This course involves three hours per week of classroom instruction and three hours per week of laboratory activity.
The major topics in this course include the following:
- Transfusion medicine
- canine and feline blood types
- blood typing techniques
- cross matching of blood for transfusion - Components of the Urinalysis
- review sample collection techniques
- gross evaluation, urine specific gravity, biochemical analysis and sediment preparation and analysis - Immunological and serological testing
- ELISA, serum agglutination and precipitation tests
- serum protein electrophoresis
- antibody titers
- in clinic test kits (SNAP, micro well) for heartworm and FeLV/FIV - Whole blood and serum chemistry
- sample collection and handling
- record keeping and lab requisition forms
- testing procedures
- quality control
- manual testing - Endocrine and major organ testing
- thyroid gland function
- adrenocortical gland function
- glucose homeostasis
- hepatic function
- renal function - Cytology and histopathology
- tissue sampling, collection and preservation techniques
- preparation and staining
- gross and microscopic tissue and fluid analysis - Microbiology:
- pathogen (bacterial, viral, fungal) growth patterns, morphology, testing techniques and control methods
- sample collection, including use of culture media
- gross colony and microscopic organism evaluation including staining techniques
- biochemical analysis
- laboratory safety and quality control
- basics of antimicrobial sensitivity testing
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe veterinary blood types and perform blood typing and cross matching.
- Handle and prepare a urine sample, then perform a complete urinalysis.
- Perform serum chemistry profiles and recognize abnormalities.
- Describe common serological and immunological veterinary testing procedures.
- Collect, handle and prepare tissue and fluid samples for analysis.
- Apply staining techniques, use microbiological culture media and additional tests to identify microscopic organisms.
The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. A final minimum cumulative grade of “C” or 60% is required (in both lecture and lab components) in order to pass this course. Evaluation will be based on quizzes and assignments, practical evaluations including a final practical examination, at least one midterm and a final written examination.
A list of required and optional textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.
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