MCCCD Program Description

Veterinary Clinical Pathology Methods

Course: VET200

First Term: 2023 Fall

Lecture 2.0 Credit(s) 2.0 Period(s) 2.0 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: T - Lab Load

Description: Fundamental studies of laboratory techniques and procedures involved in evaluating veterinary clinical samples. Includes hematology, urinalysis, hemostasis, blood biochemistry and enzymology, serology, cytology, and parasitology. The veterinary technician`s role in sample collection, sample storage and handling, and performance of analytic procedures. Use of laboratory equipment, laboratory safety and management, and quality control.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Explain the responsibilities of the Veterinary Technician in a clinical laboratory setting as it relates to the veterinarian and the patient. (I) 2. Demonstrate simple clinical laboratory safety and quality control programs. (I) 3. Demonstrate safe and proper handling and storage of clinical samples. (I-VIII) 4. Demonstrate proper use of various types of clinical laboratory equipment. (I-VIII) 5. Execute and explain basic procedures and analysis results in veterinary hematology. (II) 6. Execute and explain basic procedures and analysis results in veterinary urinalysis. (III) 7. Execute and explain basic procedures and analysis results in veterinary hemostasis. (IV) 8. Execute and explain basic procedures and analysis results in veterinary biochemistry and enzymology. (V) 9. Execute and explain basic procedures and analysis results in veterinary serology. (VI) 10. Execute and explain basic procedures and analysis results in veterinary cytology. (VII) 11. Execute and explain basic procedures and analysis results in veterinary parasitology. (VIII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Role of the veterinary technician in the clinical pathology laboratory A. Definition of clinical pathology B. Functions of veterinary technicians C. Responsibility of the veterinary technicians D. Quality control E. Laboratory safety and management F. Introduction to manual and automated laboratory equipment II. Veterinary hematology A. Characteristics of blood and formation of blood elements B. Sample collection, storage, and preparation C. The complete blood count 1. Preparation and staining of the blood smear 2. Hematocrit, total protein, and cell counts 3. The differential white blood cell count: cell identification 4. Red blood cell morphology and indices 5. Reticulocyte count D. Evaluation of anemia E. White blood cell responses in disease III. Veterinary urinalysis A. Review of renal function and formation of urine B. Sample collection, storage, and preparation C. The value of urinalysis in patient assessment D. Examination of urine: physical, chemical, and microscopic E. Clinical significance of urinalysis findings IV. Veterinary hemostasis A. Platelets and primary hemostasis; clotting factors and secondary hemostasis B. Sample collection, storage, and preparation C. Bleeding time tests D. Whole blood clotting time tests E. Coagulation screening F. Common veterinary hemostatic disorders V. Veterinary biochemistry and enzymology A. Application of biochemistry profiles and individual organ function evaluation B. Sample collection, storage, and preparation C. Principles of enzyme assay and biochemical reaction testing D. Importance of quality control and reference ranges E. Specific biochemistry tests: evaluation of organ function VI. Veterinary serology A. Review of basic immunologic responses B. Applications of serology/immunodiagnostics to veterinary diagnosis C. Sample collection, storage, and preparation D. Methodologies used in immunodiagnostic testing E. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology: principles, reactants, kits F. Interpretation of results of immunodiagnostic tests VII. Veterinary cytology A. Common clinical samples and their diagnostic value B. Sample collection, storage, and preparation 1. Fine needle aspirates and impression smears 2. Swabs and scrapings 3. Fluid analysis C. Vaginal cytology and the estrous cycle VIII. Veterinary parasitology A. Review of common veterinary internal and external parasites B. Sample collection, storage, and preparation C. Microscopic examination of fecal samples and identification of common veterinary gastrointestinal parasites D. Serologic tests for common veterinary parasites E. Identification of common veterinary external parasites

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: February 28, 2023

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.