Clinical BiochemistryLaajuus (12 ECTS)

Objective

Students describe the pre-analytical requirements and clinical significance of the most common clinical biochemistry tests, therapeutic drug assays and toxicology screens and apply these when performing clinical biochemistry tests. They explain the principles of the methods that they use. Students carry out and assess the most common clinical biochemistry tests, some therapeutic drug assays and toxicology screens. They explain the operating principles of clinical chemistry analysers and operate and service this equipment. Students assess the reliability of laboratory results and testing processes and apply quality control methods to their own work.

Content

Key clinical biochemistry and pharmacology tests, including special requirements for taking and handling samples, analysis and methodological principles (photometry, potentiometry, amperometry, electrophoresis, chromatography, immunological methods and mass spectrometry), assessment of the reliability of results, clinical significance of results and sources of error for assays. Key tests cover proteins, enzymes, hydrocarbons, lipids, electrolytes, acid-base balance, bile pigments, nitrogenous waste products, as well as therapeutic drug assays, toxicology screens, quality control in clinical biochemistry tests, working with automation and point of care (POC) analysis in clinical biochemistry. Methods validation and development of laboratory work in clinical biochemistry

Qualifications

Prerequisites: General and Inorganic Chemistry; Laboratory Techniques, Supplies and Working Methods; Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology; Pre-analytics and Customer Service

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Students describe the pre-analytical requirements and clinical significance of the most common clinical biochemistry tests, therapeutic drug assays and toxicology screens and apply these when performing clinical biochemistry tests. They explain the principles of the methods that they use. Students carry out and assess the most common clinical biochemistry tests, some therapeutic drug assays and toxicology screens. They explain the operating principles of clinical chemistry analysers and operate and service this equipment. Students assess the reliability of laboratory results and testing processes and apply quality control methods to their own work.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Students are able to determine the pre-analytical requirements and clinical significance of the most common clinical biochemistry tests, therapeutic drug assays and toxicology screens and apply these to a good standard when performing clinical biochemistry tests. They explain the principles of the methods that they use, providing good justifications.
Students carry out the most common clinical biochemistry tests, some therapeutic drug assays and toxicology screens in a reliable manner and assess them well.
They explain the operating principles of clinical biochemistry analysers and operate and service this equipment to a good standard.
Students assess the reliability of laboratory results and testing processes to a good standard and apply quality control methods to their own work.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Students are able to determine the pre-analytical requirements and clinical significance of the most common clinical biochemistry tests, therapeutic drug assays and toxicology screens in considerable detail and apply these to an excellent standard when performing clinical biochemistry tests. They explain the principles of the methods that they use, providing excellent justifications.
Students carry out the most common clinical biochemistry tests, some therapeutic drug assays and toxicology screens in a very reliable manner and assess them thoroughly.
They explain the operating principles of clinical biochemistry analysers in considerable detail and operate and service this equipment to an excellent standard.
Students assess the reliability of laboratory results and testing processes to an excellent standard and develop their work by means of quality control methods.