements for accreditation.
Full programme
- Birth and evolution of health professions, including normative reference sources, professional profile and code of ethics, - definition, type and method of request for laboratory examinations.
- methods of collection, treatment and storage of biological samples,
- properties and characteristics of biological samples;
- quality control in the analytical laboratory;
- biological variability, pre-analytical and analytical error;
- venous drawing techniques,
- analytical characteristics of a laboratory test: accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, reference values, cause of error;
- basic criteria for the evaluation of an analytical system;
- basic principles and applications of the main diagnostic techniques of clinical chemistry;
- laboratory safety.
Bibliography
Widmann “Interpretazione clinica degli esami di laboratorio”, Ronald A. Sacher and Richard A. McPherson. Edizione italiana a cura di Giancarlo Gazzola, Renata Franchi, Valeria Dal l’Asta, Ovidio Bussolati, Roberto Sala.
Luigi Spandrio “Principi e tecniche di chimica clinica” Piccin Editore
Teaching methods
The teaching method used is participatory and provides lectures with the use of computer and audiovisual tools, which will be followed by moments of confrontation and active discussion.
Assessment methods and criteria
The examination of the achievement of the objectives of the course involves an oral examination. Questions about the content of the course will be verified if the student has achieved the goal of acquiring complete knowledge and has acquired the ability to reflect on what they learned and experienced in the course of the three years.
In particular, the student must demonstrate:
- be able to make links between the theoretical and the practical experience learned during the internship, using appropriate terminology.
- possess the essential knowledge for a more in-depth knowledge of the immunological methodologies and the diagnostic significance of the most important results for the profession of biomedical laboratory technician;
- possess inherent essential knowledge: pre-analytical error, analytical and biological variability, quality control, decision-making and critical values, sensitivity and specificity and appropriateness of a laboratory test;
- to understand the main parameters for the evaluation of a laboratory test;
- have acquired the basis for understanding the technical and organizational evolution of laboratory medicine.
Other information
Nothing to report.
