Diagnostic Science in Action MED5407

  • Academic Session: 2023-24
  • School: School of Medicine Dentistry and Nursing
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No

Short Description

This course will provide students with a critical understanding of diagnostic procedures used in clinical and research laboratories for the analysis of complex clinical specimens. The course will also explore the ways in which these assays are developed and are used to detect and monitor a range of diseases (endocrine, inflammatory, trauma etc.)

Timetable

The course will be delivered over a three week block at the start of Semester 2 with ca.3/4 hours of lectures and tutorials per week.

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

(Critical Literature Review) 100%

The student will be asked to provide a critical literature review based on the themes and content discussed throughout the course (1000/1500 words). The literature review will be based on a critical analysis on a particular aspect of diagnostic science research allied to clinical medicine.

Course Aims

The course aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the scientific and technological basis of diagnostic procedures used in clinical and research laboratories for the analysis of electrolytes, metabolites, enzymes, proteins and the cellular components of blood and fluids, used to detect disease. The students will be able to evaluate current research in development and validation of the advanced diagnostics for application in modern medicine.

 

The course also aims to develop the students' proficiency in the analysis and critical evaluation of data in the literature in the area of clinical diagnostics and will examine assay validation and quality control systems.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Critically discuss the technological requirements for diagnostic procedures to monitor the mechanisms of diseases and their value in assessment of pathological or physiological change.

2. Critically evaluate the research data in the literature (academic and patent related) that describes current developments in diagnostic technology.

3. Produce and deliver effective written and oral communication in the form of a critical literature review and tutorial discussions.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.