LSB665 Transfusion and Transplantation Science

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Medical scientists must be knowledgeable of transfusion and blood compatibility environment and competent in the laboratory procedures and practices required to provide a safe and reliable blood transfusion service. This involves immunohaematological knowledge, testing of blood samples for donors and patients, mainly in transfusion and pregnancy scenarios, and vigilance for quality outcomes. Transplantation science similarly involves compatibility assessment of donors and recipients, but for tissues other than blood. This unit is positioned in the late developmental phase of the course and requires that you have foundational knowledge in human immunology and haematology. This unit prepares you for employment in laboratories that participate in transfusion services, such as pathology/hospital bloodbanks.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of immunohaematology, transfusion and maternal/pre-natal testing and services, including pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical considerations, problem-solving of case presentations, and emerging applications for testing.
2. Demonstrate accuracy/competence in testing for blood types and clinically significant antibodies, using fundamental methods, with demonstrated understanding of the principles, processes, analysis and quality assurance of the testing and results.
3. Demonstrate accuracy/competence in testing investigations to attain compatibility for the purpose of blood transfusion, including applying various testing techniques and problem-solving, with demonstrated understanding of the principles, processes, analysis and quality assurance of the testing and results.
4. Demonstrate professional behaviours and knowledge of regulatory requirements and quality management in transfusion for effective services and patient and donor safety.
5. Demonstrate fundamental theoretical understanding of transplantation and immunohistocompatibility, including processes of testing and assessment for compatibility and immunological consequences.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit takes a theory to practice approach with learning experiences organised as lectures and laboratory practicals, with real-world, inquiry-based and case study problem solving tasks. This unit is taught in a way that encourages you to acquire and develop the graduate attributes highly valued by employers for medical laboratory scientists, particularly in the field of transfusion science. These include discipline specific knowledge and practical skills, the ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve to provide a safe transfusion outcome, as well as the capacity to work independently or as part of a team in an ethically, culturally sensitive and professional manner. Learning activities and assessment tasks will be focused on developing and demonstrating these skills and capabilities.  Lecture content is provided as recorded presentations. Weekly practical sessions are on-campus and include activities in blood grouping, antibody detection and investigations, and compatibility testing using a variety of methods and are designed for you to gain first-hand practice at pre-transfusion blood testing and related scenarios. Therefore, your attendance at these practicals is integral to your learning and required competence levels. Formative feedback on your skill development in the practical sessions will prepare you for the practical assessment.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

During the practical classes, the teaching team are present to provide immediate feedback on developing your practical skills, interpretation of results and approaches to problem solving for the learning activities.  Formative feedback is provided verbally and through Canvas for uploaded assessments.

Assessment

Overview

General Practical Assessment Information

In keeping with professional accreditation standards, public expectations, and to emphasise the serious consequences associated with mistakes in blood typing and compatibility testing, threshold assessment conditions apply to the grading in this unit. A satisfactory achievement (100%) in the competency components of the progress and final practical assessments and an overall unit passing mark of at least 50% are required to obtain a passing grade for this unit. For each of the progress and final practical assessments, if you achieve a minimum of 40% for the associated knowledge component, but have not achieved satisfactory achievement in the competency component, you have the opportunity to complete one additional competency assessment (designated by the unit coordinator). If you pass this additional assessment your mark will be recalculated based on a 50% score for the full practical assessment task (competency and knowledge), however if you do not pass this additional assessment you will not be eligible to pass the unit and will receive a failing grade. You are advised to seek feedback on your practical assessment from the unit coordinator prior to undertaking the additional threshold assessment.

Practical Class Attendance and Assessment
Participation in the practical classes is an integral part of your learning experience in LSB665.  If you are unable to attend a practical session, you should inform the unit coordinator by email on or within two days of the missed practical session and provide supporting documentation for your absence, e.g. medical certificate, however general practical sessions won't be rerun. Subject to these conditions for advice and satisfactory documentation, alternate arrangements as determined by the unit coordinator will be accommodated on up to two occasions. Approved absences in excess of two occasions will need to be discussed with the unit coordinator. In the case of unapproved absence from practicals where assessment occurs, no marks will be given for related assessment.

Due to the use and limited availability of blood components, practical assessments must be completed within the teaching semester. 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Audit report

Observation of part of a transfusion laboratory testing process in a simulated internal audit scenario (quality activity). A preparatory checklist is prepared and annotated (submitted for contemporaneous part of activity), followed by completion of a scientific report based on findings. Consideration of transfusion service critical control points and interventions to reduce errors at those points based on published sources is completed as an essay.  A reflection on the audit learning process for transformative learning is included.

Summative.  Individual (with peer participation for the observation part of the activity)

Audit activity:  Week 8 practical session.  Report and essays due Week 11.

You are required to submit all written assignments through Canvas for collation and content matching checks.

The Week 11 elements of this assignment are eligible for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Practical progress assessment (Part A)

Progress practical examinations that includes competency assessment for fundamental test capability of blood typing and detection of clinically significant antibodies.  A knowledge component comprising of written response questions related to relevant practical testing is also included.

Threshold Assessment:

In keeping with professional accreditation standards, public expectations, and to emphasise the serious consequences associated with mistakes in blood typing and compatibility testing, threshold assessment conditions apply to the grading of this assessment. A satisfactory achievement (100%) in the competency component of the progress practical assessments is required to continue in this unit. If you have not achieved satisfactory achievement in the competency component and achieve a minimum of 40% for the associated knowledge component, you have the opportunity to complete one additional competency assessment (designated by the unit coordinator). If you pass this additional assessment your mark will be recalculated based on a 50% score for the full practical assessment task (competency and knowledge), however if you do not pass this additional assessment you will not be eligible to pass the unit and will receive a failing grade. You are advised to seek feedback on your practical assessment from the unit coordinator prior to undertaking the additional threshold assessment.

Due to the use and limited availability of blood components, practical assessments must be completed within the teaching semester. 

Assessment: Practical assessment (Part B)

Final practical examinations that includes competency assessment for completion of testing processes to identify compatible red cell units for transfusion.  A knowledge component comprising of written response questions related to relevant practical testing is also included.

Threshold Assessment:

In keeping with professional accreditation standards, public expectations, and to emphasise the serious consequences associated with mistakes in blood typing and compatibility testing, threshold assessment conditions apply to the grading of this assessment. A satisfactory achievement (attainment of the testing goals) in the competency component of the final practical assessment is required to pass this unit. Demerits apply to non-critical errors. If you have not achieved satisfactory achievement in the competency component and achieve a minimum of 40% for the associated knowledge component, you have the opportunity to complete one additional competency assessment (designated by the unit coordinator). If you pass this additional assessment your mark will be recalculated based on a 50% score for the full practical assessment task (competency and knowledge), however if you do not pass this additional assessment you will not be eligible to pass the unit and will receive a failing grade. You are advised to seek feedback on your practical assessment from the unit coordinator prior to undertaking the additional threshold assessment.

Due to the use and limited availability of blood components, practical assessments must be completed within the teaching semester. 

Assessment: Examination (written)

A written examination that will cover all aspects of theory and practical content and techniques covered throughout the semester.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:
1. Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
2. Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
3. Fully enclosed non-slip shoes

Costs

Cost of obtaining lab gown and safety glasses is the responsibility of the student.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Harmening, Denise, editor (2019). Modern blood banking & transfusion practices (7th ed.) F.A. Davis Company.

ISBN : 9780803694620; ISBN : 0803694628; ISBN : 9780803668881

Reference book(s)

Australian transfusion guidelines:
ANZSBT Guidelines for Transfusion and Immunohaematology Laboratory Practice (2020) Revised 1st edition [Available (provided) on Canvas]

Australian transfusion guidelines:
NPAAC Requirements for Transfusion Laboratory Practice (2023) 5th edition [Available (provided) on Canvas]

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit includes a laboratory component. In order that you become proficient in necessary practical skills, you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and specimens normally associated with this discipline. You are required to view a Health & Safety Induction video and complete an online health and safety quiz prior to being permitted into the laboratory, to access please follow this link Health & Safety Induction. A passing score of 10/10 is required and will be checked prior to entry to the first laboratory session. You may repeat the quiz until this score is achieved. You are also referred to the Faculty of Health's Health & Safety Web Site for further information.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the lecturer in charge of the unit, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

Course Learning Outcomes

LS47 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science

1. Discipline Knowledge
   Relates to: Practical progress assessment (Part A), Practical assessment (Part B)
2. Professional (including OHS and QA) Knowledge
   Relates to: Audit report
3. Technical proficiency
   Relates to: Practical progress assessment (Part A)
4. Interpretation and application of protocols
   Relates to: Practical progress assessment (Part A)
5. Analysis and interpretation of data
   Relates to: Audit report , Practical progress assessment (Part A), Practical assessment (Part B)
6. Synthesis, judgement, and explanation
   Relates to: Audit report , Practical assessment (Part B)
7. Scientific communication skills including information literacy and numeracy
   Relates to: Audit report
8. Time and resource planning
   Relates to: Practical progress assessment (Part A)
9. Quality assurance
   Relates to: Audit report , Practical progress assessment (Part A)
10. Peer Review
    Relates to: Audit report