UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

The aim of this unit is to provide relevant knowledge and skills to acquire and interpret haematology laboratory data to reach a diagnosis at a level expected in professional practice. On completion of the unit students are expected to understand and apply the principles of haemopoiesis, haemopoietic disorders and laboratory testing in laboratory haematology. They are expected to be able to interpret laboratory data and make diagnoses.

The aim is achieved by increasing the knowledge and understanding of; normal blood and bone marrow (structure, function, cells); haematological diseases (pathogenesis and manifestations); and diagnostic techniques (cell enumeration, morphology, haemostasis).

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) describe blood production, biochemistry, physiology and function; (2) explain reactive, inherited and malignant haematological disorders; (3) prepare laboratory samples by collecting blood, preparing cells, serum and plasma, making and staining blood films; (4) test blood samples for parameters of cell enumeration, haemostasis, immunophenotype and function; and (5) interpret laboratory parameters to inform integrated diagnostic assessment of haematological disorders.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) reports; (2) written examinations; and (3) practical examinations. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the practical examinations component.

Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Matthew Linden

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

92510 Master of Clinical Pathology (ID 383)

Contact hours

learning chunks and lectures: up to 2 hours per week
labs: 3 hours per week
tutorials: 3 hours per week

Note

This unit includes collecting and working with blood from patients and healthy volunteers. While the activities involved have undergone risk assessment and relevant institutional biosafety approvals, some activities are considered to be exposure-prone procedures (EPPs). As such, it is important that students meet the expectations for Health Care Workers in Western Australia. Under these guidelines HCWs and students are responsible for ensuring—(1) they know their own blood borne virus status; (2) their vaccination status against vaccine preventable diseases is current and they can provide evidence of HBV vaccination or documented evidence of non-responder status; (3) any refusal to undertake recommended vaccinations and/or serology is to be documented; and (4) they adopt infection prevention practices to minimise the risk of occupational exposure (e.g. use of appropriate personal protective equipment and safe handling and disposal of sharps).