Clinical laboratory diagnostics
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Discover how clinical diagnostic laboratories play a vital role in healthcare by learning the techniques and approaches used to diagnose diseases. You’ll tour a virtual diagnostics laboratory and explore how patient samples are collected, analysed and interpreted across six key clinical specialisms: cellular pathology, clinical biochemistry, haematology, transfusion practice and clinical microbiology. You’ll develop practical skills in data handling and interpretation, diagnostic reasoning and reporting through hands-on activities. The module also covers essential professional aspects like ethics, teamwork and quality assurance while strengthening your communication skills and exploring exciting developments in biomedical sciences.
What you will study
You’ll begin by exploring the critical role of Biomedical Scientists and how clinical diagnostic laboratories contribute to diagnosing health conditions. You’ll tour our innovative online virtual pathology lab and develop your communication skills through an infographic task exploring a current biomedical sciences topic.
Next, you’ll follow the journey of samples through a clinical diagnostics lab. You’ll examine factors that can affect diagnostic testing before the sample even reaches the lab, book patient samples into the online specimen reception, and begin using a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to collect and view data.
In the analytical stage, you’ll learn what makes a good diagnostic test and study six clinical specialism topics:
Topic 1: Cellular pathology
Extend your human anatomy and physiology knowledge, and learn how to identify different tissue types and analyse pathology samples. You’ll use an online virtual microscope to identify healthy tissues, and explore a disease case study.
Topic 2: Clinical biochemistry
Learn principles and applications of common clinical biochemistry methods while developing your data-analysis skills. You’ll explore spectrophotometry, collecting measurements using an online spectrophotometer and analysing diagnostic data.
Topic 3: Clinical immunology
Build your understanding of the immune system by exploring immune pathologies like immunodeficiencies and hypersensitivities. You’ll learn clinical immunology diagnostic techniques and use an online flow cytometer to diagnose immunodeficiencies.
Topic 4: Haematology
Understand key testing principles for haematological disorders, including anaemias and haemostasis disorders. You’ll learn about differential diagnosis and develop decision-making skills for diagnosing blood disorders.
Topic 5: Transfusion
Study blood groups and blood product preparation, storage and use. You’ll learn about pre-transfusion compatibility testing and consider the hazards of transfusion, applying your new knowledge by typing patient blood samples and assigning blood products in an online blood bank.
Topic 6: Clinical microbiology
Review some common infections, the responsible pathogens and clinical microbiology approaches used to diagnose them. You’ll use online tools to collect and analyse data, following a typical workflow for diagnosing urinary tract infections.
After studying these clinical specialisms, you’ll explore how the collaboration of biomedical scientists and other healthcare professionals is essential for accurately diagnosing health conditions. You’ll also consider biomedical ethics and look at some ethical dilemmas. In the post-analytical stage, you’ll focus on communicating results.
Finally, you’ll look at how quality procedures ensure the right patient gets the right result at the right time, bringing together everything you’ve learned about the sample journey. You’ll examine quality assurance processes and complete a sample journey audit as part of your final assessment.
Entry requirements
You must have passed either of the following modules:
Preparatory work
We recommend that you’ve also passed Investigating human health and disease (S290).
You can access the module website 2–3 weeks before the module starts and begin to navigate the website and organise your study plan. A module primer contains the basic concepts you should refresh your knowledge on before starting.
What's included
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
- a week-by-week study planner
- course specific module materials
- audio and video content
- assignment details and submission section
- online tutorial access
- student and tutor group forums
- access to our online OpenSTEM labs.
Computing requirements
- Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer. It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device.
- Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
- Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
- Operating systems – Windows 11 or latest supported macOS. Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 as of 14 October 2025.
- Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
- Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended. Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.