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Rutgers SHP Requirements for Graduation and Course Descriptions

Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences/Medical Laboratory Sciences

Clinical Laboratory Science

CLSC5140 - Advanced Topics in Clinical Chemistry

Course Description

Medical laboratory scientists working in clinical chemistry are challenged with multifaceted responsibilities involving advanced scientific knowledge, techniques, administrative skills, and interaction with other clinical departments of the health care system. The medical laboratory scientist working in chemistry is responsible for both the diagnostic services as well as management aspects of the clinical chemistry department. This course is designed to provide updates in advanced topics in clinical chemistry to enhance scientific/technical skills and management skills for laboratory professionals working and/or managing a clinical chemistry department. Issues concerning specific advanced topics in clinical chemistry that will be discussed include but are not limited to: updates on cardiac and tumor markers, kidney function assessment (eGFR, etc.), automation and POCT, diabetes, monoclonal proteins, vitamin D deficiency, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), toxicology, laboratory error, and advanced case studies in clinical chemistry.

Credits/Modes of Instruction

Credits: 3

Participants should anticipate spending approximately 135 hours on the course, or an average of 9-12 hours per week for 15 weeks including the final paper. The course is web-based. Modes of instruction and course format include online instruction, online discussion, journal and Internet readings, written assignments, directed study, live webinar, and a final paper.

Prerequisites

Bachelor’s degree with course work in clinical chemistry and/or work experience in a clinical chemistry laboratory.

Additional Requirements: You may be required to interact with your department supervisor and/or lab administrator, pathologist, physicians, or other healthcare professionals to explore some discussion questions.

Course Goals and Outcomes:

Goals

The general goal of this course is to prepare laboratory professionals to be knowledgeable of emerging technologies in clinical chemistry, new diagnostic strategies, and interact with the health care team in an interdisciplinary capacity with regard to clinical chemistry diagnostic testing and data interpretation.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Discuss various disorder processes that affect major organ systems including the clinical presentation, causes, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment options.
Differentiate between different disorders with similar presentations and the role of clinical chemistry testing in diagnosis.
Compare and contrast new and emerging clinical chemistry strategies for diagnosis and monitoring of selected disorders including therapeutic drug monitoring, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) assays, and toxicology.
Correlate clinical chemistry analytical data with various physiologic disorders presented.
Explain the clinical significance of laboratory findings.