08956 - Clinical Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

The student, at the end of the module, thanks to the knowledge of the fundamental principles of chemistry and organic molecules of biological interest, is able to evaluate biological and biochemical parameters in biological samples and in vivo, also in relation to pathophysiological states, at different levels of structural organization, from single molecules to cells, tissues, organs, up to the whole organism.

Course contents

• Introduction to the course
• In vivo and ex vivo clinical biochemistry in the context of laboratory medicine.
• The role of laboratory medicine in the clinical setting.
• Organization of a biomedical laboratory.
• Reference values and decision levels.
• Performance of a diagnostic test: sensitivity, specificity, predictive values.
• The pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phase of laboratory investigations.
• Biological, pre-analytical and analytical variability.
• Clinical indications, contraindications, side effects and complications.
• Setting of laboratory tests: routine, urgency, emergency.
• Screening tests.
• From the patient to the laboratory: patient preparation, collection, treatment and storage of biological samples.
  

Readings/Bibliography

• Teaching materials in pdf
• Further reading: M. Ciaccio e G. Lippi, Biochimica Clinica e Medicina di Laboratorio, EDISES

Teaching methods

Lectures with powerpoint presentations

Assessment methods

Student learning will be checked at the end of the course through a written test. The overall knowledge will be assessed using a written exam structured as multiple-choice questions. The exam will be held in presence using personal computers.

The exam is composed by 33 questions. Each valid answer grants 1 point. The student needs to reach 18 points to pass the exam. The number of correct answers corresponds to the final mark, if the number is greater or equal to 31 the mark will be 30 cum laude.

Students are required to know their institutional credentials to sustain the exam.

Students with specific requirements are invited to contact professor Manuela Ferracin in advance.

Teaching tools

Power point presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Caterina Tonon