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Curriculum

The Geisinger School of Medical Laboratory Science is a 48-week program. You’ll spend time each week in clinical and classroom instruction. Classroom instruction will include lectures, discussion and examinations. You’ll work in nearly all content areas throughout the year. During the first term, you’ll focus on building knowledge, while in the second term you’ll focus on applying skills to your knowledge base and exploring the intersection of pathophysiology to clinical diagnostics.

Formal courses in the curriculum are described below. All courses include didactics and hands-on skill components. You’ll be assessed on meeting hands-on, entry-level skill competence during clinical rotations, where you’ll demonstrate the same skills you’ll use every day as a medical laboratory scientist. At times, you may be reporting patient, quality or other results under the supervision of qualified personnel. You will not replace paid staff during clinical education experiences. For more information or questions about the course schedule or curriculum, contact gsmls@geisinger.edu.

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Clinical Hematology and Coagulation

The first semester focuses on cells and components of human blood, morphology, coagulation and function. The second semester focuses on pathophysiology of hematologic conditions and coagulopathies, treatments and monitoring. The hematology and coagulation clinical rotations offers hands-on experience with diagnostic devices and assays, troubleshooting and quality assurance. You’re expected to pass basic competencies for performing hematologic and coagulation testing. Bone marrow collection and processing, and flow cytometry may also be included in clinical rotation experiences.

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Clinical Chemistry

Clinical Chemistry starts with foundational principles of diagnostic testing and clinical assays utilized for measuring proteins, lipids, enzymes, heme derivatives, drug metabolites and other substances in human blood. In the second semester you will build on physiology and disease states that influence endocrinology, toxicology, acid-base balance, heme synthesis and testing algorithms used in disease diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. During clinical rotations, you’ll be introduced to instrumentation, quality assurance and methodologies used in clinical chemistry testing.

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Immunohematology and Blood Banking

Blood banking is the application of immunohematology principles to the analytical methods used to determine blood type, identify expected and unexpected antibodies and determine compatibility of blood products for transfusion. Students will also apply transfusion medicine best practices to blood donor selection, component preparation, product utilization, and patient blood management. Clinical rotations will give you hands-on experience in hospital transfusion service and prepare you to pass basic competencies in immunohematological testing and component selection and preparation.

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Clinical Microbiology

Clinical microbiology includes microbial safety, methods of specimen collection and processing, isolation, identification and susceptibility testing of clinically significant organisms in the clinical laboratory. Lectures will focus on clinical bacteriology based on specimen source with lectures on clinical mycology and parasitology later in the course. Clinical rotations will give you a hands-on experience in several sections of the clinical microbiology laboratory and prepare you to complete basic competences in diagnostic bacteriology and mycology.

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Urine and Body Fluid Analysis

The course includes physical, chemical and microscopic urine and body fluid analysis. Pathophysiology of genitourinary systems, formation, physiology and analysis of body fluids to include serous, synovial, amnionic, CSF, feces and seminal fluids are all components of the course. Clinical rotations will give you the opportunity to perform hands-on testing in clinical laboratories and include competency testing in clinical laboratories and include competency testing in basic urinalysis.

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Clinical Immunology

In Immunology you will discuss the physiology of the immune system and the principles of serological testing and interpretation. Pathophysiology of the immune system and applications of immune principles to transplantation and infectious disease testing are also covered in this course.  Essential practical skills for immunological and serological testing are taught and assessed in incorporated clinical experiences.

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Molecular Diagnostics

Molecular diagnostics covers molecular biology and genetics, nucleic acid isolation, viral genetics, basic diagnostic principles and techniques. You will also explore quality assurance methodology and the importance of laboratory workflow in the molecular laboratory. Additional lectures will cover automated molecular diagnostic platforms, sequencing and the uses of the molecular testing in clinical specimens. Clinical rotations performed in designated areas provide you with hands-on experience and exposure to high-complexity and laboratory-developed testing, quality assurance and workflow considerations specific to the molecular diagnostic laboratory.

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Laboratory Operations Seminar

Laboratory operations seminar begins with quality assurance principles in all aspects of laboratory analysis including the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing. Skills in laboratory mathematics, quality control evaluation, specimen collection and handling are assessed in clinical and didactic settings. Laboratory workforce regulations and skills necessary to enter the workforce are addressed. Laboratory operations seminar additionally covers basic research, management and educational principles and methodology. National certification exam review and preparation are part of this course.

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