Medical Laboratory Technology - Medical Biochemistry, Microbiology and Pathology

The course contains medical laboratory technology and laboratory medicine, within medical biochemistry, clinical pharmacology, medical microbiology and pathology. Use of physical, chemical, enzymatic and immunological methods on human biological specimen. Light microscopy methods for assessment of body fluids, cells and tissues. Isolation, detection, identification, and antibiotic testing of microorganisms from biological specimen, and detection and identification of viruses. Pharmacological analysis in therapy control, toxicology and abuse. Methods for measurements, laboratory instruments and instrument maintenance. Quality control, quality assurance, and quality assessment.

Knowledge

The student

• has broad knowledge of methods, laboratory instruments and tasks within the medical laboratory specialties: medical biochemistry, medical microbiology and pathology
• has knowledge of correct treatment of different types of human biological samples and has broad knowledge of how analytical, pre- and post-analytical conditions affect analytical results
• has broad knowledge of how cells, tissue structures, biochemical analytes and microorganisms are analyzed and examined as part of the diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of disease.
• understands the main principles of methods used in medical laboratories and has knowledge of the possibilities, limitations and sources of error of methods and analytical instruments
• has knowledge of biological variation, clinical relevance of test results and medical probability.
• can explain the use of controls in laboratory diagnostics, and has knowledge of quality assurance of laboratory work.

Skills

The student

• can handle laboratory technical work independently and systematically, and is able to use new methods based on available literature, method descriptions, instrument manuals etc.
• can perform laboratory diagnostic work independently, use instruments and laboratory equipment, and has acquired skills in performing analyses and methods in medical biochemistry, microbiology and pathology.
• ensures the quality and can assess the reliability of laboratory results based on quality controls, methods, instruments and performance.

Competence

The student

• has insight and competence in biomedical laboratory science and understands his/her role in diagnostics.
• has developed professional independence, uses his/her knowledge and skills, and is able to deal with challenges in laboratory diagnostics.
• is able to select relevant literature and can document and disseminate biomedical laboratory science in Norwegian
• has communication skills and can work with academic issues and solutions in collaboration with fellow students and others.

Lectures. Practice studies in laboratory courses, conducted by 2-3 students in groups or individually. Written reports and oral presentations. Afternoon lessons may occur. Parts of the course is taught by problem-based learning methodology (PBL), 3-4 students work together in groups, in both theory and training practical skills. Estimated work load in the course: 60 theory lessons, 105 hours at the laboratory, 25 hours other activities, 260 hours self-study.