Curriculum
The Geisinger School of Medical Laboratory Science is a 48-week program. You’ll spend time each week in scheduled clinical and classroom instruction. Classroom instruction will include lectures, class discussion exercises and examinations. You will have work in nearly all content areas every week building knowledge and skills throughout the year. During the first term, you will focus on building knowledge, while in the second term you’ll focus on applying skills to your knowledge base and exploring the intersection of pathophysiology to clinical diagnostics.
Formal courses in the curriculum are described below. All courses include didactic and hands-on skill components. All activites in the program including during clinical rotations are designed to be educational. You will be assessed on meeting hands-on entry-level skill competence during clinical rotations where you are demonstrating the same skills you will be using every day as a medical laboratory scientist. At times, you may be reporting patient, quality or other results under the direct supervision of qualified responsible personnel. You will not replace paid staff during clinical education experiences. For more information or questions regarding the course schedule or curriculum, please contact GSMLS@geisinger.edu.
Clinical Hematology and Coagulation
Hematology I focuses on cells and components of human blood, morphology, coagulation and morphology. Hematology II focuses on pathophysiology of hematologic conditions and coagulopathies, treatments and monitoring. The hematology clinical rotation offers hands-on experience with hematology and coagulation diagnostic devices and assays, troubleshooting and quality assurance. The clinical rotation may be delivered in several parts within various system laboratories. You’re expected to pass basic competencies for performing hematologic and coagulation testing. Body fluid analysis and flow cytometry may also be included in hematology clinical rotation experiences.
Clinical Chemistry
Chemistry I focuses on diagnostic testing and clinical assays utilized for measuring proteins, lipids, enzymes, heme derivatives, drug metabolites and other substances in human blood. Chemistry II focuses on physiology and disease states that influence endocrinology, toxicology, acid-base balance, heme synthesis and testing algorithms used in disease diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. During the clinical rotation, you’ll be introduced to instrumentation, quality assurance and methodologies used in clinical chemistry testing.
Immunohematology and Blood Banking
Blood banking I focuses on immunohematology and analytical methods to determine blood type, expected and unexpected antibodies and compatibility of blood products. Blood banking II focuses on blood donor selection, component preparation, product utilization, patient blood management and transfusion practice. Clinical rotations will give you hands-on experience in hospital transfusion service and prepare you to pass basic competencies in immunohematological testing and component selection and preparation. You’ll also have opportunities to explore therapeutic apheresis and stem cell collection.
Clinical Microbiology
Clinical microbiology I focuses on methods of collection, isolation and identification of bacteria, fungus, yeast and parasites in the clinical laboratory. The second section of the course will focus more on clinical bacteriology from an organ system standpoint, as well as on clinical mycology and parasitology. Clinical rotations will give you a hands-on experience in sections of clinical microbiology laboratories and prepare you to complete basic competences in diagnostic bacteriology and mycology.
Urine and Body Fluid Analysis
Urine and body fluid analysis I will focus on physical, chemical and microscopic analysis of and identification of substances contained in urine, along with renal physiology and urine formation. Urine and body fluid analysis II will focus on pathophysiology of genitourinary systems, formation, physiology and analysis of body fluids to include serous, amnionic, CSF and seminal fluids. Clinical rotations will give you the opportunity to perform hands-on testing in clinical laboratories and include competency testing in basic urinalysis.
Clinical Immunology
Immunology I will discuss the physiology of the immune system and the principles of serological testing and interpretation. Immunology II will focus on pathophysiology of the immune system and applications of immune principles to transplantation and infectious disease testing.
Molecular Diagnostics
Molecular diagnostics I provides an overview of molecular biology and basic diagnostic principles and techniques and quality assurance methodology. Molecular diagnostics II covers automated molecular diagnostic platforms, sequencing and research applications. Clinical rotations performed in designated areas provide you with hands-on experience and exposure to high-complexity and laboratory-developed testing, quality assurance and workflow considerations specific to the molecular diagnostic laboratory.
Laboratory Operations Seminar
Laboratory operations I includes qualifications and regulations for personnel standards in the clinical laboratory, specimen collection (including phlebotomy) requirements and quality assurance and laboratory mathematics. Laboratory operations II continues review of all areas of the clinical laboratory and adds basic research and management principles and educational methodology. Research principles and certification exam review and preparation are delivered as part of this course.