COURSE: VETT 2105 - Clinical Pathology for Veterinary Technicians

COURSE: VETT 2105 - Clinical Pathology for Veterinary Technicians

CRN:

CREDIT HOURS (Lecture/Lab/Total): 3/0/3

CONTACT HOUR (Lecture/Lab/Total): 45/0/45

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name:

Email:

Phone:

Office:

Office Hours:

Class Location:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to familiarize the student with diagnostic laboratory procedures commonly performed in the veterinary field. Discussion includes clinical chemistry, veterinary hematology, urology and cytology. In addition, sample collection and handling is covered along with instrumentation and equipment maintenance.

PREREQUISITES:

VETA 1201.This class must be taken in conjunction with or prior to VETT 2109 and VETT 2200

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students must demonstrate ability to meet the following technical/performance standards while receiving instruction outlined in each course syllabus:

• Read and communicate orally and in writing using the English language
• Hear with or without auditory aids to understand normal speaking voice without viewing the speakers face
• Visually, with or without corrective lenses, observe behaviors of animals and changes in animal’s condition as well as actively participate in the learning process
• Handle animals in a safe and humane manner outlined in the courses
• Utilize stamina, strength and psychomotor coordination necessary to perform routine nursing procedures as dictated in all areas of the clinical setting
• Demonstrate use of gross and fine motor skills necessary to provide independent, safe, and effective nursing care of patients
• Solve problems and apply critical thinking skills while providing safe and efficient patient care
• Interact with individuals from various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
• Adapt and function in a multi stressor environment while adhering to legal/ethical guidelines of the school, veterinary medical associations (i.e. practice act in Louisiana), and clinical agencies

ASSESSMENT MEASURES:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to, with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Specimen Management

Skill: Properly package, handle, and store specimens for laboratory analysis.

Tasks:

·Prepare specimens for diagnostic analysis

• Understand specimens considering the characteristics of the patient and the requested tests
• Prepare, handle, and package diagnostic samples for laboratory examination and/or storage in order to ensure maximum accuracy of results

·Select and maintain laboratory equipment and implement quality control measures

• Choose proper equipment for requested test procedure
• Demonstrate proper care and maintenance of laboratory equipment, following manufacturer’s recommendations
• Determine, schedule, and perform quality control measures for all laboratory equipment, laboratory tests, and diagnostic samples
• Understand the importance of quality control in achieving accurate results
• Differentiate accurate from incorrect results, considering individual patient as well as specimens submitted

·Ensure safety of patients, clients, and staff

• Take all necessary steps to avoid potential safety hazards, including proper handling, packaging and storing specimens and correctly operating, caring for and maintaining equipment
• Understand rigorous hygiene and the use of gloves and disinfectants
• Understand all laboratory rules and procedures, including no food or beverages permitted in lab area and proper disposal of sharps and biohazard materials

Specimen Analysis

Skill: Properly carry out analysis of laboratory specimens

·Perform urinalysis

• Determine physical properties (e.g., color, clarity, specific gravity)
• Understand diagnostic significance of specific gravity
• Properly use refractometer

• Test chemical properties
• Understand the use of reagent strips

• Examine and identify sediment
• Prepare urine sediment for microscopic examination
• Identify blood cells, crystals, casts, artifacts, etc.
• Use of sediment staining
• Understand diagnostic significance of analytical results of urinalysis

·Perform CBC

• Hemoglobin
• Understand hemoglobin determination using automated systems

• Packed cell volume (PCV)
• Demonstrate proper methodology to obtain PCV
• Observe plasma and buffy coat

• Total protein (TP)
• Demonstrate proper methodology to obtain TP

• White cell count and red cell count
• Understand proper techniques, control measures and maintenance procedures for WBC and RBC automated cell counters

• Understand diagnostic significance of analytical results of CBC

·Perform microscopic exam of blood film

• Prepare film and stain using a variety of techniques
• Perform leukocyte differential – normal vs abnormal cells
• Evaluate condition and state of all cells on blood smear and perform a count of 100 leukocytes for the differential
• Identify types of leukocytes and differentiate between normal and abnormal cells

• Evaluate erythrocyte morphology – normal vs abnormal cells
• Evaluate red blood cells for morphological differences, understanding species differences, for rouleaux formation, spherocytes, poikilocytes, macrocytes, microcytes, anisocytosis, polychromasia, etc
• Differentiate between normal and abnormal cells and recognize changes due to toxicity, artifact, or mechanical causes
• Observe inclusions such as Howell-Jolly bodies and Heinz bodies, as well as parasites such as Babesiaspp. and Hemobartonellaspp.
• Understand diagnostic importance of erythrocyte morphology

• Estimate platelet numbers
• Perform estimated platelet counts on blood films through a counting method and a per field estimation
• Understand diagnostic importance of platelet counts

• Calculate absolute values
• Understand diagnostic significance of absolute values of leukocytes

• Correct white blood cell counts for nucleated cells
• Understand necessity for performing corrected white blood cell counts due to nucleated red blood cells

·Calculate hematologic indices

• Understand the diagnostic meaning of red blood cell indices, MCV, MCH and MCHC
• Understand correct methodology for performing reticulocyte count and the diagnostic significance of reticulocyte enumeration

·Coagulation tests

• Perform at least one of the following: Buccal mucosal bleeding time, Activated clotting time (ACT), Prothrombin time (PT), Partial thromboplastin time (PTT), Fibrinogen assay
• Understand diagnostic significance of blood coagulation tests
• Understand the need to collect blood carefully, never from and indwelling catheter, and proper blood collection tubes

·Perform blood chemistry tests (BUN, glucose, common enzymes)

• Understand diagnostic significance of common blood chemistry tests
• Use appropriate chemistry analyzers
• Understand quality control, proper preparation of samples, maintenance, and calibration of blood chemistry instruments

·Perform cytologic evaluation

• Assist in collecting, preparing, and evaluating transudate, exudates, and cytologic specimens (joint, cerebrospinal, airway, body cavity)
• Perform fine needle tissue aspirates and impression smear preparation (differentiate benign vs malignant)
• Prepare and stain bone marrow specimens
• Collect, prepare, evaluate ear cytology
• Obtain ear samples for cytology, culture, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing prior to cleaning and/or treatment
• Proper use of sterile culturette swab
• Prepare slides for microscopic evaluation
• Evaluate ear cytology

• Collect, prepare, evaluate canine vaginal smears
• Understand proper procedures including cleaning of the vaginal area, the use of sterile culturette swab, and preparation of slide for microscopic examination
• Evaluate canine vaginal smear

• Evaluate semen
• Understand timing and types of pregnancy testing
• Assist with artificial insemination

·Blood transfusion medicine

• Collect and crossmatch blood for transfusion
• Blood typing
• Give blood transfusions (auto transfusions may be considered)

TEXTBOOK/S:

Laboratory Procedures for Veterinary Technicians 5th edition by Hendrix and Sirois

McCurnin textbook you already have from previous classes

Power points and handouts on canvas

SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT:

Computer with internet access

Printing & Scanning Capabilities

Microsoft Office- Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Class attendance is the responsibility of the student. All students must be officially enrolled in any course that they attend. It is expected that students attend all classes and be on time. If an absence occurs, it is the responsibility of the student for making up examinations, obtaining lecture notes, and otherwise compensating for what may have been missed. Students who stop attending class and do not officially drop, withdraw, or resign from the college may receive a grade of “F” for all coursework missed. Absences affect performance in this course and do not reflect well on participation. No student may substitute the attendance of another student.

GRADING REQUIREMENTS:

Homework 20%

Quizzes25%

Section Exams25%

Final30%

GRADING SCALE:

Grading Scale:

A 90-100%

B 80-89%

C 70-79%

*You must pass this course with a 70% or better

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND CONDUCT: Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Behavior that violates these standards is not acceptable. Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited and are subject to disciplinary actions established in the Student Code of Conduct. The instructor reserves the right to assign a grade of “F” on any type of assignment or examination based on evidence that the student has violated the Student Code of Conduct.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR/CLASSROOM DECORUM: Students are encouraged to discuss, inquire, and express their thoughts and views during class. Classroom behavior that interferes with either the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or the ability of students to benefit from the instruction is not acceptable. Students are required to turn off all cell phones or similar electronic devices (or place them on silent mode) before coming into the classroom. The instructor reserves the right to assign no credit for work on that day if a student talks or texts on a cell phone or similar electronic device. The classroom is not a place for children, and students are not to bring their family members into the classroom.

DISABILITY CODE: If you are a qualified student with a disability seeking accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to self-identify with the Student Affairs. No accommodations are granted without documentation authorized from StudentAffairs.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: The last day to withdraw from a course or resign from the college is ______. If you intend to withdraw from the course or resign from the college, you must initiate the action by logging into LoLA. The instructor will not withdraw you automatically.

COMMUNICATION POLICY: My.NorthshoreCollege.Edu is the official student email communication within Northshore Technical Community College. Therefore, the College has the right to send communications to students via their College email address and the right to expect that those communications will be received and read in a timely fashion. Every student is assigned a My.NorthshoreCollege.Edu. Students can redirect their College email address to an outside email provider. However, the College is not responsible for handling outside email providers, and redirecting their College email address does not absolve a student from their responsibilities associated with communication sent to their official College email address.

COPYRIGHT POLICY: Unless a student has obtained permission from the copyright holder, it is a violation of Copyright Law to print or photocopy chapters from a textbook that the student did not purchase. If the course requires the use of an electronic textbook, a student must look for a statement that allows for photocopying and/or printing of the eTextbook.

COURSE SCHEDULE:

1. Chapter 1 and Chapter 2; Laboratory Procedures for Veterinary Technicians 5th edition by Hendrix and Sirois
2. Chapter 2 ; Clinical Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Manual for Veterinary Technicians by Colville and Bassert (this is the lab manual you used for Anatomy and Physiology class)
3. Chapter 16 McCurnin book page 428-434 up to Blood film
4. Power points/ handouts on Canvas

1. Power points/ handouts on Canvas

1. Read Chapter 16 McCurnin pages 434-440
2. Power points/ handouts on Canvas

1. Read:Chapter 16 McCurnin book pg 446 starting with Clinical Chemistry to 450 up to Urinalysis
2. Read Chapter 3 Lab Procedures by Hendrix page75 to 99
3. Power points/ handouts on Canvas

1. Read Chapter 16 McCurninpg 446 Coagulation testing
2. Power points/ handouts on Canvas

1. Read Lab Procedures for Vet techs by Hendrix Chapter 3 pg 105-113
2. Power points/ handouts on Canvas

1. Read Chapter 16 McCurnin Page 450-456
2. Chapter 5 Lab Procedures by Hendrix
3. Power points/ handouts on Canvas

1. Read Laboratory Procedures for Veterinary Technicians by Hendrix Chapter 3 page 99- 104
2. Power points/ handouts on Canvas

1. Read Chapter 16 McCurnin page 456-457
2. Read Chapter 9 Lab Procedures by Hendrix
3. Power points/ handouts on Canvas

1. Read Chapter 8 page 280-282 Lab Procedures for Vet Techs by Hendrix and Chapter 6 page 222-223 about necropsy
2. Read Chapter 33 McCurnin pages 1172-1177 up to patient monitoring
3. Power points/ handouts on Canvas

**This is a tentative schedule. Dates may change during the semester. It is your responsibility to check Canvas and your email EVERYDAY for possible changes

Note: This syllabus is a contract. Staying in this course signifies your agreement to the contents.