BI2BCB5-Clinical Biomedicine

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites: BI1BEC1 Building Blocks of Life and BI1BH12 Human Physiology or BI1BAD2 Pathology and Histology
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Prof David Leake
Email: d.s.leake@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The Clinical Biomedicine module describes what happens to your blood or tissue sample when it is taken to the Pathology laboratories in a hospital. The role of haematology laboratories in investigating the various types of blood cells, leukaemias, lymphomas, myelomas, blood groups and haemostasis is described.Ìý The techniques used in cellular pathology laboratories are covered, including histopathology, immunochemistry, cytology, cervical screening and auto-immunity. The types of assays used in clinical biochemistry laboratories are described and their roles in diagnosing liver, renal, endocrine and heart disease and inborn errors of metabolism. The use of tumour markers in cancer patients is discussed, as is the detection and measurement of drugs, both therapeutic and illegal, and poisons. You will carry out a practical in which you diagnose someone’s disease by determining their haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, blood type and full blood count. There is also a practical on the different types of blood coagulation assays and one in which you stain a cervical biopsy and carry out a Papanicolaou stain of cells. There is a talk from a hospital scientist on careers in hospital laboratories.

Aims:

In this module students will develop a detailed understanding of three critically important areas of biomedical sciences and clinical investigation – haematology, cellular pathology and clinical biochemistry. Specifically, this will involve the development of an understanding of: (1) normal and abnormal cells and molecules in blood cells and a range of other tissues; (2) the techniques used within the haematology, cellular pathology and clinical biochemistry laboratories to investigate and diagnose disease; (3) the treatment and assessment of treatment of disease; (4) the roles of these laboratories within a hospital setting. The importance of strict quality control is stressed. The use of large automated machines using dry reagent chemistry and the use of point of care testing in clinical biochemistry are described. There is also a talk on careers in hospital laboratories. Some lectures will build on more basic introductions in Part 1, although many new areas of interest will be introduced for the first time. Practical sessions and seminars will enable the application of the theoretical information gained in the lectures and also provide experience of investigative biomedical science, the techniques used and safety and ethical issues within the working clinical laboratory environment. This module will be taught by biomedical scientists and clinicians at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and academic members of the School of Biological Sciences.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module students should be able to: 1. Describe the basic organisation of the blood system and other tissues and the molecular and physiological basis of haematological diseases and diseases of other tissues that may be diagnosed through histology techniques 2. Explain how haematological and histopathological principles are applied to the diagnosis of specific disease and understand the technical basis of diagnostic techniques of fundamental importance in the haematology and cellular pathology laboratories 3. Describe the theoretical and practical applications of biochemical principles to medicine in hospital laboratories 5. Explain how clinical biochemistry laboratories investigate and assist in the diagnosis, screening and treatment of a range of diseases 6. Describe the role of the hospital in monitoring therapeutic drugs and screening for drugs of abuse 7. Describe the organisation and processes within these laboratories, the importance of Good Laboratory Pract ice (GLP), internal and external quality control, safety procedures, ethical considerations and patient confidentiality.

Additional outcomes:
Students will gain some experience of the work of professional biomedical scientists within hospital laboratories through meeting with and teaching by biomedical scientists and clinicians.

Outline content:

The