25 ECTS credits
750 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 6021785FNR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
Clinical biology is the domain of medicine that focuses on performing laboratory dissections on biological fluids or cell material for the prediction, prognosis and monitoring of diseases in children and adults. The clinical biologist gives professional scientifically funded advice concerning the responsible use and interpretation of clinical biological tests. He/she vouches for the quality of dissections from the sampling until the reporting to the requesting physician and for the organization and development of the laboratory.
After receiving a lower education in the 3 subdomains (hematology, clinical chemistry and radio-immunology & microbiology), the ASO will follow a higher education, either polyvalent or more targeted towards 1 or 2 sub-specialisms, according to the internships in these subdisciplines.
Apart from the classical diagnostic research, the general clinical biologist plays a role in diagnostic evaluative sciences: evaluate the health systems and care patterns, analysis of (new) diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, including analysis, cost-efficiency and cost-effectivity, quality analysis, medico-economic analyses, “outcome research”, decisional analyses, new methods and their evaluation.
During the MaNaMa, the ASO acquires the necessary scientific knowledge, skills and attitudes for the future professional career. These are indispensable for professional formation, as legally determined by the accreditation committee. See OO-fiche ‘Skills in Clinical Biology’.
The ASO completes his/her training in the sub-specialisms or sub-specializes in 1 of these.
Apart from the contents of part 1 of this course (see OO-fiche Problem-Solving capability, part 1), which is also a part of the exam, the following topics are covered:
General
Data management: computerized management of medical data, data protection, data transmission, archiving, report validation, (electronic signature), basic aspects of databases, spreadsheets, internet…
Laboratory management
Clinical chemistry higher education
Further enhance the general knowledge in clinical chemistry & radio-immunology (substrates, electrolytes, pH and blood gasses, enzymes, specific proteins) in the blood and other fluids
Laboratory robotic principles and automatization strategies
Causes of (positive and negative) analytical interferences in biochemical dosages: knowledge on, be able to detect and clear)
Biochemical physiopathology of the organs
Further enhance knowledge from basic education
Toxicological and therapeutic drug monitoring, including advices (optional)
Hormonology/endocrinology- tumor markers
Allergy tests and auto-antibodies
Vitamins, minerals and bone metabolisms
(congenital) metabolic diseases (optional)
Perform test evaluations; fine-tuning of new parameters
Participate in scientific research; prepare scientific publications; active participation in symposia/presentations
Quality control in clinical chemistry
Accreditation in clinical chemistry
Training/guidance of trainees and medical laboratory technicians
Hematology higher education
Quality control systems in hematology
Hematological pathology: technical aspects, clinical backgrounds and diagnostic strategy
Distinguish between primary and secondary hematological diseases
Hematological oncology: classification and global treatment pathways of these diseases, including bone marrow transplant
Polyglobulies and hemolytic anemias
Cytomorphological investigation: autonomously evaluate peripheral blood, bone marrow and bodily fluids of non-hematological and hematological diseases
Hematological analyzers
Flowcytometry
Hematological biochemistry
Molecular diagnostics
Coagulation and hemostasis
Immunohematology
Knowledge of the functioning of a hospital blood bank, transfusion committee and haemovigilance
Microbiology higher education
Mycology
Mycobacteriology
Virologic diagnostics (infectious serology (all parameters, confirmation tests, avidity tests), viral cultures, molecular diagnosti
cs); validation of virologic tests; virologic knowledge and advising
Hospital epidemiology
Antibiotic-stewardship and infection control (hospital hygiene)
Perform test evaluation; fine-tuning of new parameters
Participate in scientific research; prepare scientific publications. Actice participation in symposia/presentations
Quality control in microbiology
Accreditation microbiological lab
Training/guidance of trainees and medical laboratory techniques
Involvement/awareness of the economic aspects of microbiological diagnostics
WORKING METHODS
The final objectives are met in practice by:
Multidisciplinary staff meetings (1h/week)
Staff meetings in the discipline (1h/week)
Quality meetings (1h/week)
Sessions for technical skills
Bench-side and bed-side teaching
Case discussions
Room tour
Supervised consultation or advices (e.g. thrombo tests, blood collection, infectiology)
For the sub-specialism in microbiology, it is recommended to follow the interuniversity special training in antibiotic policy and to start the MaNaMa in Hospital hygiene.
For the sub-specialism in clinical chemistry & radio-immunology, it is recommended to follow the training for the in vitro use of radionuclides concerning clinical biology.
For the sub-specialism in hematology, it is recommended to follow the Belgian Hematology Society training program.
The ASO is actively involved in laboratory analyses, including control of the pre-analytical phase and validation of produced results (post-analytical phase). The ASO remains critical and complements the practical knowledge by learning background theory from the various information sources that are provided.
OLR 1: Has acquired profound medical knowledge and insights in the specialism (M, W).
OLR 19: Satisfies the general and specific final objectives, inherent to the specialism, concerning diagnostics and syndromes/diseases (M, W).
OLR 3: Has further enhanced the problem-solving capacity and applies this in practice (M, W).
OLR 6: Knows the possibilities of other health care disciplines and the expertise of others in patient health care (C, M).
OLR 2: Has acquired the skills, inherent to the specialism, and applies these correctly.
OLR 13: Can participate in the organization of health care and in the policy of the department (Ma).
OLR 15: Takes into account the economic aspects of medicine and uses the available resources accordingly, avoiding under- and overuse (M).
OLR 17: Keeps further developing and improving own skills.
OLR 18: Is capable of introducing “standards of care” and quality requirements with regard to the different aspects of formulating one’s own specialism (M, Ma).
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
SELF Practical Assignment determines 50% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the SELF Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Portfolio with performance interview (50%).
Exam with questioning by jury of Clinical Biology on documents and SOPs from the quality handbook (50%).
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Specialist Medicine: Clinical Biology (only offered in Dutch)