Objectives

• To understand the biochemical and pathophysiological processes underlying clinical chemistry.
• To recognise which tests are useful in common clinical situations; to develop interpretive skills in clinical chemistry.

Outline of Teaching

Students are constantly exposed to clinical chemistry results where they relate to patient management. They are encouraged to become familiar with normal and abnormal results profiles in this context and to seek guidance from clinical teachers on appropriate requesting and interpretation of biochemical investigations for individual patients under their care. This teaching is underpinned by seminars in clinical chemistry held during semester 6 and year 5. Wherever possible the teaching is illustrated by patients’ results.

Introductory Teaching

Introductory Course

• Interpretation of clinical chemistry tests.

Seminars

• Liver function tests
• Thyroid function tests
• Diabetes

Senior Teaching

Seminars

A series of seminars covering routine clinical chemistry tests. Titles of sessions and times will be arranged individually at each hospital site and will be arranged by your clinical teaching coordinator. Timetables should be on noticeboards at each hospital site.

Workbook

A workbook of clinical chemistry data interpretation exercises for self-assessment.

Assessments

• MCQ questions at end of Introductory Medicine and Surgery