Introduction to Medical Laboratory Technology
ALHE1103
Online Orientation

Welcome

To begin this course, click on the syllabus. For a copy of the syllabus simply select print from the menu options. You will find the course schedule here and you will need to refer to it. Next familiarize yourself with the Course Content section, Forum and Email icons by clicking on each. We will use the Email and forum as a means of communication. It is important that you check these areas of the course frequently for important messages

Phone:    229-430-6846
Instructor: Nancy Beamon
E-mail: beamonn@darton.edu
Fax:         (229) 430-6910
Office:     Darton College, J256

Accessing Material

Thoroughly read the online syllabus and the Presentation Schedule.
On the first day of scheduled classes log on to WebCT using the Logon Instructions. (See the Academic Term Calendar for the date classes begin) Please contact WebHelp, if you are unable to log on to the course.
On the Course homepage, explore each icon and become familiar with its contents. The syllabus is found under Syllabus, class reading assignments and test dates are found under Student Assignments, grades can be viewed under My Grades, and course material for each chapter can be found under the Course Content icon. Discussions can be accessed or posted under the Discussion Forum icon, and e-mail can be sent and viewed under the E-mail icon.
Please also note that the instructor will post messages on the first page in red letters. This will be updated periodically. The Discussion Forum will also be used to post messages. It is recommended that you regularly check out the website to keep updated.

Student Assignments

Students are to tour a clinical laboratory. The lab selected for this project may be one in which you currently are employed or you may contact a hospital, reference lab or physician group lab and request a tour. The suggestions below will assist you on your tour in gathering information for your final report . For weeks 11-15 indicated students will be responsible for posting a report on one laboratory department on the student forum. All other students must post a response to the posting commenting on the labs they visited noting similarities or differences.

Students should prepare the report in a word document and attach it to the posting on the forum. The report should be at least 3-5 printed pages and may contain topics discussed in the text or during the course presentation.

Posted responses to departmental reports should be at least one printed page in length. The response should give detailed information found on the student's lab tour.

Each posting should identify the described laboratory by name, location and give some indication as to size.

Course Exams Dates, times, and locations for course exams are given in the Presentation Schedule. Distance Learning students residing outside the Albany, GA area must contact the instructor to negotiate suitable alternative testing arrangements.

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Course Data Sheet Allied Health Division

Course Number: ALHE1103

Title: Orientation to MLT

Credit Hours: 1 hr.

Contact Hours: 1hr.

Fees: No additional fees required

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to basic clinical laboratory science and web-based instruction. Students learn about the organizational structure of a clinical laboratory, regulation of quality and reliability of testing, personnel qualifications, safety, medical–legal issues, specimen collection and processing, principles of instrumentation and laboratory mathematics.

Prerequisites: None

Corequisites: None

Class Meetings: On-line

Frequency: Fall semester or on demand

Supplemental Reading: As assigned

Method of Instruction: Web CT

Method of Evaluation: Participation, quizzes and exams

Course Goals: Provide an overview of a clinical laboratory science.

Presentation: On-line

Objectives

Introduction to Clinical laboratory Science

Understand the organization and function of the clinical laboratory.
List the major departments of a clinical laboratory.
Match laboratory departments with procedures performed.
Recall the qualifications and functions of medical lab personnel.
Recall regulatory agencies for the clinical laboratory.
Identify external and internal regulation procedures/requirements for the clinical laboratory.
Define CLIA waived test procedures.
Define: Point-of-Care Testing.
List locations of non-hospital medical laboratories.
Describe requirements of:
- Informed Consent
- Confidentiality
- Chain-of Custody

Safety

Recall the general safety regulations governing the clinical laboratory.
Identify laboratory hazards.
List three classifications of laboratory hazards
Recognize appropriate laboratory clothing.
List methods of decontamination.
Match laboratory waste with acceptable methods of disposal.
Recall the pre & post exposure prophylactic measures for handling potentially infectious pathogens (ex. HBV & HIV).

Collecting & Processing Laboratory Specimens

List essential components of the Patient Bill of Rights.
Define the term “Standard Precautions”
Describe specimen labeling requirements.
Sequence steps in performance of a venipuncture.
Sequence steps in performance of a skin puncture
Identify appropriate locations for performance of a venipuncture and skin puncture.
Match various anticoagulants & additives to their corresponding color-coded collection tube.
List specimens of choice for a routine urinalysis.
Match various specimens with the appropriate collection method.
List specimen shipping requirements.

Systems of Measurement & General Lab Equipment

Define: Metric System of Measurement
International System of measurement
Identify appropriate units of measurement for distance, volume and weight using metric units.
Perform temperature conversions ( Co-Fo).
Perform unit conversion within the metric system.
Identify various types of laboratory glass ware.
Match various types of laboratory glassware with its appropriate use.
List techniques used to clean laboratory glassware.
List types of reagent water.
Match types of reagent water with its appropriate use.
Identify methods of water purification.
List required information for labeling of reagent containers.
List required contents of a MSDS.
List types of devices used to measure weight of samples.
Identify the proper technique for pipetting liquids.
Match types of balances to appropriate uses.
List the types of laboratory centrifuges.
Recall proper care of laboratory centrifuges.
Match laboratory centrifuge types with their general purpose.

Use of the Microscope

Identify the parts of a light microscope.
Match the parts of the microscope with its use.
Recall the proper care, transport and storage of the microscope.
Define “parfocal”.
Recall the laboratory use of a phase-contrast microscope
Recognize appropriate methods of microscope cleaning.
Differentiate between various types of microscopes on the basis of best use.
Calculate the overall magnification given the ocular and objective magnification.

Photometry

Use a standard curve to obtain the concentration of an unknown.
Define Beer’s Law
Prepare a standard curve given absorbance and concentrations of various standards.
List essential components (parts) of a light spectrophotometer.
Match various types of instrumentation to its most general use.
Identify wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum.
List three uses for reflectance spectrophotometric technology.

Laboratory Mathematics

Determine steps in preparation of percent solutions.
Use rounding rules appropriately in reporting results.
Apply the rules for reporting significant figures.
Calculate dilutions of samples prepared by simple dilution and serial dilution.
Match various terms with their definition.
Determine the procedure to prepare a solution of known concentration.

Quality Assurance in the Clinical Laboratory

Define “Quality Assurance”
Differentiate QA procedures from QC procedures.
List QA procedures.
Define “accuracy” and “ precision”.
Define Standard Deviation and Coefficient of Variation.
Calculate SD from given test results.
Calculate CV from given test information
Define “Sensitivity” and Specificity”.
Identify sources of variance or error.
Define “Normal Range”.
Identify confidence intervals for 1SD, 2SD & 3SDs.
Define “ standard solution”.
Calculate the mean, median and mode given test results.
Match the following terms with the best definition:
Standard Solution
Blank Solution
Control Specimen

Automation in the Clinical Laboratory

Compare various types of laboratory Instrumentation
Recognize advantages and disadvantages of laboratory automation
List various functions performed by automated analyzers.
Match types of automated analyzers with their principle of operation.
Define:
- Discrete selective analyzer
- Continuous-flow analyzer
- Proportioning
- Dry-Film Technology
- Random Access analyzer
List the components of the CLIA ’88 regulations regarding the use of controls in automated laboratory testing.

Introduction to Laboratory Computers

List the components of a laboratory information system.
List the functions and uses of a laboratory computer.
Identify the components of a laboratory computer.
Match terms with definitions of the following:
- Hardware
- Software
- Interface
- Database
- Program
- Difference Check
Identify two common output devices.
Identify the following abbreviations:
- CPU
- RAM
- LIS
- HIS
Identify three pre-analytical functions of the laboratory computer.
Recognize three post-analytical functions of the laboratory computer.

Computer Requirements

Since you'll be relying on the Internet to take this course, you will also need to get your computer ready for online learning. To make sure your computer meets the requirements for online learning visit the minimum system requirements page. The Browser Tune-up web page explains how to adjust your Internet browser settings for online courses. You must configure your browser setting properly to access course content.

If you need assistance with downloading or have other technology related questions, you can submit a tech support request online at: http://online.darton.edu/forms/webhelp.htm or contact the WebHelp Desk by phone at 430-6923 (local), or 1-800-861-8318 for students outside the Albany, GA calling area.

Getting Help

Technology: If you need assistance with downloading or have other technology related questions, you can you can submit a tech support request online at: http://online.darton.edu/forms/webhelp.htm or contact the WebHelp Desk by phone at 430-6923 (local), or 1-800-861-8318 for students outside the Albany, GA calling area. Please contact WebHelp with all technology related questions and concerns

Current Students

Course Exams Dates, times, and locations for course exams are given in the Presentation Schedule. Distance Learning students residing outside the Albany, GA area must contact the instructor to negotiate suitable alternative testing arrangements.

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