Make the most of in-house clinical pathology and achieve accurate, rapid diagnoses. Do you want to maximise the benefits of your bench-top analyser and in-house pathology? Achieve rapid, cost-effective diagnoses with increased confidence? Ensure that your bench-top analyser is providing accurate information?
This course will expand and refine your diagnostic skills across a range of modalities including biochemistry, haematology, acid-base balance, endocrinology, blood smear evaluation and cytology. You will be guided through a range of practical techniques that will grow your confidence and ensure you are getting the best out of your in-house machines, as well as from external pathology services.
Hear what Sandra has to say about the course:
Past Participant:
I just completed the Clinical Pathology course and although much more involved than I thought, I found it so helpful to me and my work. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in clinical pathology who wants to further their skills.
Merryn Murray
Learning Outcomes
The aim of this distance education program is to provide an overview of clinical pathology and assist you in developing and refining your approach to disease diagnosis, while extending the range of tests you can perform and interpret in-house.
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Confidently interpret haematological data, identify and describe abnormalities in erythrocyte and leucocyte morphology and understand which additional tests you should request in common haematological disease states
- Refine your technique in making and evaluating blood smears
- Confidently undertake and interpret tests specific to haemostasis, lipids and proteins
- Undertake appropriate quality assurance for your in-house laboratory and generate a troubleshooting plan for when in-house equipment is producing unexpected results
- Develop and refine your skills in best-practice collection, handling and processing of cytological samples and in the interpretation of aspirates and fluid samples
- Refine your ability to assess and interpret data from tests specific to renal, hepatic and exocrine pancreatic function
- Develop and refine your skills in best-practice collection and handling of cytological samples and in the interpretation of aspirates
- Refine your ability to assess and interpret data from tests specific to renal, hepatic and exocrine pancreatic function
- Confidently perform and interpret urinalysis sediment examination and integrate this manual skill into your diagnostic repertoire when interpreting renal, hepatic, muscular, endocrine and other disease states
- Confidently interpret the results from endocrine testing
- Develop and refine your interpretation of biochemical data, electrolyte abnormalities and acid-base parameters.
- Get the best results from external pathology services.
Modules
- Introduction to haematology and disorders of erythrocytes and leukocytes
Wipe the dust from your microscope because in addition to interpreting the results produced by haematology analysers, this module works through the examination of blood smears and the identifying features of erythrocyte and leukocyte abnormalities. The information collected from smear examination helps determine the potential causes for anomalies in erythrocyte and leukocyte parameters.
- Disorders of haemostasis, plasma proteins and lipids
Abnormalities in haemostasis may produce life threatening blood loss and rapid identification of the underlying cause is paramount in managing a critical patient. This module covers the testing modalities and causes for haemostatic defects so that these emergencies can be worked through effectively In contrast, anomalies in lipid and protein concentration are rarely life threatening and their interpretation can be more thoughtfully carried out.
- Practical use of in-clinic analysers and evaluation of Blood Glucose Abnormalities
When using analysers in practice we need to know that they are providing accurate results for interpretation. In this module we will look at quality assurance programs that are used for practice instruments including haematology analysers, biochemistry analysers, glucometers and refractometers. Interpretation of results is reliant not only on a knowledge of various disease processes but on how reference intervals are established, and the sensitivity, specificity and other statistical concepts for the tests that we are carrying. This is not a statistics course so the statistics is not onerous! Blood and serum glucose concentrations are readily affected by artefact and we will consider these as well as the diseases associated with abnormalities in glucose concentration.
- Diagnostic cytology
Examining patients’ lumps and bumps is a common part of a veterinary day and the ability to look at samples from masses in practice is very useful. Similarly, rapid evaluation of fluids is highly desirable when managing the patient with abdominal or thoracic fluid accumulation. In this module we will consider collection and handling of samples but primarily concentrate on cytological evaluation of aspirates from a number of different sites.
- Laboratory evaluation of hepatic and exocrine pancreatic disease
The liver can be an enigma, with hepatic enzymes increasing in a number of non-hepatic conditions and then minimally rising in the face of significant hepatic disease. This module investigates the use of routine biochemistry parameters in investigating hepatic disease and which additional laboratory parameters are of help in working up the hepatic patient. Pancreatic disease can be associated with abnormalities in liver enzymes in addition to pancreatic enzyme alterations and we will consider these further in this module also.
- Laboratory evaluation of thyroid and adrenal disorders
Endocrine disorders are some of the more frequent conditions seen in practice, with feline hyperthyroidism so common that it would be expected on a daily basis. Other endocrinopathies are usually not seen as frequently and choosing the ‘best’ test for working up a suspicious case can leave us wondering, because there are no 100% sensitive and specific diagnostic tests in this arena. This module will investigate endocrinopathies, their testing modalities and how best to go about monitoring the patient while on therapy for these diseases.
- Renal and Muscle Disorders and Urinalysis
Kidney function is difficult to assess by routine methods
until the patient is well on the way towards failure and, to complicate
matters, various non-renal diseases can elevate the same parameters. As a
consequence, urinalysis is a vital component when assessing the renal
patient and examination of the urinary sediment is an integral part of
urinalysis. In this module we will look at the integration of blood work
and urinalysis, including sediment evaluation, as aids in assessing
renal and urinary function.
- Electrolyte imbalances and acid-base disorders
Electrolyte abnormalities may tune us into a specific
disease such as hypoadrenocorticism, but more often they provide an
indication of disease severity or direct a fluid therapy plan. Acid-base
imbalances often accompany electrolyte disorders, although we are
inclined to ignore this aspect of pathology because it is an unfamiliar
area. In this module we will address these factors and bring a degree of
comfort to analysing the data.
Course Delivery
This online course comes with:
- Comprehensive digital notes and images
- Self-assessed cases to test your knowledge and understanding
- A discussion forum for conversation, debate and sharing cases with your peers and tutors
- A monthly assignment based on case studies for each topic. Individual feedback and explanations will be provided by your tutors
- A practical 2-day workshop, including microscopy sessions, to apply the knowledge you have gained
Workshop
2-Day Workshop: Sydney TBA
*Note: if travel restrictions impact on workshops running as face to face events, arrangements will be made for an online alternative.
What is Distance Education?
Premium, intensive online veterinary CPD
All CVE Distance Education (DE) programs are mentored by leading veterinary experts who will provide individual feedback and advice on completion of each monthly module. Each module may include written content, technique videos, self-reflections, quizzes and online submission of monthly assignments.
Maximise the opportunity to expand and consolidate your learning by participating in the tutor moderated group discussion forum and attending the optional 2-day practical workshop, including microscopy sessions.
Who should enrol?
This course is suitable for qualified veterinarians.
Pay as you learn
Choosing your DE course is a big commitment, so there’s no need to add further stress by paying your course up front. To pay as you learn, you will need a AU$1,000 deposit to secure your place, followed by 50% of the total course fee 10 days prior to course commencement date. We’ll arrange simple monthly direct debits from your credit card over 3 or 6 months.
Note: Payment Plan will incur an additional AU$250 administration fee, and Early Bird rates do not apply if you choose the payment plan option.
| Course fees |
Member* Super
Early Bird |
Member*
Early Bird |
Member* Full Rate |
Non-member Rate |
| Clinical Pathology |
$5238 |
$5384 |
$5529 |
$5820 |
*Members include: Practice, Professional, Part-time Professional, Recent Graduate, and Academic members.
Loyalty DE Discount: Completed 2 or more Distance Education (DE) courses in the previous 5 years, you are eligible for a 10% discount on future DE courses. Discounts are not cumulative. For further information about discount options for multiple registrations at the one event, please read the full Terms. To redeem your discount contact the CVE via email [email protected] or phone +61 2 9351 7979 (Monday to Friday, AEST 9am to 5pm).