Maricopa Community Colleges  CMA203   19976-19982 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 03/25/97
CMA203 19976-19982 L+L 1 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Applied Hematology
Performance of complete blood counts. Reading of differential slides limited to normal patterns. Performance of sedimentation rates. Overview of basic automated procedures in hematology. Prerequisites: CMA102 and HCE161, or permission of instructor.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
CMA203   19976-19982 Applied Hematology
1. Identify equipment utilized in the hematology section of the laboratory in a medical practitioner's office. (I)
2. Utilize selected hematological testing equipment found in a medical practitioner's office. (I)
3. Identify normal values for all procedures performed. (II)
4. Perform white blood counts using Unopettes. (III)
5. Perform hemoglobin determination. (IV)
6. Perform micro-hematocrit determination using Micro-Hematocrit centrifugation. (V)
7. Perform erythrocyte sedimentation rates utilizing the Wintrobe method. (VI)
8. Prepare acceptable slides for differential staining. (VII)
9. Stain blood films using Wright stain technique. (VIII)
10. Perform normal white blood cell differentials on Wright stained smears under the supervision of the physician. (IX)
11. Identify abnormal differentials to be referred to the medical practitioner for review. (IX)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
CMA203   19976-19982 Applied Hematology
    I. Equipment identification
        A. Microscope and functions
        B. WBC counting chambers (Hemacytometer)
        C. Coulter Counter
        D. Blood smear stainer
        E. Pipettes - RBC, WBC, Hemoglobin
        F. Pipette shaker
        G. Spectrophotometer
        H. Micro-Hematocrit Centrifuge
        I. Capillary tubes and sealing clay
        J. Micro-Hematocrit tube reader
      II. Normal values
          A. Hemoglobin
          B. White Blood Count
          C. Red Blood Count
          D. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
          E. Hematocrit
          F. Stained WBC
        III. White blood counts
            A. Principle
            B. Reagents
            C. Technique
              1. Dilution
              2. Shaking
              3. Charging the counting chamber
              4. Counting
            D. Calculations
              1. Formula
              2. Estimations
            E. Sources of error
              1. Falsely low results
              2. Falsely high results
          IV. Hemoglobin determination using Ames Seralyzer
              A. Principle
                1. Reaction
                2. Test indicators
              B. Reagents
                1. Composition
                2. Advantages
                3. Disadvantages
              C. Technique
                1. Pipetting
                2. Diluting
                3. Instrument preparation
            V. Hematocrit determination
                A. Principle
                  1. Reaction
                  2. Test indicators
                B. Technique
                  1. Filling capillary tube
                  2. Centrifugation
                  3. Reading
                C. Correlations
              VI. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate determination using Wintrobe method
                  A. Principle
                  B. Technique
                    1. Filling
                    2. Placement
                    3. Reading
                  C. Sources of error
                    1. Falsely elevated ESR
                    2. Falsely lowered ESR
                VII. Slide preparation
                    A. Technique
                      1. Sample
                      2. Equipment
                    B. Precautions
                      1. Time
                      2. Dirty slides
                    C. Criteria
                      1. Thickness/thinness
                      2. Flaired edge
                  VIII. Staining blood films using Wright technique
                      A. Principle
                        1. Reaction
                        2. Staining results
                      B. Reagents
                        1. Preparation
                        2. Composition
                      C. Technique
                        1. Fixing slide
                        2. Staining
                        3. Rinsing
                    IX. Differential cell count
                        A. Principle
                        B. Procedure
                          1. Examine for even distribution of WBC
                          2. Count WBC
                          3. Examine RCB morphology
                          4. Examine platelets
                        C. Recognizing abnormal cells
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