1. Demonstrate a systemic and advanced understanding of the role of biomedical investigations across a range of specialities in the diagnosis and evaluation of disease.
Knowledge and Understanding

2. Evaluate critically the appropriateness of clinical laboratory investigations and provide an interpretation of biomedical values within the context of clinical disease.
Problem Solving

3. Analyse and communicate the evaluation of clinical laboratory investigations to a specialist audience. Communication

A minimum of 40% in BOTH summative assessments is required to pass the module.

1. Written report (LO1, LO2) 60% 2000
2. Case based discussion (LO3) 40% 15 minutes

Full details of all assessment are provided in the module handbook.

In this module, you will explore the multidisciplinary use of biomedical investigations in the diagnosis and evaluation of pathological processes.

The module will develop your underpinning knowledge of blood, cellular, infection and genetic sciences and you will integrate these across a range of case studies to evaluate the role of biomedical investigations in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease.

Within the module you will follow a series of clinical case studies across a range of pathological conditions, including malignancy, chronic multifactorial diseases, acute and emergency presentations, and the effects of aging. Alongside these case studies, you will attend lectures and undertake online learning to develop your knowledge of biomedical investigations across all disciplines. You will then apply your knowledge and evaluation through group workshops where each case will be discussed in a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) format, integrating clinical data with the results of biomedical investigations, and evidence-based practice.

Discipline-specific content will include the role of routine and specialist haematology in the diagnosis and classification of anaemias, malignancies and monitoring of coagulation pathways; the role of transfusion science in the preparation and supply of therapeutic blood products; the role of clinical biochemistry in the monitoring of organ and system function and dysfunction, and the assessment of nutritional status; the role of cellular and molecular pathology in the diagnosis and stratification of malignancies; and the role of clinical microbiology in the diagnosis and treatment of infections.

Throughout the module, you will be encouraged to develop a critically evaluative approach, with emphasis given to the appropriate requesting and interpreting of clinical tests, sensitivity, specificity and predictive value, and the uncertainty of measurement in a clinical context.

Learning and teaching for this module will be delivered through a blend of lectures and online resources, running alongside a fortnightly workshop series. Workshops will be structured in the style of clinical “multidisciplinary team” meetings (MDTs), within which students will follow four case studies running consecutively throughout the length of the module. Within these workshops the results of multidisciplinary laboratory results will be discussed and evaluated, and use will be made of external specialist lecturers, cross-school lecturing staff, and service-users to develop the breadth and depth of discussion seen at an MDT.

Provan, D (Ed) (2018) Oxford Textbook of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, Fourth Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
ISBN 9780198766537

Ahmed, N (2016) Clinical Biochemistry, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
ISBM9780199674442

Moore, G; Knight, G; Blann, A (2016) Haematology, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
ISBM 9780199668861

Orchard, G; Nation, B (2017) Histopathology, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
ISBN 9780198717331

Ford, M (2019) Medical Microbiology, Third Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
ISBN 9780198818144

Warford, A; Presneau, N (2019) Molecular Diagnostics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
ISBN 9780198735731

Avent N (2018) Transfusion and Transplantation Science, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
ISBN 9780198735731

In this module, you will explore the multidisciplinary use of biomedical investigations in the diagnosis and evaluation of pathological processes.

The module will develop your underpinning knowledge of blood, cellular, infection and genetic sciences and you will integrate these across a range of case studies to evaluate the role of biomedical investigations in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease.

Within the module you will follow a series of clinical case studies across a range of pathological conditions, including malignancy, chronic multifactorial diseases, acute and emergency presentations, and the effects of aging. Alongside these case studies, you will attend lectures and undertake online learning to develop your knowledge of biomedical investigations across all disciplines. You will then apply your knowledge and evaluation through group workshops where each case will be discussed in a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) format, integrating clinical data with the results of biomedical investigations, and evidence-based practice.

Discipline-specific content will include the role of routine and specialist haematology in the diagnosis and classification of anaemias, malignancies and monitoring of coagulation pathways; the role of transfusion science in the preparation and supply of therapeutic blood products; the role of clinical biochemistry in the monitoring of organ and system function and dysfunction, and the assessment of nutritional status; the role of cellular and molecular pathology in the diagnosis and stratification of malignancies; and the role of clinical microbiology in the diagnosis and treatment of infections.

Throughout the module, you will be encouraged to develop a critically evaluative approach, with emphasis given to the appropriate requesting and interpreting of clinical tests, sensitivity, specificity and predictive value, and the uncertainty of measurement in a clinical context.