07732 - Clinical Pathology

Learning outcomes

The students, at the end of the course, are able to aquire the main notions for interpreting the results of the main laboratory diagnostic tests.

Course contents

Teaching Program in Clinical Pathology – First-Year

Introduction to Clinical Pathology

1. Definition of Clinical Pathology

2. The role of the Clinical Laboratory in the diagnostic process

3. Quality Control System

Analytical Cycle and its Variability in Clinical Pathology

1. Pre-analytical phase: assessing the relevance and

appropriateness of the test request, patient education and

preparation, material needed for blood sampling,

sample collection (transport and storage), pre-analytical errors

2. Analytical phase: concepts of accuracy, precision, sensitivity,

specificity, systematic and random errors, internal and external

quality control

3. Post-analytical phase: validation of results, reference values,

and post-analytical errors

4. Intra- and inter-individual biological variability

Laboratory Hematology

1. Blood and its components

2. Blood count test: erythrocyte, leukocyte, and platelet

parameters

3. Anemias: definition, pathophysiological and morphological

classification, first and second-level laboratory tests

4. Iron deficiency anemia: causes, symptoms and diagnosis

5. Pathogenesis of thalassemia

Immunohematology Laboratory: blood groups and Rh factor

1. Blood groups: ABO System and Rh System

2. Other blood group systems

3. Principles of Genetics

4. Direct and indirect Coombs test: principles, methods and

results interpretation

5. Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)

Hemostasis and Laboratory Test

1. The hemostatic process

2. Coagulation, fibrinolysis, control mechanisms

3. Laboratory test for coagulation

4. Classification of Hemorrhagic Diseases

Kidney and hydro-electrolyte balance 

1. Compartments and the balance of body fluids

2. Functions and diffusion of body water

3. Main functions of electrolytes

4. Hydro-electrolyte balance disorders

Readings/Bibliography

Medicina di Laboratorio. Logica & Patologia Clinica Italo Antonozzi Elio Gulletta Piccin 2019

Elementi di Biochimica Clinica e Medicina di Laboratorio. M Ciaccio. EDISES. 2020.

Medicina di laboratorio. M Laposata. Piccin 2021.

Lezioni di Medicina di Laboratorio [http://amsacta.unibo.it/] di G. Pasquinelli e L. Barbieri, 1 ed, 2014, ISBN 9788897617082

Teaching methods

The course consists of 1 CFU (frontal teaching).

Assessment methods

The evaluation of the knowledge acquired by the students is based on an single written exam for the Integrated Course of Pathological Sciences consisting of 60 questions with multiple choice (30 questions regarding the teaching of Pathology and Immunology, 10 questions for Clinical Pathology, 10 questions for Clinical Biochemistry and 10 questions for General Pharmacology). The total time allowed for the examination is 50 minutes.

Teaching tools

Teaching material showed in class will be available on su virtuale.unibo.it

 

Office hours

See the website of Maria Garrubba