01651 - Analytical Clinical Chemistry

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide the student with the basic knowledge of the most common analytical techniques employed in clinical chemistry. In addition, the student will be able to select the  most suitable analytical technique to solve a given analytical problem and to critically evaluate the analytical result.

Course contents

Specimen collection, pre-analytical variability, most common biological fluids (blood, serum, plasma, urina), sample treatment and storage, automated analytical methods, principles of high-throughput analytical systems, automation in the clinical chemistry laboratory.

Diagnostic and prognostic relevance of clinical assays, reference values, clinical sensitivity and specificity (false positives and negatives), validation of analytical methods, control quality in the clinical chemistry laboratory and its implementation.

Blood and urine analysis and related analytical techniques: hemochromocytometric analysis, electrolytes, acid-base systems, blood gases, oxygenation status, coagulation parameters, urine test strips, microscopic analysis.

Enzyme activity measurements: analytical aspects, evaluation of enzyme activity and metabolite concentrations, spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic techniques.

Immunoassays: reagents for immunoassays (antibodies, immunogens, tracers), competitive and non competitive immunoassays, quantitative analysis, enzyme immunoassays (EIA, ELISA), detection principles (spectrophotometry, fluorescence, fluorescence polarization, chemiluminescence).

Molecular biology techniques: gene analysis, DNA sequencing, mutation analysis, identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), nucleic acids hybridization reactions, labelling of gene probes, amplification techniques.

Therapeutic drug monitoring: principles, procedures and analytical techniques.

Biosensors and POCT (Point of Care Testing) in clinical chemistry.

Readings/Bibliography

Spandrio - Principi e tecniche di chimica clinica - Piccin (2000)

Teaching methods

The course consists in lessons dealing about the program topics.

Assessment methods

The learning assessment will take place through the final exam, which ensures the acquisition of knowledge and expected skills by an oral examination. The exam will assess the achievement of the following learning objectives: - knowledge of the main issues related to evaluation of the analytical result and quality control in analytical clinical chemistry; - knowledge of the main parameters and analytes measured in clinical analyses and of their physiopathological relevance; - knowledge of the analytical and bioanalytical techniques employed in analytical clinical chemistry.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations were used for the lessons. Presentations and other material will be available for the students on AMS Campus - AlmaDL – University of Bologna.

Office hours

See the website of Massimo Guardigli