French PA

CENTRAL UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE & ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS STUDIES COURSE OUTLINE
Course code: PHAS 105.

Course title: Basic (Chemical) Laboratory Techniques and Skills.
No. of credit hours: 3.
Hours per week: 6.
Semester/year: 1st semester, 2019/20.
Lecturers: Dr. G.N. Doku.
Office locations: Miotso, Block E room 419.
Mobile nos./Email: 024-9602302 / 050-5319131 / [email protected]
Office hours: Wed. Thur. Fri
(8.00 am to 4.00 pm.)
Course aim/content description

The course is a prelude to clinical laboratory practice. It aims at equipping students with both
theoretical and basic practical skills employed in standard chemical/clinical laboratory
procedures. Students will have the opportunity to develop competence in the use of balances,
pipettes, burettes, as well as filtering, making up standard solutions and methods of sample
preparation. Essential OPD tests; nature of laboratory investigations; Quality control;
Laboratory safety; and analytical instruments will also be introduced in this course. Types of
laboratory supplies, stores & specimens and their safe handling and storage will be reviewed.
Significant figures and statistics will be discussed and used throughout the course. Both manual
and automated methods of chemical/clinical analysis will be mentioned. The course would
further distinguish between the duties/functions of the various sections of the clinical laboratory,
which include Diagnostic Haematology, Blood Banking, Clinical Biochemistry, Diagnostic
Microbiology, Pathology, among others. Students at this end should appreciate the need and
significance of clinical laboratory methods/analyses in confirming the diagnosis of illnesses.
[Note: The collection and handling of specimen and interpretation of laboratory results/reports
are essential parts of further courses to be handled by experts in the various sections. Hands-on
practical sessions in these further courses should be demonstrated in well-equipped medical
laboratories under the supervision of competent medical laboratory technologists or preceptors.]
1
Course objectives
By the end of the course, the students will
(1) Gain understanding into the fundamental chemistry, biology and physics involved in standard
laboratory techniques and skills.
(2) Recognize the existence of both manual and automated methods of analyzing
chemical/clinical samples.
(3) Develop competences in basic chemical/clinical laboratory techniques and skills.
(4) Ultimately, after going through some further courses, develop competence in interpreting
clinical laboratory results/reports.
Course content - Topic/activity and date/time

Part 1 – Basic chem. lab. practice principles
Week 1 (lecture)
1. Measurement and units of vital clinical signs and their clinical significance - Weight, BMI,
volume and density; Temperature, pressure (BP, systolic and diastolic), pulse rate, respiration
rate. [Ref. 1, page 4-10]
Week 2 (lecture, reading & discussions)

1. Reporting scientific measurements and elementary statistics in chemistry (Chemometrics) -
number of decimal places, significant figures; mean and standard deviation; errors in
measurements (gross, systematic, random); precision, accuracy, reproducibility. [Ref. 1, page
11-18]
Week 3 (lecture, reading & discussions)

1. Basic laboratory safety and 1st aid rules/procedures and CPR - hazard, risk, control measure,
hazard signs, 1st Aid signs and procedures, common accidents encountered in the laboratory,
safety rules and instructions in the laboratory. [Ref. 1, Chapter 3]
2. Preparation and use of basic medical laboratory tools/apparatus/equipment - glassware,
specimen containers, incubators, centrifuges, autoclaves, microscope, etc. Sterilization and
disinfection. [Ref. 1, Chapter 4]
Week 4 (lecture)
1. The Mole concept and preparation of solutions - the mole and its application, molar mass,
mole-mass inter-conversion, mole equivalence in reactions; solutions, modes of expressing
2
concentration, the dilution law. [Ref. 1, Chapter 5]
Week 5 (lecture)
1. Electrolytes (Body electrolytes); pH (body pH); Buffers (body buffers) - their applications in
the body; acidosis, acid reflux, alkalosis. [Ref. 1, pages 201, 195, 515-517, 522-523]
Week 6 (Basic practical 1)

1. Putting off a small fire from different sources, using different types of fire extinguishing methods,
Ref. 1, Activity 2.
2. Preliminary laboratory practicing of the correct use of micropipettes; Ref. 1, Activity 18.
3. Preparing solutions (some intravenous infusions/fluids (drips) - saline & dextrose infusions,
and measure their pHs; Ref. 1, Activity 10.
Week 7
1. Quiz 1
2. Mid-semester exams
Part 2 – Introduction to Clinical lab. diagnostics

Week 8 (Theory)
1. Introduction to clinical laboratory practice - sections of the clinical lab. and their functions.
[Note: Students are required to do a lot of reading on the following: (i) Specimen collection and
documentation, receipt, handling, transport and processing for clinical examination/analysis; (ii)
Specimen collection sites with normal flora, e.g., sputum, gastric aspiration, faeces, skin; (iii)
Conjunctive and genital specimens; (iv) Reporting/recording clinical laboratory results.
[Ref. 1: Chapters 8-10]
Week 9 (Theory and practical)

1. Clinical significance of analysis/investigations in diagnostic haematology and blood banking.
Recording/reporting and interpretation of lab. results.
2. Visit to the haematology and blood banking labs.
3. Practical: Use of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits in malarial diagnosis.
4. Practical: Blood group typing (BGT). [Ref. 1: Chapter 13, page 363-396]

1. Clinical significance of analysis/investigations in clinical biochemistry. Recording/reporting
3
and interpretation of lab. results.
2. Visit to the clinical biochemistry lab.
3. Practical: Use of rapid glucometer kits for blood glucose analysis (FBS/RBS).
4. Practical: Use of pregnancy test kit using urine (UPT). [Ref. 1: Chapter 17, pages 498-529]

1. Clinical significance of analysis/investigations in diagnostic microbiology.
2. Introduction of diagnostic microbiology techniques - culture media preparations, preparation
of slides, staining techniques, microorganisms and microscopic examination, gram-positive and
gram-negative microbes, mycobacteria, spirochetes, Giemsa, acid-fast bacilli; antimicrobial
sensitivity tests. Recording/reporting and interpretation of lab. results.
3. Visit to the microbiology lab.

1. Brief review of clinical significance of analysis/investigations in diagnostic parasitology and
helminthology, specimen collection sites with normal flora (e.g., sputum, faeces, skin). Brief
review of clinical pathology, histology & cytology. Recording/reporting and interpretation of
lab. results.

1. Investigation of diseases.
2. Imaging (X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, Tracers, ECG, etc.).
3. Laboratory quality control/assurance.
4. Quiz 2
5. Revision week
Week 14-16
End of semester exams
Reference books:
(1) G.N. Doku, ‘Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics - Techniques, Skills & Significance; Book 1
(Basic Chemical Lab. Techniques & Skills, Prelude to Clinical Lab. Practice, Diagnostic
Haematology, Blood banking & Clinical Biochemistry); CW11, Ultrascience (World) Ltd., 2017.
(2) G.N. Doku, ‘: Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics - Techniques, Skills & Significance, Book
4
2 (Diagnostic Microbiology, Serology, Clinical Pathology, Histology & Cytology); CW12,
Ultrascience (World) Ltd., 2017.
(3) Kanai L Mukherjee, ‘Medical Laboratory Technology - A Procedure Manual for Routine
Diagnostic Tests’, Vol. 1-3, Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi, 2004.
(4) G.N. Doku, ‘Chemistry for Health (Basic Clinical & Biological Chemistry)’, Tertiary
Edition, CW 10, Ultrascience (World) Ltd., Tema, Ghana, 2017.
(5) Coleman A. Gould, Stephano J.L, (2010), Biochemical Techniques; Laboratory Manual.
Univ. of California-San Diego, USA; Hayden-McNeil publishing.
(6) Pagana K.D. (2009); Laboratory Tests; 2nd Ed., USA; Mosby Inc.
(7) Cella H. and Watson (2006); Manual Laboratory Test; New Delhi, India; AITBS Publishers.
(8) Henrickson C.H., Byrd L.C. and Hunter N.W. (2007). A Laboratory Manual for General
Organic and Biochemistry; 2nd Ed., Massachusetts, USA/McGraw-Hill Co.
(9) Walters, Norma J, et al. Basic Medical Laboratory Techniques. 4th Edition Albany NY
Delmar 2000
(10) Wallace, M Ann. Clinical Laboratory Science: Education and Management. Philadelphia,
Lippincot Williams & Wilkins. 2000

French PA

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

French PA

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

French PA

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CENTRAL UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE & ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS STUDIES COURSE OUTLINE

Course code: PHAS 105.

Course aim/content description

Course content - Topic/activity and date/time

Week 2 (lecture, reading & discussions)

Week 3 (lecture, reading & discussions)

Week 6 (Basic practical 1)

Part 2 – Introduction to Clinical lab. diagnostics

Week 9 (Theory and practical)

Week 10 (Theory and practical)

Week 11 (Theory and practical)

Week 12 (Theory and practical)

Week 13 (Theory and practical)

You might also like