MAST 120 - Medical Laboratory Procedures

4 Credits: (3 lecture, 2 lab)

Course Description
This course introduces the student to medical laboratory tests that are conducted in the ambulatory care environment.  The laboratory component of the course stresses specimen collection and processing, performance of selected tests, proper use of quality control methods, analysis of results, and methods of reporting results. The lecture component stresses the understanding of the biological, physical, and chemical principles underlying the testing methods and test results as they relate to health and disease states.

Prerequisite BIOL 116

Young, Alexandra P. and Deborah Proctor.  Study Guide for Kinn’s The Medical Assistant: An Applied Learning Approach.  11th ed.  St. Louis:  Saunders Elsevier, 2010. Print. 

Objectives
The student will be able to: 

A. Perform selected Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-waived and CLIA-moderately complex tests that assist with diagnosis and treatment. 

B. Identify aspects of government regulation in the medical office laboratory. 

C. Demonstrate standard precautions and accepted safety practices in the clinical laboratory. 

D. Demonstrate procedures for safe specimen collection and handling. 

E. Operate basic laboratory equipment such as the centrifuge and microscope. 

F.  Describe the role of quality control measures used in the physician office laboratory. 

G. Interpret quality control records. 

Content
A. Fundamentals of laboratory methods 

B. Government regulations 

C. Specimen management  

D. Operation of laboratory equipment 

E. Performance of clinical laboratory tests  

F. Quality assurance    

Student Evaluation
Course evaluation will be based on examinations, simulations and clinical skill competency assessments. Bibliography
Bonewit-West, Kathy. Clinical Procedures for Medical Assistants. 7th ed.  St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier, 2008.  Print. 

Fischbach, Frances and Marshall Dunning.  A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 8th ed.  Philadelphia: Lippincott, 2007.  Print. 

Garrels Marti and Carol Oatis.  Laboratory Testing for Ambulatory Settings: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier, 2006.  Print. 

Garza, Diane, and Kathleen Becan-McBride.  Phlebotomy Handbook: Blood Specimen Collection from Basic to Advanced.  8th ed.  Norwalk: Appleton & Lange, 2009. Print.  

Pagana, Kathleen and Timothy Pagana. Mosby’s Diagnostic and LaboratoryTest Reference.  9th ed.  St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier, 2009.  Print.