DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY

OVERVIEW

Department of Chemical Pathology is one of the four departments in the pathology complex. Others are Haematology, Medical Microbiology, and Histopathology. It provides highly sophisticated biochemical services to the teaching hospital at Jos.

OBJECTIVES

1.       Gain an understanding of basic principles of Chemical Pathology including how to appropriately use laboratory tests.

2.       Develop an understanding of the potentials and limitations of various laboratory tests.

3.       Gain exposure to the various technologies used for testing.

4.       Gain a better understanding of diseases and become familiar with major diseases of Medicine as it relates to Chemical Pathology.

5.        Gain experience in test interpretation and consultations with other Clinical Departments. Students should be involved along with staff with other departmental clinical meetings.

6.       Expand understanding of the operation of a Chemical Pathology laboratory.

7.       Gain a working knowledge of a busy General Chemical Pathology laboratory and improve developmental skills of methodology.

8.       Participate in laboratory work during postings.

TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS

Wherever possible, methods of teaching which integrate clinical/practical sessions will be used. Other methods used include organised classes, one to one instructions, tutorials, seminars, practical, and assignments for self-study.

There will be special instructional sessions where students and Guest lecturers will lead.

During postings each student will be required to spend at least a night in the laboratory to appreciate the handling of emergency specimens.

EVALUATION

This will be accomplished by written and oral examinations for both the lectures and practical topics covered at the departmental level for each programme.

Each lecturer will also be required to submit continuous assessment in his or her topics at the end of each programme.

A compulsory essay of the students' experience during posting and on a topic of interest will be necessary. 

300 LEVEL CLASS

CHP 374:  INTRODUCTORY COURSE IN CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY (2 CREDITS)

Course objectives:

At the end of the course the student should be able to list and describe basic procedures in chemical pathology to include infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and viruses and describe the immune responses to these infectious agents.

Teaching & Learning Methods:

Lectures, tutorials

Problem based learning.

Evaluation

MCQ (True-False items, Essay, Practical)

Content

General introduction to laboratory medicine with particular emphasis on requests for investigations in Chemical Pathology.

Reference ranges, units and basic medical statistics

Steady state & homeostatic mechanism

Introduction to fluid and Electrolyte disturbances

Urinalysis

Immunology

Practical

-Collection, preparation and preservation of samples for biochemical analysis.

-Plasma Proteins and Electrophoresis

-Urinalysis

-CSF Analysis

-Chromatography

-Clearance investigations

-Principle of immunochemical techniques (RIA/ELISA)

400 LEVEL CLASS

CHP 474: LECTURES IN CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY (2 CREDITS)

Course objectives:

At the end of the course the student should be able to list and describe chemical features of important diseases of the human body, including infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.

Teaching & Learning Methods:

Lectures, tutorials

Problem based learning.

Evaluation

MCQ (True-False items, Essay, Practical)

Content

Acid/Base Regulation

G.I.T Function

Introduction to Clinical Nutrition

Nutritional Disorder & Management

Vitamins & Micronutrients

Fluid and Electrolytes

Renal function

Diabetes & Carbohydrate intolerance

Clinical Enzymology

Liver function

Inborn errors of Metabolism

Lipid and Lipoprotein disorders

Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenals

Thyroid/Gonads

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) & Toxicology

Infectious Disease/Nutrition/Systematic Pathology programme in Chemical Pathology

Hyper and Hypoglycaemias - I

Hyper and Hypoglycaemias - II

Fluid/Electrolytes - I

Fluid/Electrolytes - II

Renal Function - I

Renal Function - II

C.S.F/Nervous System

G.I.T - I

G.I.T - II

Clinical Enzymology

Lipid and Lipoprotein Disorders - I

Lipid and Lipoprotein Disorders - II

Tumour markers/APUD system

TDM/Acute poisoning

Endocrine - I

- (Hypothalamic-pituitary-Adrenals e.t.c)

Endocrine - II

- (Thyroid/Iodine Def. Disorders e.t.c)

Endocrine - III

- (Parathyroid/Bone/Calcium)

Introduction to Basic Computer in Clinical Chemistry

Basic research methodologies in Chemical Pathology

Medical Ethics in Clinical Biochemistry.

Practical

Estimation of Plasma Protein (Total Protein, Albumin, Globulin.)

ELISA/RIA (PRINCIPLE)

Electrophoresis I

Electrophoresis II

Estimation of Serum Bilirubin (Total/Conj.)

Urinalysis (Urobilinogen, Bilirubin, Bile Salt etc)

Blood Glucose Estimation

Urinalysis (Glucose, Reducing substances, Ketone bodies etc) G.T.T/P.P

Plasma Urea/Creatinine measurement (Osmolality/Specific Gravity, Proteinuria

Clearance investigations etc)

C.S.F. Analysis

Flame Photometry

Radial Immunodifusion

Paper Chromatography I

Paper Chromatography II

NOTE

-         Principles of the tests & (if possible) demonstrations

    (Where demonstration is not possible, please discuss principles etc)

500 LEVEL CLASS

CHP 575: POSTING IN CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY – LABORATORY WORK, TUTORIALS/SEMINARS (4 CREDITS)

Laboratory Work

1^st week

Monday                                     Inborn Errors of Metabolism/Nutrition

Tuesday                                                Diabetes & Carbohydrate Metabolism/Renal                                                          function

Wednesday                                            Acid/Base regulation

Thursday                                               Fluid & Electrolyte metabolism

2^nd week

Monday                                                 Liver function tests/CSF analysis

Tuesday                                                Gastrointestinal function

Wednesday                                            Plasma proteins & Immunoglobulins

Thursday                                               Clinical Enzymology

3^rd week

Monday                                                 Lipid and lipoprotein disorders

Tuesday                                                Endocrine I

Wednesday                                            Endocrine II

Thursday                                               General  Revision

500 Level Class-Posting (Practical Topics)

1^st Week

Monday                                     Protein/Glucose in Urine

Tuesday                                    Calcium in urine

Wednesday                                Bilirubin/Urobilinogen

Thursday                                   Glucose/ketones/Salicylates

2^nd Week

Monday                         Glucose/Salicylate in urine

Tuesday                                    Blood/protein in urine

Wednesday                                Bile Salts/Bilirubin in urine

Thursday                                   Chromatography/Electrophoresis

3^rd Week

Monday                         Urobilinogen/Bilirubin

Tuesday                                    Colorimetry

Wednesday                                Detailed Urinalysis

Thursday                                   Detailed Urinalysis

600 LEVEL CLASS

Pathology seminars to be regularly organised by all Pathology Departments.