Advanced Transfusion and Transplantation Science

The course is offered at Level 3 (Degree).

Course content includes:

• Core transfusion medicine:
  
  • Blood group systems - genes, antigens and antibodies
  • Manual and automated techniques and technologies for ABO/D typing, serological crossmatching, red cell phenotyping, antibody screening and identification
  • Overview of blood transfusion services, range of blood components/products manufactured and their applications
  • Principles of pre-transfusion testing
  • Normal ranges and predictive values for pathology tests used to inform transfusion support
  • Aetiology and clinical features of conditions requiring transfusion support
  • Overview of legislation/guidelines relevant to blood transfusion practice.
• Specialised haematology:
  
  • Preparation and interpretation of blood films, including blood parasites.
  • Mechanisms and tests of haemostasis
  • Monitoring programmes for anticoagulation therapy
  • Haematinic testing and clinical applications
  • Causes of haematological malignancy
  • Tests for the diagnosis and management of haematological malignancy in the adult
  • Minimal residual disease
  • Antenatal screening tests for haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn
  • Tests of feto-maternal haemorrhage.
• Specialised immunology, tissue and transplantation:
  • Immunogenetics and the major histocompatibility complex
  • Transplantation immunology and histocompatibility testing
  • Tests of transplant viability and rejection
  • Tests of immunosuppressive therapy
  • Stem cells
  • Tissue banking
  • The multidisciplinary team approach to the management of tissue and organ transplantation.

Delivery:

Study time includes 72 hours of scheduled learning (including online lectures) and 228 hours of independent learning. There will be two weeks of contact time at UWE in two x one week blocks. Included in each block week are laboratory workshops, lectures and tutorials. The contact time will equate to approximately 12 hours per block (a total of 24 hours).