Course overview
The aim of this course is to provide the student with theory and practical skills so as to be able to work safely and professionally in transfusion medicine and haemostasis laboratories. Primary and secondary haemostasis; platelet adhesion and aggregation; thrombocytopaenia and platelet disorders; clotting factors and pathways; revised concept of secondary haemostasis; fibrinolysis and natural anticoagulants; inherited and acquired bleeding disorders; thrombosis and antithrombotic therapy; laboratory tests and the investigation of haemostatic disorders; automation; point of care testing; blood and blood product manufacture and use; blood group antigen systems; immunohaematology principles; pre-transfusion testing; simple and complex antibody investigations; transfusion reactions and infections; investigation and prevention of haemolytic disease of the newborn; investigation of DAT-positive patients and haemolytic anaemia; haemovigilance; total quality management in immunohaematology; medico-legal and ethical issues in transfusion services.
Course learning outcomes
- Describe blood cell antigen and antibody systems
- Describe the principles and applications of antigen-antibody interactions in immunohaematology
- Perform blood cell antigen typing and antibody detection
- Describe the clinical conditions relevant to transfusion medicine
- Apply current transfusion medicine practice appropriately
- Describe current theoretical concepts of haemostasis and perform relevant laboratory testing procedures.
- Explain hereditary and acquired disorders of haemostasis