Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course is designed for first year veterinary technology students and is a graduation requirement for the Associates Degree in Applied Sciences in Veterinary Technology. 

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Prepare a patient for various methods of cytological sampling, obtain diagnostic-quality cytology samples using a variety of techniques, and correctly interpret specific types of cytology. 

2. Obtain diagnostic-quality samples for a wide variety of laboratory tests used in the diagnosis of common veterinary diseases; properly submit diagnostic samples to reference labs; and perform common in-house diagnostic tests.

3. Apply principles of microbiology and knowledge of pathogenic microbes to prevent hospital-acquired infections, manage patients with microbial diseases, and control growth of microbes in the hospital environment.

4. Perform basic microbiological techniques commonly used in the veterinary hospital laboratory and correctly identify microorganisms from unknown samples using a variety of tests.

This course is designed to be a lecture-laboratory course. It is a four-credit-hour course that meets for fifteen -lecture-laboratory hours per week for 5 weeks. The topics included in this course are routine clinical chemistries; specialized diagnostic tests performed in-house or at reference laboratories; basic microbiological principles; microbial classification and growth; pathological microorganisms; and the mechanisms, diagnosis and management of microbial diseases.    

Outcomes will be assessed by the following means:

• Grades will be based on the student’s understanding of the course content as demonstrated by periodic lecture examinations, laboratory assignments, comprehensive final lecture and lab exams, and by attendance. Also in order to receive a passing grade, the student must have attended a minimum of 80 percent of each of the lecture and laboratory classes. 

• Graduate performance on the Veterinary Technicians National Examination.

Outcomes will be routinely assessed and used to drive relevant changes in the curriculum.

THEMES

1. Accuracy and attention to detail

2. Clinical practice

CONCEPTS

1. Laboratory testing in diagnosis of disease

2. Diagnosis and management of microbial disease

ISSUES

1. Complexity of disease conditions

2. Artifact influence on test results

3. Test reliability and its impact on test interpretation

4. Microbial resistance

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

1.0   INTRODUCTION TO LABORATORY PROCEDURES

Instructional goal: Build on knowledge gained in VT 111 Clinical Laboratory Procedures I to develop a comprehensive understanding of how sample artifacts influence test results. Know which artifacts are caused by human error and how to avoid them.

2.0 EVALUATION OF BODY SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

Instructional goal: Develop a knowledge base of common laboratory tests used to evaluate the functions of different body systems. For each test, understand its basic principles, in which body system it is utilized, and the specific aspect(s) of the body system it is designed to assess.

3.0 CYTOLOGY

Instructional Goal: Develop an understanding of the basic principles of cytology, the types of lesions that are commonly sampled for cytologic testing, the various methods of cytologic sampling including required equipment, materials and patient preparation, and methods of creating diagnostic-quality cytology slides appropriate to the sample type. 

4.0 BASIC MICROBIOLOGY

Instructional Goal: Develop an understanding of the basic biology of, and methods of identification for, bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

5.0 DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF MICROBIAL DISEASE

Instructional Goal: Understand the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and control of microbial disease.