Course Title: Perform immunohaematological tests

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2022

Course Code: BIOL5251C

Course Title: Perform immunohaematological tests

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.  

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.  

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.  

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus  

  

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.  

School: 535T Social Care and Health

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

Andrea McAdam

Course Coordinator | Teacher

andrea.mcadam@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 80

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

None

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to perform routine tests and procedures that are part of the requirements of pre- and post-blood transfusion practice. The unit also covers tests and procedures that are indicated in laboratory investigations in obstetric and perinatal medicine, in suspected haemolysis and haemolytic episodes, and in other clinical circumstances.

This unit applies to technical officers and laboratory technicians working in the biomedical industry sector. It is understood that the management of any transfusion laboratory would establish for itself, in terms of its own responsibility and purposes, the ability of any worker to work in a transfusion science laboratory, regardless of the education and training record or presumed ability of any worker.

 

Tests will be related to the determination of blood groups and the detection of antibodies of significance in:

  • transfusion (as laboratory evidence that in vivo cell destruction or immunisation may occur)
  • pregnancy and the peri-natal period (as evidence of sensitisation of foetal red cells by transplacental maternal antibody)
  • the investigation of haemolysis or haemolytic episodes

The tests that the worker will use will be validated and authorised procedures, clearly described in the laboratory's manual of procedures. The unit of competency is based on the assumption that technical personnel would perform tests and procedures under the close supervision of scientific and/or medical staff. The parameters of interpretation will be clearly described, indicating for the worker what he or she is permitted to sign-off without reference to supervisors or managers.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

MSL975030 Perform immunohaematological tests

Element:

1. Process samples and associated request forms

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 and indicate what action is required 1.3 Log samples, recording details that allow accurate tracking and chain of custody

Element:

2. Perform tests

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Conduct individual tests according to documented standard operating procedures, applying required quality control 2.2 Use appropriate manual techniques to determine patient/donor red cell phenotype and antibody status 2.3 Read and grade tube and card agglutination reactions 2.4 Record and interpret results 2.5 Validate test results and reagents using control cells and reagents 2.6 Complete documentation required to permit the issuing of blood or blood components that have been cleared for use by clinical staff

Element:

3. Maintain laboratory records

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Record entries on report forms or into a laboratory information management system accurately calculating, recording or transcribing data as required 3.2 Maintain records of blood and blood products received, used and returned to supplier 3.3 Ensure traceability of sample from receipt to reporting of results


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Students will gain hands-on experience with laboratory equipment, reagents and real blood samples (provided by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood from blood donors) in a simulated working laboratory.

Routine tests include quality assurance procedures, ABO and RhD blood grouping, screening for unexpected antibodies, Direct Antibody Test, and neonatal / maternal investigations

Features of fresh and processed blood products, and selection criteria for safe transfusion will be identified.

Experienced medical scientists will link the laboratory and theory material to industry workplace practice through demonstrating, and real-life case stories.

In-class exercises at the bench, on paper, kinaesthetic learning, online tutorials and group work will reinforce the theory.


Teaching Schedule

WEEK

DATE

LAB PRACTICAL SKILLS

ONLINE PRAC WORK

THEORY TOPICS

1

TUESDAYS
5 July

ONLINE INTRODUCTION
1 Introduction to safe transfusion
ONLINE 00 Pre-transfusion guidelines

2

12 July

Subgroup-1

LAB 01 Intro to
equipment & reagents

Subgroup-2

Subgroup-2

ONLINE 01
What's a blood group?

Subgroup-1

2 Antibodies meet antigens

3

19 July

3 Avoiding disasters;
maintaining quality 

4

26 July

Subgroup-1

LAB 02 Blood groups
Tube & tiles
Subgroup-2

Subgroup-2

ONLINE 02
Blood groups by tube

Subgroup-1

4 RH system
are you positive?

5

2 Aug

5 Laboratory testing techniques:
CAT

6

9 Aug

Subgroup-1

LAB 03 CAT
Blood groups
CAT & tube

Subgroup-2

Subgroup-2

 ONLINE 03
Selecting units

Subgroup-1

6 Transfusing blood products 

7

16 Aug

7 Antibody screening

8

23 Aug

Catch-up week 

 

8 Other blood group systems

 

29 Aug – 4 Sep MID-SEMESTER BREAK

9

6 Sep


Subgroup-1

LAB 04 Screen
Group & Screen

Subgroup-2

Subgroup-2

ONLINE 04
Antibody panels

Subgroup-1

AT2 Dry Case Studies Quiz

10

13 Sep

10 Antibody Identification 

11

20 Sep

Subgroup-1

LAB 05 Phenotype
Rh Phenotype

Subgroup-2

Subgroup-2

ONLINE 05
Phenotyping

Subgroup-1

11 Crossmatching
Phenotyping red cells

12

27 Sep

12 Transfusion reactions   

13

4 Oct

Subgroup-1

LAB 06 HDFN
Mother & baby

Subgroup-2

Subgroup-2

ONLINE 06
HDFN + DAT

Subgroup-1

13 Antenatal testing HDFN | transfusing neonates

14

11 Oct

14 Concept review & refresh

15

18 Oct

Subgroup-1

LAB 07 G&S
Practice AT6

Subgroup-2

Subgroup-2

ONLINE 07
Crossmatch

Subgroup-1

 

16

25 Oct

AT5 Final Quiz

17

1 Nov

AT6 Practical Assessment
Dates to be confirmed.
Tues 1 Nov is Cup Day Public Holiday

18

8 Nov

     


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Up-to-date links to Transfusion websites and other relevant resources are available on Canvas and within course material.


Overview of Assessment

Assessments may include

observation of laboratory skills

reports

logbook

knowledge tests


Assessment Tasks

Assessment 01

AT1 Evaluation

Pretransfusion sample validity

Week 4 | 5 in lab

Assessment 02

AT2 Knowledge quiz

Dry case studies

Week 9
15 Sep 2022

Assessment 03

AT3 Online worksheet

Blood products

Week 14
17 Oct 2022

Assessment 04

AT4 Portfolio

Audit of lab work records

Audit in Lab 07
All log books complete
31 Oct 2022

Assessment 05

AT5 Final Knowledge quiz

Applied knowledge review

Week 16
27 Oct 2022

Assessment 06

AT6 Laboratory Skills

Skills test

Week 17
Dates to be confirmed

  Rules for making assessment decisions   To pass the course and achieve competency you must complete every task to Satisfactory standard.

Resubmissions and additional quiz attempts can only be offered after discussion between the teacher and the Program Coordinator, and are not automatic.

Repeat assessment opportunities are at the discretion of the teacher and/or coordinator.


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

This course is graded in accordance with competency-based assessment

CA Competency Achieved  
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment

Submission of Assessment Tasks

Any work submitted for assessment in this course must be your own. Plagiarism is the presentation of any 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.

Attendance   If you are sick you should submit a medical certificate to the program coordinator and course coordinator/teacher.
If you miss an assessable practical class you need to provide a medical certificate (or other evidence). If you miss a practical class that is a prac report write-up you need to arrange an alternative report with your teacher.

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, Namrita Kaul, namrita.kaul@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

If you require an extension of time longer than 7 days, you must apply for Special Consideration.

Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension will not be corrected.

Special consideration

If you are unable to sit a test, exam or lab-based assessments due to unexpected circumstances (e.g., illness), you should apply for Special Consideration for the missed assessment. Information on applying for Special Consideration can be found from the link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration. Applications for Special Consideration should NOT be submitted to the course or program coordinator.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview