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BIO3215 Clinical Biochemistry 2

Semester 2, 2020 Online
Short Description: Clinical Biochemistry 2
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
School or Department : School of Health and Wellbeing
Student contribution band : Band 2
ASCED code : 010901 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Requisites

Pre-requisite: BIO2215

Rationale

Medical laboratory scientists working in Clinical Biochemistry laboratories interact with clinicians and other healthcare professionals to generate and interpret data from the biochemical analysis of clinical specimens. These investigations assist in determining the metabolic status of patients, the diagnosis of a wide range of disease states and the monitoring of therapeutic interventions. This course builds on the knowledge of clinical biochemistry acquired in BIO2215 Clinical Biochemistry 1 and will prepare graduates for employment in the clinical biochemistry department or core laboratory of a clinical pathology service.

Synopsis

This course builds on the theoretical knowledge of human biochemistry and associated laboratory investigations acquired in BIO2215 Clinical Biochemistry 1 with a focus on the laboratory assessment of endocrine function, immune status, renal and kidney function and the diagnosis of inherited and acquired metabolic disorders. BIO3215 Clinical Biochemistry 2 extends the students' knowledge of chemical pathology and the applications of specific manual and automated techniques in the screening, diagnosis and prognostication of disease states and the monitoring of therapeutic interventions.

This course will increase the students' knowledge of the sources of error in biochemistry testing, enhance their understanding of quality assurance and their ability to trouble-shoot quality control failures and consolidate their understanding of work health and safety issues and professional responsibilities associated with working in a clinical biochemistry laboratory.

Objectives

On completion of this course students should be able to:

  1. outline the theory and application of a wide range of manual and automated clinical biochemistry tests and employ a systematic approach to the interpretation of analytical results and the monitoring of associated quality control;
  2. outline the role of hormones in metabolic processes and the pathophysiology of specific endocrine disorders and analyse the results of associated laboratory investigations;
  3. outline the principles of enzyme measurement and illustrate the relationship between the concentration of specific enzymes in body fluid samples and damage to specific body tissues;
  4. interpret the results of acute phase protein and complement assays in the investigation of immune diseases and inflammatory responses;
  5. apply advanced knowledge of pathophysiology and clinical biochemistry testing to differentiate between various forms and stages of renal and hepatic disease;
  6. demonstrate a high level of academic, scientific and professional literacy;
  7. outline workplace health and safety issues, patient confidentiality considerations, quality control and quality assurance procedures and the professional and ethical responsibilities associated with working in a clinical biochemistry laboratory.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. An overview of clinical biochemistry and associated work health and safety 8.00
2. Endocrinology and the laboratory investigation of endocrine disorders 20.00
3. 3. Enzymes, tissue damage and the measurement of enzymes in body fluids 20.00
4. The biochemistry of the immune system and the acute phase response 12.00
5. The pathophysiology of the kidneys and the laboratory investigation of renal disease 12.00
6. The pathophysiology of the liver and the laboratory investigation of liver disease 12.00
7. Case studies in metabolic diseases 16.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=02&subject1=BIO3215)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Kaplan, LA & Pesce, AJ 2010, Clinical Chemistry, 5th edn, Mosby.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Gaw, A, Murphy, MJ, Cowan RA, O'Reilly, D St J, Stewart MJ & Shepherd J 2018, Clinical Biochemistry, 6th edn, Churchill Livingstone.
Luxton, R 2008, Clinical Biochemistry, 2nd edn, Scion Publishing.
(ISBN 978 1904842 41 5.)

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assignments 20.00
Online Lectures 26.00
Online Tutorials 26.00
Private 精东传媒app 93.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
Online Quiz 1 20 20 10 Aug 2020
Assignment 1 20 20 21 Aug 2020 (see note 1)
Online Quiz 2 20 20 07 Sep 2020
Assignment 2 20 20 25 Sep 2020 (see note 2)
Online Exam - Quiz 3 20 20 End S2 (see note 3)

Notes
  1. Examiner to advise the details for assignments.
  2. Examiner to advise the details for assignments.
  3. This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via 精东传媒appDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the official Alternate Assessment Schedule has been released.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as tutorials) scheduled for them, and to study all materials provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.

    Requirements after S2 2020:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course).

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

    Requirements after S2 2020:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.

    Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.

    To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2).

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
    An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination.

    Requirements after S2 2020:
    In a Closed Examination, candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
    The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date

    Requirements after S2 2020:
    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.

  8. 精东传媒app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. Students may be required to provide a copy of assignments submitted for assessment purposes. Such copies should be dispatched to the USQ within 24 hours of receipt of a request to do so.

  2. Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.


  3. Students should be aware that the originality of any submitted assignment will be checked by the USQ service, "Turnitin". An originality index must be generated and will be checked - an acceptable Turnitin similarity index is <15%.

Date printed 6 November 2020