CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE

Associate Professor: McCoy (Program Director).

www.uwlax.edu/clinlabsci

Clinical laboratory scientists perform complex biological, microbiological, and chemical tests on patient samples. They also use, maintain, and troubleshoot sophisticated laboratory equipment that is used to perform diagnostic tests. The clinical laboratory scientist analyzes these test results and discusses them with the medical staff. He/she also possesses the skills required for molecular diagnostic tests based on DNA and RNA technologies. In addition, the clinical laboratory scientist will find opportunities in test development, experimental design, administration, and education.

The curriculum requires a minimum of six semesters and a summer session on campus to complete the pre-requisite and pre-clinical courses. Students spend an additional nine months of clinical education in a hospital-sponsored, accredited program during their senior year. A bachelor of science degree is awarded at the satisfactory completion of all required course work.

Admission to the clinical laboratory science major is on a competitive basis. Students apply for admission to the clinical laboratory science major early in the spring semester of the academic year just prior to the beginning of their professional studies, typically in the sophomore year. Formal acceptance into the major, effective at the beginning of the fall semester, is based on the submission of an application for admission to the major, personal recommendations, review of academic performance, and interview with the Program Admission Committee. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 overall as well as in science and mathematics courses is strongly recommended. The application process for the clinical year in the hospital-sponsored program is similar to the process required for acceptance to the clinical laboratory science major.

Acceptance into the hospital program is not guaranteed by the university. The hospital programs affiliated with UW-L are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

During the clinical component, in an accredited hospital program, students will register for 32 UW-L credits. The clinical phase routinely begins in late August with anticipated graduation the following spring. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for certification examinations offered by national certification agencies.

Hospital affiliates of UW-L

Special core requirement courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or above. Students must meet all university graduation requirements including those for General Education, grade point, university residency and total credits.

The clinical laboratory science program incorporates a significant amount of writing throughout the required courses instead of identifying particular courses as writing emphasis courses. Students who complete the clinical laboratory science major, will fulfill the university writing emphasis requirement.

Clinical Laboratory Science Major —

(Science and Allied Health)

Pre-professional requirements (55-60 credits)— Required for admission to the professional curriculum (43 credits): BIO 105*, BIO 306, 312, 313, MIC 230, CHM 103, 104, 300 MTH 145, 150.

Additional pre-professional requirements (12 credits): MIC 406, 407, CHM 325.

Professional curriculum (43 credits)—

CLI 200 Cr. 2

Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science

An introductory course designed for students who are interested in a profession in clinical laboratory science. Through lectures, laboratory sessions and experiences in a clinical laboratory, students will develop an understanding for the critical role they will play in the health care arena as a clinical laboratory practitioner. The course will introduce the students to the technical and clinical functions of the profession as well as to the professional aspects of clinical laboratory science. An introduction to the profession, basic laboratory math, medical terminology, and basic physiology and bodily functions as they are evaluated in the clinical laboratory will be the basis of the course. Lect. 1, Lab. 2. Offered Sem. II.

CLI 390 Cr. 2

Quality Systems in the Clinical Laboratory

Concepts of management of quality in a clinical laboratory. Topics include pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of laboratory testing, safety, statistical methods for monitoring quality control; regulatory requirements, diagnostic instrument function and verification, preventive maintenance, method validation, evaluation, and comparison, as well as risk management. The laboratory sessions will include phlebotomy skills and application of the principles covered in the lectures. Lect. 1, Lab. 3. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program. Offered Sem. II.

CLI 395 Cr. 2

Body Fluids

This course introduces the student to the concepts related to the formation, distribution, and function of body fluids and their chemical, physical, and cellular composition in health and disease. The laboratory focuses on performing and interpreting results of clinical laboratory procedures related to the formation of body fluids and their chemical, physical, and cellular composition in health and disease. Lect. 1, Lab. 3. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program. Offered Sem. I.

CLI 410 Cr. 3

Clinical Hematology

Introductory course in hematology which examines normal hematologic physiology, cellular development, and hemostasis in the human. Introduction to pathophysiology, with emphasis on clinical and laboratory evaluation of hematologic status. Theory and background of laboratory procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of hematologic and other diseases are included. Emphasis is on perpherial blood cell morphology, hematopoiesis, maturation, and kinetics. Pathophysiology of hematologic disorders, including anemias and hematologic malignancies are explored. Manual laboratory techniques as well as instrumentation will be included in the laboratory portion. Complete blood counts, correlation of automated and manual differentials and routine coagulation testing will also be performed. Lect. 2, Lab. 3. Prerequisite: Admission to CLS program. Offered Sem. I.

CLI 420 Cr. 3

Immunohematology

Course covers the general aspects of the Blood Group System, red cell types and group systems, antibody screening, compatibility testing, blood donor service, selection of donors, blood drawing, storage, and preservation, components, records, and regulations for blood banks. The laboratory section includes performance of blood bank procedures, donor processing, compatibility testing, component preparation, antibody screening, and antibody identification. Lect. 4, Lab. 6. Prerequisite: CLI 390 and admission to CLS program. Offered summer session.

CLI 435 Cr. 1

Research Design and Methods in Medical Laboratory Science

Applies scientific method to clinical laboratory research problems, systematic applications of hypothesis formation and decision making through research design principles. Research proposal writing and the process of institutional review board approval and informed consent will also be covered. This course is part one of the capstone experience. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program. Offered summer session.

CLI 440 Cr. 1

Clinical Parasitology

Course covers important parasites of humans including zoonoses, emerging parasitic diseases. Life cycles, clinical features, infective diagnostic stages will be included in the lecture component. The laboratory will include demonstrations and diagnostic procedures. This course will provide the necessary pre-clinical competencies required for advancement to the clinical education component of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program; MIC 230; and 407. Offered Summer Session.

CLI 450 Cr. 6

Clinical Chemistry

This course focuses on chemical analysis performed in the clinical laboratory. The correlation between the organ systems, the clinical laboratory procedures, and human disease states is presented. Discussion of areas unique to clinical chemistry laboratory related to evaluation and validity of test results is emphasized. Laboratory rotation applies the principles of clinical chemistry and their relationship to the performance of analytical procedures and management of the clinical chemistry laboratory. Six-week rotation. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program; CLI 390; and acceptance to a hospital NAACLS accredited CLS program.

CLI 455 Cr. 6

Clinical Hematology/Hemostasis

Course extends concepts and skills learned in CLI 395 and 410. Advanced theory in hematology to include abnormal and malignant processes, applications of flow cytometry and special stains, the diagnosis of classification of leukemias, troubleshooting instrumentation and interpretation of scatterplots. Hemostasis concepts, selection of appropriate tests and interpretation of results and diagnosis of coagulation disorder as well as advanced body fluid morphology will be covered. Students will gain experience processing and analyzing patient specimens with a wide variety of complex procedures as well as instrumentation.Students will also expand their identification and diagnostic skills on microscopic analysis of hematology and body fluid specimens. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program; six-week rotation; CLI 395, 410; and acceptance to a hospital NAACLS accredited CLS program.

CLI 460 Cr. 6

Clinical Immunohematology

Course extends concepts and skills acquired in CLI 420. Performance and interpretative skills in ABO and Rh typing, antibody detection and identification techniques, hemolytic disease problems, quality assurance management, solving patient’s blood compatibility problems, histocompatibility techniques and selection of appropriate blood products for various bleeding disorders will be expanded. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program; six-week rotation; CLI 420; and acceptance into a hospital NAACLS accredited CLS program.

CLI 465 Cr. 2

Clinical Immunology

Course in the application of immunologic and serologic techniques used for the specific diagnosis of immunodeficiency diseases, malignancies of the immune system, autoimmune disorders, hypersensitivity states and infection by specific microbial pathogens. Laboratory rotation applies concepts from lecture. Experience is gained in clinical immunological techniques, methods, and management of antigen-antibody reactions and identification of the relationship to disease states. The rotation also includes the fundamentals of HLA testing and Flow Cytometry techniques with interpretation of results. Two-week rotation. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program and acceptance into a hospital NAACLS accredited CLS program.

CLI 470 Cr. 8

Diagnostic Microbiology

Course provides an in depth study of the major groups of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses and their relationship to human disease. Topics include clinical signs and symptoms of these diseases, proper method of collecting, transporting, and processing appropriate clinical specimens, modes of transmission, and state-of-the-art laboratory methods used for the identification of these pathogens and diagnosis of the diseases they cause. Principles of theory will be applied in rotation. Rotation provides students with opportunities to process a variety of patient specimens and gain experience with a wide variety of state-of-the-art procedures and equipment for the isolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, and viruses. Molecular diagnostic procedures will also be employed. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program; eight-week rotation; CLI 440; and acceptance into a hospital NAACLS accredited CLS program.

CLI 480 Cr. 2

Laboratory Management and Education

A course designed to introduce the clinical laboratory science student to the principles of laboratory administration. The seminar format course will focus on human resource management, financial management, operations management and education methodologies appropriate for the supervisor and laboratory and multidisciplinary manager. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program and acceptance to a hospital NAACLS accredited CLS program.

CLI 495 Cr. 1-3

Independent Study in Clinical Laboratory Science

Individual reading or research under the guidance of a CLS instructor. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program and approval of program director and instructor. Repeatable for credit — maximum 6.

CLI 496 Cr. 1-3

Special Topics in Medical Laboratory Science

Workshop or seminar on selected topics in the practice of clinical laboratory science. Student may select seminar based upon objectives and needs. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program and approval of program director. Repeatable for credit — maximum 6.

CLI 499 Cr. 2

Advanced Clinical Studies

A capstone research project required for satisfactory completion of the clinical laboratory science program. Student will complete a research project under the supervision of a mentor for this capstone course culminating in a major paper and presentation. Area of emphasis will be in one of the speciality or subspecialty areas included in the clinical laboratory practice. Prerequisite: admission to CLS program, and senior standing. Offered Sem. II.