This guide is intended to provide a structured approach to training for clinical trainees during their dedicated laboratory training time, and for laboratory staff contributing to their education and assessment.
Clinical sciences and pathophysiology
- Diagnosis of acute leukaemia and other white blood cell disorders
- Diagnosis of disorders in:
- coagulation
- haemostasis
- platelets
- Diagnosis of other bone marrow pathologies
- Diagnosis of red blood cell disorders, including:
- haemoglobinopathies
- infections
- metabolic diseases
- microangiopathies
- Genomic investigations in haematology
- Transfusion medicine
Diagnostic laboratory investigations
- Biochemical investigations relevant to haematology
- Blood bank investigations, including:
- antibody screening
- blood group
- crossmatch
- Blood film examination, particularly focusing on recognition of
common or life-threatening disorders
- Bone marrow morphology of common haematological diseases
- Cytogenetic analysis
- Flow cytometry
- Full blood count interpretation
- Haemoglobinopathy diagnosis
- Interpretation of anatomical pathology reports relating to haematological
malignancies and associated disorders
- Molecular genetic testing
- Tests of haemostasis and platelet function
Procedures
- Apheresis
- Blood collection and specimen requirements
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
- It is intended that during laboratory training, clinical haematology
trainees will:
- become competent at bone marrow collection
- develop a basic overview of the role of the blood bank, including
actions necessary to provide safe blood products in patients with
auto- and alloantibodies, and understand the blood bank response
to massive transfusion scenarios
- develop an understanding of the principles of genetic testing,
such as:
- principles of somatic mutation qualitative and quantitative
testing
- rather than method detail, develop an understanding of the
appropriate application of testing
- sensitivity of tests
- what constitutes a significant change in serial quantitative
testing
- develop an understanding of the utility of flow cytometry in the
diagnosis of haematological disorders, as well as an understanding
of the limitations of the method
- develop basic microscopy skills, and an appreciation of
morphological features seen in blood and marrow for common
haematological diseases
- develop principles of administration and governance of
a haematology laboratory, including:
- accreditation
- conflict resolution
- document control
- quality assurance
- develop skills in interpretation of basic coagulation studies,
and common reasons for derangement of these tests
It is not intended for the RACP (physician only) trainees to become
proficient in signing out laboratory reports, but rather to understand
the principles of the haematology laboratory as it relates to the practice
of clinical haematology.
PCH
- Practical and theoretical differences in laboratory procedures when dealing with neonatal and paediatric samples, including:
- cross-matching / provision of blood products for neonates
- differing significance of morphological features in paediatric
blood films compared to adults
- significance of age-related reference ranges
- small volume sample integrity and sample processing
