Syllabus and Clinical Training

Core learning includes anatomy and physiology, clinical biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, haematology, immunology and serology, blood banking, phlebotomy, histopathology and cytology, quality assurance, biosafety and laboratory management.

Training should cover haematology, biochemistry, microbiology, clinical pathology, blood-bank and histopathology or cytology areas. Students work with microscopy, routine analysers, centrifuges, pipettes, staining, specimen processing, standard operating procedures and laboratory information workflows.

Pre-analytical skills include patient identification, communication, correct collection, labelling, transport, storage and sample rejection. Analytical training covers authorised routine tests under supervision. Post-analytical learning includes recording, technical checks within assigned authority, documentation, result dispatch and critical-value escalation.

Students also learn internal quality control, calibration, maintenance logs, reagent management, control charts, error investigation and participation in external quality systems. Failed controls must be investigated before patient reporting; results must never be altered to appear acceptable.

Biosafety includes personal protective equipment, sharps safety, spill response, exposure reporting, sterilisation and biomedical-waste segregation. Patient confidentiality and data security apply to both paper and electronic records. Real supervised sample exposure is essential; simulation alone cannot establish full competence.