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Faculty of Health Sciences

Medical Laboratories

136 Credit Hours 70% Minimum Grade Department Accreditations

Department Welcome

Dr. Moh’d Al-Dabet

“ Welcome to the Medical Laboratories department! ”
Moh’d Al-Dabet

Medical Labs are one of the most imperative aspects of medicine, for without it healthcare providers would not be able to properly diagnose patients. At AUM the Medical Laboratories program is designed to produce excellent medical laboratory technicians capable of providing crucial clinical information to a wide range of healthcare providers. Our Medical Labs graduates open themselves up to career opportunities in hospitals and different specialized medical centers, as well as in diagnostic, clinical, genetic, and forensic labs. They are also equipped to work in research, quality control, product and application specialties and in the educational sector.

Introduction Video for Medical Laboratories

See what we have to offer in this exclusive welcome video.

Study Plan

Details about the study plan and curriculum.

Course Curriculum: 136 Credit Hours

Guidance Plan

Guidelines and plan for student guidance.

Course Curriculum: 136 Credit Hours

List of Competencies

Medical Laboratories - List of Competencies

  1. Knowledge and understanding:
    1. Understand the human body systems and their functions in health and disease states.
    2. Identify the basic components of the laboratory testing process; including pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phases.
    3. Know the different laboratory tests regarding their requirements, proper selection and causes of discrepant results
  2. Intellectual and technical skills:
    1. Perform proficiently full range of clinical laboratory testing in different areas (microbiology, immunology, clinical chemistry, haematology, coagulation, immunohematology and molecular) and other emerging diagnostics
    2. Analyse and interpret laboratory results and relate them to disease conditions
    3. Participate in the evaluation of new techniques and procedures in the clinical laboratory and provide technical and administrative consulting on laboratory testing.
  3. Communication skills (personal and academic):
    1. Able to communicate and discuss regarding laboratory results with patients and health-care professionals
    2. Participate actively in classroom discussions, analyse case studies and be able to present scientific knowledge.
  4. Professional and transferable skills:
    1. Exercise and master ethical considerations and good laboratory practices (GLP)
    2. Able to identify lab errors and solve related problems
    3. Capable of instructing, guiding and training laboratory personnel and other health-care professional
    4. Able to demonstrate clinical laboratory management and organization skills

Course Description

Detailed descriptions of the courses offered.

301213 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
3 0 301221 -
This course introduces the student to the basic mechanisms of diseases, organs affected and the response of normal tissues to injury. It provides a comprehensive and yet, concise account of the important features of disease and to link, where possible, the pathological changes with effects on the patients. This helps students to have an overview of most aspects of pathology, explains the mechanisms of disease processes and provides a strong emphasis on clinic-pathological correlation, which might be helpful in differential diagnosis.

301221 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
3 0 304161 301226
The course provides the students with knowledge about the normal functions and mechanism of various physiological systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, immunology, endocrine, neural, muscular and gastrointestinal) as well as basic concepts of cellular physiology.

301232 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
3 0 902111 301237
The course emphasizes human biochemistry in both health and disease and explores the roles of essential biological molecules focusing on protein chemistry, while covering lipids and carbohydrates. It provides a systematic and methodical application of general and organic chemistry principles. Students examine the structure of proteins, their function, binding to other molecules and the methodologies for the purification and characterization of proteins. Enzymes and their kinetics and mechanisms are covered in detail. Metabolic pathways are examined from thermodynamic and regulatory perspectives.

301112 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
1 0 201101 -
This course provides the vocabulary and abbreviations used in the medical field. It also introduces all word elements associated with each system and their meanings. It helps students understand the basic rules of building and analyzing medical terms. Utilizing a system approach, this course allows students to be able to define and pronounce medical terms relating to the human body including its basic anatomy, diseases, diagnosis and clinical procedures.

301214 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 301116 -
The course concentrates on the bases of routine histology methods and the elementary principles, constituents and use of apparatuses in the histopathology laboratory.

301227 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 301226 -
The course covers the principles and the standard techniques involved in laboratory analysis of body fluids, including, cerebral spinal fluid, synovial fluid, seminal fluid, urine, pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, stool and sputum; their normal characteristics and pathological changes in diseases. There are some case studies emphasizing the correlation of results with pathological status.

301233 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
3 0 201101 -
The course emphasizes the molecular basis of cellular processes. It includes the identification of human genes and genetic disorders, covering the mechanism of mutation that leads to those disorders, as well as methods applied to diagnose them.

301237 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301232
The course emphasizes on the laboratory methods to study, explore and investigate the essential biological molecules. The focus will be on the amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and acid-base solutions. The student will practice and perform experimental biochemical investigations including: acid-base titrations, buffer preparation, basic techniques used to separate biomolecules, spectrophotometric measurements and analysis of enzyme activity.

301240 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
3 0 201101 301241
This course focuses on the various groups of microorganisms: Bacteria, Parasites, Fungi and Viruses, regarding their morphology, growth, evolution, genetics and role in the disease progression. It also focus on their identification, their transmission and host resistance

301241 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301240
The course covers basic knowledge, techniques and skills related to the practical microbiology such as, media preparation, principle and types, aseptic techniques of handling bacterial culture, inoculation, how to grow and identify microorganisms based on culture features, staining, and biochemical metabolic differences. It enables student to identify a mixture of more than two microorganisms. Additionally, the lab will cover basics of antibiotic sensitivity testing methodology, and experiments related to the physical control of microorganisms, techniques of membrane filter for microbiological analysis of water samples.

301252 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301240 -
This course concentrates on the basic structure and function of the immune system and the role of innate and adaptive components (cellular and acellular) in the defense mechanisms. Moreover, it covers the immunological disorders caused by immune response as well were the principle of immunization and vaccines.

301281 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 201101 -
This course covers the theoretical and practical application of clinical duties of the Medical Technologist working in a Hematology, Body Fluids, Clinical Chemistry, Serology, Immunohematology and Diagnostic Microbiology laboratory department. It also covers laboratory orientation, procedures, techniques and an introduction to the clinical laboratory instrumentation. The course also focuses on Laboratory Safety, Infection Control and introduces Biosafety and Biosecurity.

301331 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301232 301336
This course studies the biochemical alterations arising in the human body due to numerous diseases and the valuation of disorders in sugars, proteins, lipids, enzymes, non-protein nitrogen products, bile pigments and mineral metabolism in addition to electrolytes, blood gases and acid base balance.

301332 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301331 301337
This course focuses on clinical significance and approaches of investigation of hormones and metabolites, trace elements, vitamins, therapeutic drugs, toxicology, and laboratory calculation as well as the diagnostic measures that help in assessing the competence of diverse body organs.

301333 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301233 301338
This course introduces the basic principles and techniques of molecular diagnostics, nucleic acid amplification technologies, hybridization technologies, cytogenetics, molecular diagnosis of genetic diseases, Identity analysis, molecular diagnosis of hematopoietic neoplasms and solid tumors.

301336 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301331
The course provides the student with the skills of analyzing various biochemical constituents of body fluids such as enzymes, serum proteins, amino acids and non-protein nitrogen compounds, sugars, lipid and lipid profiles.

301337 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301332
This course deals with the useful application of clinical biochemistry in blood gas analysis, electrolyte and acid?base balance, liver function test; kidney function test; calcium and phosphorus, iron, trace element, hormones, drugs , toxicology and vitamins.

301338 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301333
This course concentrates on applying practical the techniques used in molecular diagnosis including isolation, quantification, amplification, restriction, separation and detection of nucleic acids. It focuses also on Chromosomes preparation and analysis, DNA hybridization techniques (reverse hybridization and FISH), and animal tissue culture.

301341 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301240 301346
This course is intended to build up the knowledge in the field of diagnostic bacteriology by covering various topics including, pathogenesis of bacterial infections, human microbiota and identification of pathogenic bacteria, virulence factors and epidemiology, prevention and control. In parallel this course introduces basics of the bacterial treatment strategy

301342 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301341 301347
This course is intended to introduce the diagnostic microbiology practice on the organ system approach by covering various topics: clinical microbiology lab organization and safety measures, specimen management, performance improvement in microbiology laboratory, appropriate sample collection and processing. Moreover, it covers the identification of pathogenic microorganisms, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and selection of therapy.

301344 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301240 -
This course provides a basic understanding of the biochemical and molecular mechanism of viral infection by studying viral replication, virulence, host-parasite relationships, molecular mechanisms of infection, and the host response to infections. It also provides the tools to diagnosis viral infections, vaccines and control of viral infections.

301346 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301341
This laboratory course is designed to teach clinical microbiology skills of the pathogenic bacterial strains involving certain procedures; like, cultivation, isolation, characterization, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The laboratory exercises will provide the student with the most comprehensive experiences possible.

301347 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301342
The course concentrates on the technical laboratory diagnosis of human infectious diseases. It provides the student with the required skills to perform microbiological cultivation of pathogens from wide range of clinical specimens utilizing quality controlled standard procedures and techniques, conventional and non-conventional methods, accurate reporting and interpretation of the findings. The course includes the implementation of professional ethics as well

301351 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
3 0 301221 301356
This course is intended to introduce the students into the hematopoietic system and its association to other organs and body systems, erythropoiesis and leucopoiesis in health and illness, coagulation pathways and contributed factors. The students will also learn the basic hematological tests performed routinely in the medical laboratory.

301354 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
3 0 301351 301358
This course offers a broad study of hematological and hemostasis abnormalities, including anemia, leukemia, lymphocytic and myelo-proliferative disorders and coagulation disorders thrombosis and platelets disorders. The course focuses on the pathophysiology and laboratory diagnosis

301356 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301351
This course focus on learning the basic hematological tests performed routinely in the medical laboratory.

301358 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301354
This course provides a complete clarification on the usage of specialized hematologic tests in the diagnosis of blood cell disorders. Students apply knowledge and skills to interpret lab results, and use a problem solving approach as they read case studies.

301361 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
3 0 301240 301366
This course entails two parts, the first focuses on the medically important parasites, regarding their morphology, general structure and differential characters, life cycle (diagnostic and infective stage), pathogenesis and epidemiology. Moreover, laboratory diagnosis of parasitic infections (current and new diagnostic techniques), preventive and control measures. The second part will introduce the student to medically important fungi by covering the following topics; taxonomy and nomenclature, basic fungal cell structure, primary and opportunistic fungal pathogens and mechanisms of pathogenesis. Furthermore, the course covers the laboratory diagnostic methods in medical mycology including morphologic, genetic and non- culture methods.

301366 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301361
This laboratory course is focusing on the laboratory methods, diagnostic features and clinical specimens used for identifying the clinically important parasites and fungi. Using prepared slides and clinical specimens, the students will examine and identify the parasites or fungi when present. The lab course will help to identify and differentiate between various stages (egg, trophozoite, cyst, larval and adult worm segments). Moreover, it focuses on specimen collection management, smear examination, microscopic examination of fecal specimens by concentration (sedimentation) method, staining procedure for the detection of intestinal or blood parasites. On the other hand, the student will gain the basic laboratory techniques used in the diagnosis of fungal infection that include; specimen preparation for processing, direct microscopic examination, types of media used in the primary isolation of fungi, culture techniques, macro and microscopic examination of cultures and selected tests and stains used in the identification.

301411 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
3 0 301213 -
This course deals with the diagnosis of different diseases based on the clinical laboratory investigations of the bodily fluids such as blood, urine and tissues. Therefore, this course provides the student with an in depth understanding of clinical analyses of body fluids and tissues that involves various disciplines of microbiology, serology, clinical chemistry, hematology, transfusion medicine, cytogenetics and molecular diagnostics.

301424 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301331 -
This course studies the endocrine system in relation to its function, disorders and laboratory diagnosis. It emphasizes on the epidemiology, risk factors, impacts and establishment of diagnosis of different diseases such as calcium metabolic diseases, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular risk factors.

301451 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
3 0 301252 301456
This course integrates basic and clinical immunology featuring theories and techniques of clinical immunology, relationships between infection and immunity, immunopathology, diagnostic techniques, and treatment of immunologically related diseases.

301456 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301451
The course introduces the student to common serological testing used in a clinical lab comprising agglutination reaction, precipitation reaction, complement fixation test, indirect hemagglutination, hemagglutination inhibition test, Elisa, and more.

301452 3 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 301351 301357
The course offers the knowledge and abilities necessary to study human blood groups, blood group genetics, hemolytic disease, transfusion therapy, current blood bank practice, and the performance of clinical laboratory techniques and the understanding of results.

301457 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301452
The course covers the study of blood group antigens and antibodies related to the ABO and Rh systems and other major blood group systems, identification of factors responsible for mismatches and the investigation of methods for blood processing, management and storage.

301470 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 6 90 CH & 301227 -
This training course offers instructions and practice of laboratory procedures in an appropriate hospital laboratory. It covers chemical and microscopic examination of body fluids. Moreover, the students will be orientated and guided to different microscopy techniques and will perform techniques in fixation and preservation of specimens, staining and sectioning, construction and use of the microtome, and the preparation of histological slides. It is a real hands-on application of the materials learned in the analysis of body fluids and histological techniques courses.

301473 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 6 90 CH & 301452 -
This training course offers instructions and practice of laboratory procedures in a blood bank in an appropriate hospital laboratory. It is a real hands-on application of the materials learned in the blood bank ? immunohematology course.

301477 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 6 90 CH & 301342 -
This course practices techniques in an appropriate hospital laboratory for processing specimens for the isolation and identification of various microbe-causing diseases in addition to techniques for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). It is a real hands-on application of the materials learned in the clinical microbiology ? 1 and 2 courses.

301479 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 6 90 CH & 301451 -
This training course offers instructions and practice of laboratory procedures in immunology / serology in an appropriate hospital laboratory. It is a real hands-on application of the materials learned in the immunology and clinical immunology and serology courses.

301491 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 6 90 CH & 301354 -
This training course offers instructions and practice of laboratory procedures in Hematology in an appropriate hospital laboratory. It is a real hands-on application of the materials learned in the basic hematology and clinical hematology courses.

301492 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 6 90 CH & 301332 -
This course deals with instructions and practices of laboratory measures in clinical biochemistry and automation in an appropriate hospital laboratory. It is a real hands-on application of the materials learned in the clinical biochemistry and endocrinology courses.

301325 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
1 0 60 CH & 301281 -
The course is intended to provide the students with the essential concepts regarding the scientific methods of problem solving and including introduction to research scientific engines, literature review, addressing scientific questions, hypothesis stating, study objectives, study design, bioethical considerations, data collection and analysis, grant proposal writing and report writing.

301334 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
1 0 301333 301339
This course is intended to introduce and explore the tools used for genetic diagnosis of diseases on the chromosomal level. This involves the principles of chromosomal preparation, applying different chromosomal banding techniques, chromosomal analysis and karyotyping, high resolution chromosomal analysis, chromosomal abnormalities and their nomenclature along with an introduction to FISH and CGH techniques

301335 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301233 -
This course is intended to cover the fundamental aspects of biotechnology and its new direction in the medicine. It is an introduction to genetic manipulation, recombinant DNA technology and its use to produce genetically engineering plants and animals, production of recombinant therapeutics (proteins), microbial biotechnology, the use of PCR to identify the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Moreover, the course focuses on the use of DNA fingerprinting, forensic analysis, medical biotechnology and biomedicine and the ethical concepts in biotechnology.

301339 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301334
This course will provide the student with basic practical and technical skills to culture different human tissues, arrest culture in metaphase stage, preparation slides from GTG-banding, locate and choose metaphases for analysis analyze chromosomes and report the results.

301381 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 60 CH & 301281 -
This course is intended to teach the students how to maintain an active and effective medical laboratory including general, structural, resources, processes and management requirements. It specifies the processes and duties involved with laboratory organization such as the maintenance of lab supplies, inventories, equipment and regulations. Furthermore, the students will know skills required for management roles, budget planning, safety precautions, sterilization and disinfection. The course will entail quality assurance of pre-analytical, analytical and post- analytical phases, the application of internal and external quality assessment programmers and international accreditation standards. This course provides the knowledge behind establishing and maintaining quality in medical laboratories, which implies a smoothly, safely and error-free running laboratory. It focuses also on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Clinical Lab Improvement Amendments (CLIA).

301382 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301331 -
This course is intended to provide a broad-based understanding of clinical laboratory instrumentation principles, their specific applications and the process of instrument selection as well calibration and maintenance to produce quality and trustable findings. The course will cover essential lab instruments, like spectrophotometers, ion-selective electrodes, centrifuges, electronic balances and turbido-meters. Moreover, other sophisticated instruments will be discussed, like: hematology analyzers, coagulation instruments, automated clinical chemistry analyzers, electrophoresis, chromatography and immunochemical methodologies.

301420 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 99 CH, Dep approval & 301325 -
The course content will vary depending upon the actual project chosen by the supervisor. However, this course will introduce the expected graduates to the practice and experience the skills of scientific literature search and writing of a scientific report. The course offers a detailed project description that includes the problem, milestones and a list of background literature. Some but not all students will perform independent practical research and/or theoretical calculations in the chosen topic.

301432 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
1 0 301213 -
This course aims to teach the students the professional ethics, licensure, regulatory agencies and governmental and legal laws, bylaws and regulations in the medical practice. Moreover, in this course the students will examine the ethical and social issues surrounding the practice of medicine and medical-related professions, in particular the relationship between patient and physician, patients' data and medical records and confidentiality.

301425 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301227 -
This course is aiming to introduce the medical laboratory students to the most recent human assisted reproductive technologies (ART). ART offer a wide variety of services and procedures, like complete semen analysis, anti-sperm antibody testing, sperm cryopreservation and fertility preservation for cancer patients, intrauterine insemination (IUI), sperm preparation and testicular sperm extraction. On the other hand, ART entail different in-vitro fertilization techniques, which are designated to assess the human?s fertility. The course will provide the laboratory principles behind prenatal and pre implantation genetic testing.

301426 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
1 0 301333 301427
This course is intended to provide insights into the application of tissue culture on animal cells and particularly human primary cells and cell lines. In the course, an emphasis will be placed on mammalian systems, sterile and aseptic technique, media preparation, cell count and viability cryopreservation, sub-culturing and research applications. Moreover, the course involves correlation with practical session to ensure full understanding of the basic techniques used in cell culture, describe the equipment used on tissue culture and understand the safety procedures needed for tissue culture.

301427 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301426
This course introduces the practice and process of culturing animal cells and cell lines in the laboratory. Moreover, it focuses on routine maintenance and record keeping, including media preparation, cryopreservation, and troubleshooting common culture problems.

301428 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
1 0 99 CH &301325 -
This course is intended to afford the students the chance to choose a recent scientific topic using web search method to learn how to collect and organize the references, write an abstract, followed by a complete article (as mini review). Later, the student will gain the skills of making slides for data show presentation and present a short talk using the collected data followed by discussion with students? class.

301431 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301332 -
This course is intended to explore the actions of toxicants and mechanisms of their adverse health effects. The students are expected to develop a broad understanding of xenobiotics metabolism, biomarkers of toxicity, animal models of toxicology, techniques used for detecting of toxicant and molecular changes caused by environmental chemicals and toxicants. On the other hand, the course introduces methodology and terminology in Forensic Science. It also involves the use of scientific techniques and principles to address questions of interest to a court of law.

301432 2 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
2 0 301333 -
This course is intended to introduce the students to the application of computational methods to biological & biomedical data analysis and discovery. The focus will be on computational methods in genomics and proteomics. In genomics, computational methods include DNA sequencing, fragments assembly, identification of genes in DNA, gene regulation, expression, large data arrays and methods to study genetic diversity. While in proteomics, the computational methods will embrace similarity, homology and analogy, protein folding and protein structure.

301116 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 304161
This course is a companion course to the Human Anatomy and Histology theoretical course and is intended to adequately prepare students in health science programs. In the laboratory, students will examine microscopic slides to understand the various histological structures of human tissues and organs. It includes the use of anatomical models and preserved animal dissections.

301226 1 CH. Prerequisite Co-requisite
0 3 - 301221
This laboratory course is a complementary practical work of the human physiology and must be taken in conjunction with the Human Physiology (301221). The course is designed to illustrate principles of human physiology and the structure and functions of the human body and training in physiological techniques.

Program Learning Outcomes

Medical Laboratories Program Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcomes describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. By the time of graduation, the Medical Laboratories Department's program must enable students to attain an ability to:

PLO1: Demonstrate an understanding of the basic components of laboratory testing (technical, procedural and problem solving) and be able to correlate its outcome with disease conditions.

PLO2: Be able to perform the full range of clinical laboratory tests independently.

PLO3: Be effective in communicating, participating and discussing laboratory-related issues and capable of conducting basic literature research and scientific writing.

PLO4: Be competent in evaluating and solving problems and technical errors related to the clinical laboratory testing process.

PLO5: Employ bioethical considerations and good laboratory practices (GLP), while coaching healthcare personnel and applying clinical laboratory management skills.