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PHYS40220

Academic Year 2025/2026

Clinical Placement (Biochem) (PHYS40220)

Subject:
Physiology
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
20
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Graham Lee
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
Yes
Module Type:
Clinical Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Students will be based in hospital diagnostic laboratories/clinical research facilities across Ireland.
Students will be required to gain experience in the pre-analytical, analytical, post-analytical and interpretation of diagnostic biochemical results. A logbook of the skills and experiences is issued to each individual student. The students will gain experience in the common techniques and methodologies used in clinical biochemistry including spectrophotometry, immunoassay, ISE, point of care testing, mass spectrometry.
The student will gain experience in quality systems and workshops in internal and external quality control will be provided.
The student will become familiar with the parameters of diagnostic laboratory accreditation systems including ISO15189.
There is an emphasis of interpretation of results in different clinical settings (ICU, ED, ID, Oncology, Renal, theatre, etc), and in a broad spectrum of disease states.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

The student will gain good knowledge of quality procedures and of diagnostic laboratory processes, procedures and methods of assessment and analysis.
The student will learn how quality diagnostics is applied to patient diagnosis, monitoring and prevention of disease.
The student will learn the practical and theoretical aspects of diagnostic methods and gain the ability to evaluate the strengths and pitfalls of different methods including the ability to address analytical interferences.
The student will learn the clinical utility and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of different tests and will gain experience in dealing with critically unexpected results that require emergency treatment for a patient.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

25
Laboratories

350
Autonomous Student Learning

125
Total

500

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Placement in diagnostic laboratory under supervision
Observations and demonstrations of day to day laboratory functions
Workshops in mass spectrometry, IQC, EQA, etc.
Attendance at clinical case conferences, multi-disciplinary team discussions and grand rounds

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Report(s): Review and critique of a journal. Week 12 Graded No
20
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Student will perform a clinical audit/practice audit or service survey in a clinical diagnostic laboratory. Week 12 Graded No
30
 No
Individual Project: Presentation - Each student will investigate the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical issues of an assigned diagnostic assay. The student will present their work in a supervised session. Week 12 Graded No
20
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Placement Supervisor's assessment, based on engagement, contribution, interest and enthusiasm during their placement, together with logbook review and oral Qs & As. Week 12 Graded No
30
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive feedback from their individual specific placement Supervisors and mentors in the hospital laboratories where they are based on an ongoing basis. The clinical audit/service practice assessment will be evaluated and marked by the student's on-site Supervisor in conjunction with the module coordinator. For their Journal article critique and the diagnostic method assignments, an essay and oral presentation is required respectively and assessed by the module coordinator.

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