HEMATOPATHOLOGY LABS:
Introduction and Self-Study

1. The laboratories focus on the microscopic, genetic and immunologic features of blood cells essential for the diagnosis of hematologic disorders.
2. The first week is a Self-Study exercise that (1) reviews the organization of hematopoietic organs, (2) introduces the terminology used to describe blood cells and (3) demonstrates the microscopic features of normal and abnormal blood smears.
3. The second week consists of two in-class laboratories that illustrate the laboratory diagnosis of anemias, physiologic white blood cell responses to infections and hematologic neoplasms.
4. The laboratories are staffed by three members of the Hematopathology faculty selected for their commitment to teaching excellence. Each laboratory uses case-based, interactive exercises that integrate symptoms and signs with microscopic findings and other laboratory data essential for an accurate diagnosis.
5. Diagnostic quality virtual slides are used during the in-class labs. Please bring your laptops and an ethernet cable so that you can attach directly to the intranet (provides the best performance for virtual slide review).
6. 10 questions on the final examination are based on the static images, virtual slides and factual material covered in the laboratories. Only the images and virtual slides contained in the Hematopathology laboratories are used for the exam. The Self-study Atlas has a test preparation mode and a review tool is provided for the virtual slide content as well (Virtual Slides Self-Tester, link from Laboratory Website)

Self-Study Laboratory (1-07-2013 thru 1-11-2013):

General and detailed objectives for the “Self-Study” lab:

1. General: Review normal blood cell development (hematopoiesis). Learn the microscopic appearance and frequency distribution of normal erythrocytes, leukocytes and selected anemias. Preview the microscopic appearance of red and white blood cell disorders discussed during week two.
2. Know where normal blood cell growth, differentiation and maturation occur (e.g. bone marrow, primary or secondary lymphoid organs). Know the meanings of the terms stem cell, progenitor, precursor, mature and effector cells. Know where these types of hematopoietic cells are normally found: Slide 4, Atlas of Normal and Abnormal Hematology (download below).
3. Understand how a blood smear is prepared and evaluated: Slide 5 of Atlas and Peripheral smear preparation and evaluation document (download below).
4. Know the regions of a blood smear and how to find the optimal areas for microscopic evaluation: Slides 5-10 of Atlas.
5. Know the stage(s) of red and white blood cell maturation that are normally present in the blood: Slides 4 of Atlas.
6. Know the common terms used to describe RBC shapes and sizes: Slide 6 and Slide 18 of Atlas.
7. By Monday of week two, be able to identify platelets, mature and immature erythrocytes in the blood smear. Also have a basic familiarity with erythrocyte abnormalities: Slides 18-41 of Atlas.
8. By Monday of week two, be able to identify normal mature, activated and immature white blood cells in the blood smear: Slides 11-17 of Atlas.
9. By Monday of week two, have a basic familiarity with abnormal leukocytes that may appear in the blood smear: Slides 42-51 of Atlas.

The documents for self-study are as follows (click on name to download or download directly from Path Lab Resources on CTools):

1. Peripheral smear preparation and evaluation
2. Atlas of normal and abnormal Hematology 2013