500760 - CLINICAL PATHOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY

The course is composed of two blocks. The Clinical Pathology block introduces the evolution of the discipline and its legislative/regulatory framework, then details the organization of a modern laboratory (pre-analytical, analytical, post-analytical phases), quality systems, automation, and governance of point-of-care testing (POCT). A pathophysiology block builds the foundations for test interpretation: principles of homeostasis and their disruption—including psycho-neuro-endocrine-immune stress responses; oxygen homeostasis; water and sodium balance (osmolarity, extracellular volume, and their integration); and acid–base and potassium disorders with blood gas analysis and electrolyte determination. The hemostasis unit reviews physiology and diagnostics across the four pillars (platelets, coagulation factors, anticoagulant pathways, fibrinolysis) and their alterations. An oncology module covers tumor basics, diagnosis, and tumor markers/biomarkers (with selected enrichment topics—e.g., prostate cancer/PSA and some biomarker sessions—not assessed in the exam). The endocrine section addresses general principles and testing of the thyroid, HPA, and HPG axes. Core clinical tests include complete blood count, urinalysis, and inflammation markers. Throughout, the course emphasizes clinical interpretation, decision thresholds, and the integration of POCT with central-lab processes. In a second block, an introductory overview on the functioning of the immune system is provided, followed by a discussion of the followng topics: Receptor repertoire of immune cells, cytokines, immunoglobulins, chemokines; production of antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies. The laboratory methodologies of the immunologist: isolation, cultivation and characterization of cells of the immune system; methods of immunization; detection and characterization of antibodies and their use in research and diagnostics; serological assays, affinity chromatography, radioimmunoassays, immunoenzymatic assays, competitive inhibition, hemagglutination, immunoprecipitation, cytotoxicity, neutralization; flow cytometry, tissue typing methods, functional assays; examples of laboratory diagnostics of some autoimmune diseases. The transfusion laboratory; the HLA laboratory.