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 Brigham & Women's Hospital Clinical Pathology & Laboratories

PA511M.J Clinical Laboratory Medicine

Site: BWH, CHMC
Directors: D. B. Sacks, M.B./Ch.B
Prerequsitie: Year III Standing
Offered: Full time every month
Time: Mon - Fri 8.30AM - 5PM
Night Call: None

The medical student elective in Clinical Laboratory Medicine at Brigham & Women's Hospital is designed to teach students the following:

  • The use of clinical assays in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
  • Selection of appropriate laboratory tests for a given situation.
  • How to interpret test results.
  • Gain a basic understanding of how patient and laboratory conditions affect test reults.
Students spend a week each on:
  • Clinical Chemistry: Analytes, Blood Gases & STAT Testing, Clinical Immunology, Endocrinology, Toxicology
  • Clinical Microbiology: Bacteriology, Anaerobes, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology, Molecular Diagnostics
  • Lab Hematology: CBCs, Coagulation, Flow Cytometry, Hematopathology
  • Blood Bank: Blood Donor Center, Components Processing, Blood Bank, Antibody Lab, In & Outpatient Pheresis Service
Teaching sessions are scheduled throughout the rotation as are weekly case-based assignments. Practical skills to be acquired include:
  • Ability to perform and interpret Gram stains, Wright-Geimsa blood smears, and bone marrow aspirates.
  • Interpretation of CBCs, flow cytometries and and coagulation tests.
  • Interpretation of cardiac enzymes, serum protein electrophoreses and immunofixations, and toxicology tests.
  • Appropriate use of microbiological testing for diagnosing infection.
  • Interpretation of virology panels.
  • Understanding of risks of transfusion therapy, and the evaluation and treatment of transfusion reactions.
  • Appropriate use of blood component therapy.
  • Clinical indications and utility of therapeutic plasmapheresis.
The course is recommended for students interested in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Family Medicine.

Students interested in taking this elective should consult the Harvard Medical School Course Catalog and the HMS Registrar's Office for the Exchange Clerk Program Application.