Year 3 Chemical Pathology (MBPA 3600)
Use of the clinical chemistry laboratory to screen, diagnose, monitor and manage disease. Two semesters; practical sessions and a mandatory logbook.
Assessment: CATs & logbook 40% (a written CAT at the end of every semester) · End-of-year examination 60% (MCQ, SAQ, LAQ and practical).
Semester 1 — Chemical Pathology I
- Introduction to clinical chemistry
- Clinical utility of biochemical tests
- Specimen collection and handling for biochemical analysis
- Outline of analytical techniques
- Principles of automation
- Basic statistics (precision, accuracy, predictive value, disease prevalence)
- Quality control
- Quality assurance — internal quality control: pre-analytical, analytical, post-analytical; QC material
- Lipids and lipoprotein disorders
- Cardiovascular diseases / biochemical cardiac markers
- Acid–base balance and blood gas analysis
- Fluid and electrolyte disorders: water, sodium and potassium
- Plasma proteins and enzymes
- Gastrointestinal and pancreatic disorders (malabsorption)
- Clinical nutrition: vitamins, trace elements, protein-energy malnutrition and obesity
- Liver function and disease
- Revision / missed lessons
Semester 2 — Chemical Pathology II
- The metabolic aspect of malignant disease: tumour markers, paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes, ectopic hormone production
- Gonadal dysfunction
- Delayed and precocious puberty, hirsutism, virilism, infertility and semen analysis
- Principles of clinical toxicology: therapeutic drug monitoring and chemical aspects
- Inherited metabolic disorders
- Metabolic bone disorders, hyperuricaemia and gout
- Introduction to endocrine disorders
- Pituitary disorders
- Thyroid disorders
- Carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes mellitus
- Adrenal disorders I (cortex hyperfunction)
- Adrenal disorders — continued
- Evaluation of renal function: glomerular, tubular, urinalysis
- Biochemical tests in acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease and renal calculi
- Porphyrinurias
- Revision / missed lessons
Compiled by Abongo Davis · Ompath Study · shared for MBChB students at Mount Kenya University and other universities.