Principles of Lab Med (140.01)
General Elective Information
This is a 2 week medical student elective in laboratory medicine at San Francisco General Hospital & Trauma Center (SFGHTC). This elective covers topics in general laboratory principles, clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, serology, and transfusion medicine. The overall goal of this rotation is to "demystify" the Clinical Laboratory, and to help the students understand the applications (and limitations) of current as well as future Clinical Laboratory testing.
Contact Information
- Daren Le
- (415) 206-3495
Information for visiting students
- Visiting Students Home Page
- General Information
- Applications/Forms
- Electives Calendar
- Requirements
- Pathology electives
- Laboratory Medicine electives
Faculty
Overview
Tier 2. This course offers an opportunity to learn the principles of laboratory medicine with laboratory sessions at the SFGHTC clinical laboratories; seminars and rounds with laboratory medicine physicians; and correlation with clinical medicine. General principles are covered as well as specific topics in clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, serology and transfusion medicine. The schedule is flexible and can be adapted to accommodate the student's special interest.
Course Objectives
Clinical Chemistry
- Interpretation of protein electrophoresis
- Introduction to automated analyzers and variables affecting test results
Hematology/Blood Bank
- Interpretation of peripheral blood smears
- Introduction to Bone Marrow review and interpretation
- What is a "type and screen", and how to do it.
- What can be transfused, indications for transfusion, and transfusion reactions.
Microbiology
- Specimen collection and processing relative to body site of collection
- Basic Clinical Microbiology algorithms for bacterial culture and identification from different body sites (i.e., blood, urine, respiratory)
- Basic serology (e.g., RPR, VDRL, monospot, HIV antibody)
Laboratory management
- What Clinical Laboratory Scientists do
- How the Clinical Laboratory communicates with different clinical services
- The role of the Clinical Laboratory in educating physicians/providers about tests and their proper use.
Common Problems/Diseases
All for which specimens are submitted for diagnosis or change in patient management.
Recommended Text or Reading
as assigned, depending on student interest and ongoing clinical issues.
Team Composition
Attendings (Lab Director, Chiefs of each of the Clinical Laboratory Divisions) Residents (Laboratory Medicine Resident assigned to each Division) Clinical Laboratory Scientists
Additional Information
Classroom Time (hours):
20
Call Schedule/Weekends
none
Grading
Pass/Fail
Prerequisites
MS3 level minimum training MS 4 level preferred (since clinical material learned on the basic clinical clerkships is important in understanding Laboratory Medicine principles and practice)
Quarters Taught
Su, Fa, Wi, Sp
Location
San Francisco General Hospital & Trauma Center
Minimum Weeks Offered
2
Maximum Students per Block
2
Contact Name
Daren Le
Contact Phone
(415) 206-3495
Location to report to
9am, 2nd Floor Clinical Lab, 2M2
Comments
The goal of this rotation is to "demystify" the Clinical Laboratory, and to help the students understand the applications (and limitations) of current as well as future Clinical Laboratory testing.