Learning outcomes

In the present elective course will be taken into consideration:
1. The role of Laboratory Medicine in the diagnostic process and in the monitoring of pathologies and drugs. Particular attention will be given to the interpretation of laboratory tests that concern the diagnosis of the main cardiovascular, haematological and metabolic diseases, discussing some clinical cases.
2. The appropriate methodology in the collection and processing of biological samples;
3. The pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical variables that can influence the reliability of laboratory results.

Program

At the end of the course the student:
1) Will know the general interpretation of the laboratory test criteria based on concepts of normality, reference intervals, analytical and biological variability intra- and interindividual. Will be able to interpret the diagnostic value of laboratory tests: specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive value.
2) Will know the basic principles of laboratory methods in pre-analytical phase (sampling, processing and storage of samples), in the analytical phase (basic principles and implementation of the most important laboratory techniques), and post-analytical phase (collection, processing and reporting of data, quality control).
3) Based on the pathophysiological significance and clinical laboratory test will recognize the motivations of test requests, the logic and semiologic value of individual tests in typical clinical cases.

Examination Methods

None