University of Western Australia
Blood Film Morphology - A Practical Guide
University of Western Australia

Blood Film Morphology - A Practical Guide

Taught in English

Some content may not be translated

7,373 already enrolled

Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

Matthew Wright

Instructor: Matthew Wright

4.9

(60 reviews)

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

35 hours to complete
3 weeks at 11 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • After succesfully completing the course, the learner will have achieved an intermediate level of competence in interpreting & analysing blood films.

Details to know

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Assessments

13 quizzes

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There are 5 modules in this course

This 'Course Introduction' Module 1 describes the background to the blood film. It provides you with an overview of what takes place in a laboratory when a film of blood is analyzed. '1.1 - Course Overview' describes the background to the blood film. It explains how a FBC analyser works in '1.2 - The Analyser' and the potential sources of error in analyser results. It then explains which blood counts should trigger the making of a blood film and how that blood film is made in '1.3 - Importance of Making a Blood Film'. The '1.4 - A methodical approach to blood film analysis' lesson ends by suggesting and demonstrating a systematic method for blood film analysis. Module 1 ends with a graded 'End of Module 1 Quiz' for you to complete and a supplementary reading list.

What's included

23 videos1 reading2 quizzes2 peer reviews1 discussion prompt2 plugins

This 'Red Cell Morphology' module takes you through a systematic method of examination of red cell morphology. It starts with a basic approach in '2.1 Red Cell Morphology Basics', then examines red cell quantity and red cell quality in '2.2 Describing Microcytic, Macrocytic and Normocytic Anaemias in blood films' and '2.3 Recognising and describing common poikilocoytes'. At each step, you are taught a method, provided with the theoretical framework for interpreting abnormalities, and shown examples of abnormalities highlighting their clinical significance in '2.4 Recognising and describing red cell inclusion'. 'The 'Red Cell Morphology' Module ends with a graded 'End of Module 2 Quiz' and a supplementary reading list.

What's included

22 videos1 reading3 quizzes2 peer reviews

This 'White Cell Morphology' Module 3 takes you through a systematic method of examination of white cell morphology, following the template for blood film analysis in '3.1 A framework for analysing white cell quantitative disorders'. It starts by examining problems of white cell quantity, then examines the many important variants of white cell quality by using a a unique structured process for analysing an abnormal white cell population in '3.2 Analyzing an abnormal leukocyte population'. This takes you through the morphology of reactive white cells, lymphoproliferative diseases, leukaemias and myelodysplasia in '3.3 Analysing lymphoproliferative disorders', '3.4 Analysing acute leukaemias' and '3.5 Examining qualitative changes in white cells' . At each step you are taught a method, provided with the theoretical framework for interpreting abnormalities, and shown examples of abnormalities highlighting their clinical significance. You will be required to complete a grade End of Module 3 quiz and look up the supplementary reading list.

What's included

31 videos1 reading4 quizzes3 peer reviews

This '4Ps of Morphology - Platelets, Pregnancy, Paediatrics and Parasites' module deals with an assortment of important specific areas of blood film morphology. It first completes the systematic analysis of the blood film by discussing quantitative and qualitative changes in platelets in '4.1 Platelets (Thrombocytopenia & Thrombocytosis)'. In '4.2 Pregnancy', we then discuss the important physiologic and pathologic changes in the FBC and film during pregnancy. The '4.3 Paediatric' lecture emphasises that children are not just little adults by showing how the normal ranges for the FBC and normal appearance of films can differ at different ages, and then discussing a framework for morphologic diagnosis in paediatric anaemia, thrombocytopenia and pancytopenia. The '4.4 Parasite' lesson concludes with a review of malaria – demonstrating the lifecycle of the parasite, the morphologic appearance of different species, and a system to distinguish between different species. You are expected to complete a graded 'End of Module 4' quiz and look up the supplementary reading list.

What's included

19 videos1 reading3 quizzes4 peer reviews

In this 'Live Blood Film Analysis - Putting it all together' module, we demonstrate the use of our method for blood film analysis using videos of real slide examinations for the five cases. The presentation format for each case is similar: each case starts by providing a case history and full blood count (FBC) parameters. You are encouraged to consider a differential diagnosis (DDx) for each case. We will follow the template for blood film analysis. Finally we arrive at a morphologic conclusion and ask you how you can help the clinician reach a diagnosis based on the blood film. The case studies are not assessed. However, viewing them is necessary to see how we apply our method and integrate the concepts taught in Module 1 - 4. As this is a module putting everything you have learned together in individual case studies, there will be no graded 'End of Module 5 quiz' for you to complete

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 quiz

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.9 (36 ratings)
Matthew Wright
University of Western Australia
1 Course7,373 learners

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