RAPHC CPD COURSE FULL

Many accidents in the Lab do not just happen; they are caused by carelessness, lack of attention to detail, or lack of proper communication. Most laboratory accidents are preventable by exercising good technique, staying alert, and using common sense.

Quality can be defined as the worth of services. Six Sigma and Lean define the components critical to quality as the key measurable characteristics of a product or process whose performance requirements or specification limits must be met to satisfy the customer. Quality and safety are of the utmost importance in a clinical laboratory.

This lesson introduces the generic analytic methods used in many areas of the clinical laboratory—the binding of antibody (Ab) to antigen (Ag) for the specific and sensitive detection of an analyte. The Ag–Ab interactions may involve unlabeled reactants in less analytically sensitive techniques or a labeled reactant in more sensitive techniques.

Precipitation and agglutination are unlabeled immunoassays. These assay methods produce a visible expression of the aggregation of antigens and antibodies.

Precipitation and agglutination are unlabeled immunoassays. These assay methods produce a visible expression of the aggregation of antigens and antibodies. Precipitation is the term for the aggregation of soluble test antigens. Precipitation is the combination of soluble antigen with soluble antibody to produce a visible insoluble complex. Agglutination is the process whereby specific antigens (e.g., RBCs) aggregate to form larger visible clumps when the corresponding specific antibody is present in the serum. The IgM class of antibodies is the best at agglutination and precipitation.

AIDS is the best-known immunodeficiency. Patients with AIDS exhibit some of the most severe manifestations of cell-mediated immunity.

A major goal of the microbiology laboratory is to aid in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Appropriate specimen selection, collection, and transportation are critical if laboratory results are used to provide information that establishes a diagnosis and successful treatment.

This lesson introduces the concepts of specimen collection and processing. The steps to ensuring specimen quality and the steps that follow specimen receipt in completing the processing for microbiology workup.

Generally, the colonial morphology is observed after 18 to 24 hours of incubation. Many specimens, such as sputum and wounds that arrive in the clinical laboratory, are plated on various culture media such as BAP, CHOC, and MAC. Each type of agar plate is examined in relationship to the other.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is performed on bacteria isolated from clinical specimens to determine which antimicrobial agents might be effective in treating infections caused by the bacteria. Only bacteria that are likely to be contributing to an infection should be tested.

Susceptibility testing is usually performed by a disk diffusion or dilution (minimal inhibitory concentration) method.

Among bacteria, there is great diversity in the ability to use carbohydrates; however, determining lactose utilization is the most important.

Lactose degradation can be used to differentiate bacterial species able to ferment lactose (lactose fermenters [LFs]) from species that are NLFs.

Pretransfusion testing is the use of serologic principles and tests to ensure compatibility and prevent an IMHTRs

Pretransfusion testing is the use of serologic principles and tests to ensure compatibility and prevent an immune-mediated hemolytic transfusion reaction.

Depending on the collection system used, a whole blood component typically contains either 450 mL (±10%) of whole blood with 63 mL of anticoagulant-preservative or 500 mL (±10%) of whole blood with 70 mL of anticoagulant preservative, collected from blood donors with a minimum hematocrit of 38%. 

Whole blood must be stored at 1° to 6°C, and the shelf life is dependent on the anticoagulant used.

Whole blood collected in ACD-A, CPD), or (CP2D) has a shelf life of 21 days; Whole blood collected in CPDA-1 has a shelf life of 35 days.

Enzymes catalyze physiologic reactions by lowering the activation energy level that the reactants (substrates) must reach for the reaction to occur.

Clinically significant enzymes are: (Oxidoreductases, Transferases, Hydrolases, Lyases, Isomerases, Ligases.

An acid is a substance that can donate hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water. A base is a substance that can accept hydrogen ions. pH of a solution is defined as the negative log of the hydrogen ion conc.

Amniotic fluid is the liquid medium that bathes a fetus throughout its gestation. Amniotic fluid protects the fetus while enabling fetal movement and plays an important role in numerous biochemical processes. Fetal cells and many biochemical compounds, such as electrolytes, nitrogenous compounds, proteins, enzymes, lipids, and hormones, are present in the amniotic fluid.

Seminal fluid, or semen, is a complex body fluid used to transport sperm or spermatozoa. It is analyzed routinely to evaluate infertility and to follow up after a vasectomy to ensure its effectiveness. Other reasons for analysis include the evaluation of semen quality for donation purposes and forensic applications (e.g., DNA analysis, detection of semen).

Arthritis and other joint diseases are common, and synovial fluid analysis assists in the diagnosis and classification into one of four categories: noninflammatory, inflammatory, septic, or hemorrhagic. 

Normally, serous fluids do not contain blood or fibrinogen, but a traumatic puncture or hemorrhage can result in bloody and clotted fluid

CSF bathes the brain and spinal cord, protects and supports the brain and spinal cord and provides a medium for the transport and exchange of nutrients and metabolic wastes.

Examination of feces provides important information that aids in the differential diagnosis of various gastrointestinal tract disorders, which range from maldigestion and malabsorption to bleeding or infestation by bacteria, viruses, or parasites; hepatic, biliary conditions as well as pancreatic diseases that cause insufficient digestive enzymes.

This CPD Final test is intended to assess CPD courses taker for their eligibility to obtain CPD points which enable them to renew their practicing licenses. The CPD course package is tailored according to the current and acceptable standards of Laboratory practice. Apart from text lessons prepared for you, you will also benefit from recorded lectures just next to each text content to make sure that you understand the concepts not just with reading but also with listening to and taking notes of explanations provided. Questions undertaken are prepared from the course content and you need to read the whole content to be able to pass the set questions. Let's together improve and strengthen Laboratory practices in our country for the safety of our patients. Good luck. Polycarpe Nkundayezu MLS, ASCPi International MLS, Certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. TriumphClass principal instructor.