Course Title: Perform haematological tests

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2021

Course Code: BIOL5248C

Course Title: Perform haematological tests

School: 174T School of VE Engineering, Health & Science

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5388 - Diploma of Laboratory Technology

Course Contact: Rauha Quazi

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4277

Course Contact Email: rauha.quazi@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Course Coordinator (teacher)
Andrea McAdam
andrea.mcadam@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 130

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

MSL973019  Perform microscopic examination

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to determine levels, function, activity and interactions of cellular and plasma components of blood using tests and procedures identified with the discipline of laboratory haematology.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	MSL975036 Perform haematological tests
Element:	1. Process samples and associated request details
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Identify specimens and request forms that do not comply with minimum industry requirements for labelling, identification, and test requests 1.2 Record any discrepancies or sample quality issues and indicate what action is required 1.3 Log samples, applying required document tracking mechanisms
Element:	2. Perform tests
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Conduct individual tests according to documented standard operating procedures, applying required quality control 2.2 Prepare blood films 2.3 Use appropriate manual haematological techniques 2.4 Identify normal and abnormal morphological characteristics of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets 2.5 Classify and count cell populations 2.6 Calculate red cell indices and white blood cells absolute counts 2.7 Interpret automated analyser results and correlate with blood film morphology 2.8 Record results in accordance with workplace procedures using correct terminology
Element:	3. Maintain laboratory records
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Record entries on report forms or into computer systems, accurately calculating, recording, or transcribing required data 3.2 Ensure samples and associated paperwork maintain traceability throughout testing

Learning Outcomes

Details of Learning Activities

Learning sessions each week include:

• background theory and case studies
• interactive online and live laboratory classes to perform tests & processes used in industry
• simulated decision-making applied by medical scientists
• morphology case studies using microscope examination of blood films (slides)

In practical classes, students use a range of industry-standard laboratory techniques, analysers and equipment, interpret pathology results, work with macroscopic and microscopic specimens, keep records of results, and write reports to industry standards.

Teaching Schedule

WEEK	THEORY	PRAC	ASSESSMENT
1	Introduction to Haematology	Blood components, sample collection, specimen types
2	RED CELLS 1 Coulter principle, red cells & Hb	LAB PRAC 1 Sample integrity Blood components Prepare and observe blood films	AT1 through semester
3	RED CELLS 1 Red cell parameters & FBC	AT1
4	RED CELLS 2 Anaemia	Interpret FBC analyser results Apply terminology for red cell populations	AT1
5	RED CELLS 3 Inherited red cell defects	Examples of haemoglobinopathy (thalassaemia, sickle cell disease) structural disorders	AT1
6	RED CELLS 4 Haemolysis	LAB PRAC 2 ESR Blood films – correlate FBC with red cell morphology Malaria case study, identify red cell inclusions	AT1
7	RED CELLS 5 Red cell inclusions – malaria, HJB, retics	AT1
8	AT2 Applied Knowledge – Interpreting Laboratory Results	AT2 Knowledge
	MID SEMESTER BREAK
9	WHITE CELLS 1 White cell function	LAB PRAC 3 Count cells with haemocytometer Perform manual differential, calculate absolute values Blood films – infectious mononucleosis, sepsis
10	WHITE CELLS 2 Response to Infection
11	WHITE CELLS 3 Leukaemia, diagnostic tests	LAB PRAC 4 Blood films – blast cells, acute & chronic leukaemia, other myeloproliferative & myelodysplastic disorders Troubleshooting odd results (agglutination, nrbc etc)	AT3 Prepare resource
12	HAEMOSTASIS 1 Platelets
13	HAEMOSTASIS 2 Clotting tests | anticoagulant therapy	LAB PRAC 5 D-Dimer test, platelet estimates Blood films – disseminated intravascular coagulation INR Clinic
14	HAEMOSTASIS 3 Coagulopathies & Haemophilia
15		AT5Morphology Skills – blood film identification	AT5 Practical skills
16	AT4Applied Knowledge – Case Studies	AT4 Knowledge

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

Assessment may include

observation of laboratory skills

knowledge tests

reports

case studies

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Practical 
AT1: Log book evidence – perform and record laboratory tests
Due: weekly – final submission Week 15

Assessment Task 2: Knowledge
AT2: Applied Knowledge – interpreting results 
Due: Week 8

Assessment Task 3: Produce a Resource
AT3: Produce a haematology resource 
Due: Week 11

Assessment Task 4: Knowledge
AT2b: Applied Knowledge – case studies & laboratory scenarios 
Due: Week 16

Assessment Task 5: Practical 
AT5: Morphology Diagnostic Skills – identifying blood films
Due: Week 15

Assessment Matrix

Other Information

This course is an ungraded competency-based unit of study.
The outcome is either Competent or Not Yet Competent. 
Individual assessment tasks are deemed Satisfactory | Not Satisfactory | Not Observed

SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

You are expected to prepare all assignments and other written work in a professional manner. More information on general academic study and writing skills can be found on the “Learning Lab” http://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/. 

All Assessment tasks should be performed or submitted by their due dates.

You must keep a copy of all submitted assessments including electronic copies. It is expected that any work presented for assessment in this course will be your own. RMIT University has a strict policy on academic integrity and plagiarism. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentation. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. It also occurs through enabling plagiarism, which is the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work. Please make sure you consider this carefully in completing all your work and assessments in this course and if you are unsure about whether you might have plagiarised, seek help from your teacher. More information on this policy can be found at  www.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity.

You may be asked to submit your assessment work via Turnitin to check for the originality of items. The similarity percentage for any assessment submitted via Turnitin should not exceed 30%. If you exceed the limit, you may be asked to resubmit the assessment with up to one week’s extension. 

 This course assessments conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which are described and referenced at www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment

 EXTENSIONS OF TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSESSABLE WORK

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment on time by circumstances outside your control you may apply for an extension of up to seven (7) calendar days by filling in the application form at least one working day BEFORE the due date. The application form should be emailed to your Program Coordinator, Kirsten Balding kirsten.balding@rmit.edu.au Eligibility criteria for application and the form is available from the link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration.

 SPECIAL CONSIDERATION

If due to illness or other unforeseen circumstance, you are unable to attend on the due date of an assessment (e.g. test, examination, oral, etc.), you may submit an APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION within 5 working days of the due date. If Special Consideration is granted, you will be given the opportunity to complete/repeat the assessment task at a later date. For advice on this application please visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration or speak to your Program Coordinator.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview