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Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student:
1) Will know the general assumptions and criteria for the interpretation of laboratory tests based on the concepts of reference intervals, intra-and interindividual analytical and biological variability. Will be able to interpret the diagnostic value of laboratory tests, in terms of specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive value.
2) Will know the basic principles of laboratory methodologies in the pre-analytical phase (sampling, treatment and storage of samples), in the analytical phase (fundamental principles and implementation of the most important laboratory techniques), and in post-analytical phase (collection, processing and reporting of data, interpretation of results, quality control).
3) On the basis of the physiopathological and clinical significance of laboratory tests will be able to recognize the motivations of the exam requests, the operational logic and the semenological value of the individual tests in a typical clinical series
4) Knowledge of the physiopathological principles and laboratory tests for the main diseases, with particular reference to those cardiovascular, thromboembolic and neoplastic

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) Will know the meaning underlying pathophysiological alterations of laboratory indices, and will integrate these changes with signs and symptoms detected clinically by history and physical examination to arrive at an interpretation of the most important diagnostic clinical syndromes.
4) 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

Written in text-structured MCQ, short integrated clinical cases, with answers to MCQ, interpretation of laboratory data. Oral exam of Laboratory Medicine provided the student has passed the written test.