This guide is intended to provide a structured approach to training for
clinical trainees during their dedicated laboratory training time, and laboratory staff contributing
to their education & 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
Epidemiology
Diagnostic laboratory investigations
- Biochemical investigations relevant to haematology
- Blood bank investigations, including:
- antibody screen
- 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 (FBC) 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
- understand the sensitivity of tests
- understand 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 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 skills in interpretation of basic coagulation studies, and common reasons for
derangement of these tests
- principles of administration and governance of a haematology laboratory, including:
- accreditation
- conflict resolution
- document control
- quality assurance
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
