UWA Handbook 2023

Unit Overview

Description

The aim of this unit is to prepare graduates with the relevant specialist theory and practical knowledge of laboratory haematology required of a medical scientist in advancing patient care and research. On completion of the unit students are expected to have extensive knowledge of the pathology of haematological disorders and the methods used in specialist haematology laboratories.

The aim is achieved by increasing students' mastery of; morphological and laboratory features of haematological disorders; preparation, processing, staining and analysis of blood samples using clot detection, cell enumeration, immunohaematology and other special methods of haematology measurement; quality control and quality assurance incorporating mastery of pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical variables in haematology; the principles of advancing understanding of laboratory haematology through medical and scientific research; and laboratory safety in the haematology laboratory.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

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

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) describe the pathophysiology of and distinguish the laboratory features of reactive, inherited and malignant haematological abnormalities; (2) demonstrate competency in the morphological assessment of normal, reactive and malignant disorders of the bone marrow; (3) interpret results of complex haemostasis tests, including factor assays, thrombophilia tests and platelet function tests; and (4) discuss the principles of advancing laboratory haematology through medical and scientific research.

Assessment

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

Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Matthew Linden

Unit rules

Prerequisites

PATH5161 Laboratory Haematology (ID 5205)

Contact hours

lectures: Up to 2 hours per week
tutorials/labs/workshops: up to 6 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).

Texts

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 exposureprone 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.