CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE (CLI)
College of Science and Health
Department of Microbiology
Program Director:
Diane Sewell
3011 Cowley Hall, 608.785.8255
e-mail:
sewell.dian@uwlax.edu
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.
Clinical laboratory scientists analyze these test results and
discuss them with the medical staff. They also possess the
skills required for molecular diagnostic tests based on DNA and
RNA technologies. In addition, they 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-professional 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
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 an
interview with the program admission committee. A minimum
cumulative grade point average of 2.75 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 31 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.
NAACLS accredited hospital affiliates of UW-L:
• Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis,
Minn.
• Saint Joseph’s Hospital/Marshfield
Laboratories, Marshfield, Wis.
• Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, Wis.
• Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Wausau, Wis.
• Affinity Health, Appleton, Wis.
• Fairview Health Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.
• Mayo Medical Center Laboratories, Rochester,
Minn.
UW-L is affiliated with the University of
North Dakota, an accredited program, which provides access to
many other hospital affiliates throughout the upper Midwest.
Core courses in the pre-professional
curriculum must be completed with a grade of “C” or above.
Students must meet all university graduation requirements
including those for General Education, college core, and
university degree requirements.
Note: Students in the clinical laboratory
science major are exempt from the College of Science and Health
core requirements.
Clinical Laboratory Science Major — 92-104
credits including clinical phase
(Science and Health)
Pre-professional Curriculum (39-46 credits)
All pre-clinical lab science program majors
are strongly encouraged to take CLI 120, Introduction to
Clinical Laboratory Science.
A. Biology Core (16 credits): BIO 105*, 306,
312, 313
B. Chemistry Core (15-18 credits): CHM 103,
104, 300 (or 303, 304 and 305).
C. Microbiology Core (4 credits): MIC 230
D. Mathematics Core (4-8 credits): MTH 145 and
MTH 150 or placement above MTH 150.
*BIO 103 may be substituted for BIO 105.
Pre-clinical lab science program students must
have completed substantial portion of these requirements in the
semester that they apply for formal admission to the clinical
lab science program major. Students who lack only a few credits
are encouraged to consult the clinical lab science program
adviser to determine when they should apply.
Professional curriculum (53-58 credits):
Preclinical phase — (22-27 credits on campus):
CLI 395, 410, 420, 440 (or BIO 406), 461; MIC 406, 407; CHM 325
(or 417 & 418)
Clinical phase — (31 credits at an accredited
hospital): CLI 450, 455, 460, 465, 470, 480
The following courses are recommended to
complement the clinical laboratory science major: BIO 413, 424,
435, 436, 466; MIC 416, 420, 421, 454; CLI 495, 496; ECO 110;
PHL 201.
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 major will
fulfill the university writing emphasis requirement through this
writing-in-the-major program.
CLI
120 Cr. 1
Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science
An introductory course designed for students
who are interested in a profession in clinical laboratory
science. 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 diagnostic tests evaluated in the clinical
laboratory will be discussed. Students will develop an
understanding for the critical role clinical laboratory
scientists play in the health care arena. Offered Spring.
CLI
395 Cr. 2
Urinalysis and Body Fluids
This course introduces the formation,
distribution, and function of urine and other nonblood body
fluids. Instruction in the handling and analysis of these fluids
will be given based on their chemical, physical, and cellular
composition in health and disease. The laboratory focuses on
performing and interpreting results from the clinical laboratory
procedures performed in the lab. Lect. 1, Lab. 2. Prerequisite:
admission to clinical lab science program. Offered Spring.
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 peripheral blood
cell morphology, hematopoiesis, maturation, and kinetics.
Pathophysiology of hematologic disorders, including anemias and
hematologic malignancies is 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 also will be performed. Lect. 2, Lab. 2. Prerequisite:
admission to clinical lab science program. Offered Fall.
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: admission to clinical lab science program.
Offered Summer.
CLI
440/540
Cr. 1
Clinical Parasitology
Course covers important parasites of humans
including zoonoses, emerging parasitic diseases. Life cycles,
clinical features and 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. Prerequisites: admission to clinical
lab science program or the clinical microbiology MS program; MIC
230. Not open to students who have earned credit in BIO 406/506.
Offered Spring.
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. Prerequisites:
admission into the clinical lab science program; acceptance to a
hospital NAACLS accredited clinical lab science program. Offered
Fall.
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. Six-week rotation.
Prerequisites: admission to clinical lab science program; CLI
395, 410; acceptance to a hospital NAACLS accredited clinical
lab science program. Offered Fall.
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.
Six-week rotation. Prerequisites: admission to clinical lab
science program; CLI 420; acceptance into a hospital NAACLS
accredited clinical lab science program. Offered Spring.
CLI
461 Cr. 1
Capstone in Clinical Laboratory Science
The course covers topics of current interest
in the field such as emerging infectious diseases and testing,
new concepts in instrumentation, and evolution of new tests from
basic research to clinical application. Students also will learn
and practice basic skills such as resume and cover letter
writing. Students will participate in curriculum selection for
part of this class to help them prepare for pre-clinical
competency exams at their hospital sites. Prerequisites:
acceptance to an internship site; senior standing; clinical lab
science major. Offered Summer.
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. Prerequisites:
admission to clinical lab science program; acceptance into a
hospital NAACLS accredited clinical lab science program. Offered
Fall, Summer.
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. Eight-week rotation. Prerequisites: admission
to clinical lab science program; CLI 440; acceptance into a
hospital NAACLS accredited clinical lab science program. Offered
Spring.
CLI
480 Cr. 3
Laboratory Management and Education
A course designed to introduce senior students
to skills and knowledge required to manage a clinical laboratory
and educate future clinical laboratory scientists. Students will
participate with lab managers in activities such as ordering
supplies, quality control, quality management and quality
improvement. They will be introduced to human resource
management, financial management, scheduling issues, instrument
selection for profitability and the processes involved in
preparing for laboratory inspections and maintaining JCAHO and
CAP laboratory accreditation. Prerequisites: admission to
clinical lab science program; acceptance to a hospital NCCLS
accredited internship site. Offered Fall.
CLI
495 Cr. 1-3
Independent Study in Clinical Laboratory
Science
Individual reading or research under the
guidance of a clinical lab science program instructor.
Prerequisite: admission to clinical lab science program and
approval of program director and instructor. Repeatable for
credit — maximum six. Offered occasionally.
CLI
496 Cr. 1-3
Special Topics in Clinical Laboratory Science
Workshop or seminar on selected topics in the
practice of clinical laboratory science. Student may select
seminar based upon objectives and needs. Prerequisites:
admission to clinical lab science program; approval of program
director. Repeatable for credit — maximum six. Offered
occasionally.
CLI
499 Cr. 1-3
Advanced Clinical Studies
An opportunity to pursue individual research
topics under the direction of a faculty member. Depending on the
nature of the research project, study is expected to involve
substantial laboratory or theoretical work in addition to
literature review and instruction. Students are expected to
develop research skills related to clinical laboratory science.
In addition to a written report to the supervising faculty
member, expected outcomes may include: laboratory notebooks,
experimental devices, software, papers and presentations to
department and regional meetings. Prerequisites: admission by
instructor consent; department approval. Repeatable for credit —
maximum six. Offered occasionally.
Coaching Competitive Athletics