91129 Transfusion Science
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2018 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 91401 Immunology 1 OR 91563 Haematology 1
Description
This subject covers human blood groups, principles of donor blood compatibility and antigen/antibody reactions, detection and identification of serum antibodies, blood products, the safety of the blood supply and minimisation of transmission of infectious diseases, investigation of transfusion reactions, haemolytic disease of the newborn, platelet and leucocyte immunohaematology, transfusion in critical care situations, legal aspects of transfusion of blood products, stem cell transplantation, and cytokine stimulation of haemopoiesis.
The principles and practice of transfusion science is essential for scientists who work in the clinical and research areas of transfusion science. As such, the practical side of the subject is designed to teach students the basic tools and methods required to identify antibodies to determine if a transfusion reaction may occur by combining the results of the practical work with the material covered in the lecture series.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Describe the requirements for the safe transfusion of blood and blood products? |
|---|---|
| 2. | Explain the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) definitions of blood group systems, blood group antigens and the antibodies that define them ? |
| 3. | Identify and demonstrate how areas of quality assurance programs, regulation of therapeutic goods and the Human Tissue Act are used in the context of transfusion science |
| 4. | Perform and interpret the techniques of laboratory blood grouping, crossmatching, antibody screening and antibody identification ? |
| 5. | Explain the principles of transfusion and transplantation ? |
| 6. | Evaluate and consolidate information relating to transfusion science using data bases, regulatory websites, text books and scientific articles to report their findings to their cohort? using written and oral communication styles |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- An understanding of the nature, practice and application of the chosen science discipline. (1.0)
- Encompasses problem solving, critical thinking and analysis attributes and an understanding of the scientific method knowledge acquisition. (2.0)
- The ability to acquire, develop, employ and integrate a range of technical, practical and professional skills, in appropriate and ethical ways within a professional context, autonomously and collaboratively and across a range of disciplinary and professional areas, e.g. time management skills, personal organisation skills, teamwork skills, computing skills, laboratory skills, data handling, quantitative and graphical literacy skills. (3.0)
- An awareness of the role of science within a global culture and willingness to contribute actively to the shaping of community views on complex issues where the methods and findings of science are relevant. (5.0)
- An understanding of the different forms of communication - writing, reading, speaking, listening - including visual and graphical, within science and beyond and the ability to apply these appropriately and effectively for different audiences. (6.0)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject contributes to the development of the following:
1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application
From the lecture material you will be provided with: detailed explanations of the ISBT definitions of blood groups; the risks of transfusion and potential errors; fundamental information about other types of transfusions; be introduced to the various accreditation bodies, guidelines and processes; and the foundations of performing the techniques required to determine blood types.
The practical component of the course will then provide the opportunity for you to consolidate the information learnt in lectures and apply that knowledge in determining the blood groups of donor and recipient blood as you would in a clinical setting as well as by using case studies. Combined, this knowledge will enable you to formulate rational judgements about whether there is a risk of transfusion reaction.
In your assessments and some compulsory group work, you will be able to test your knowledge and apply it in a group setting as part of collaborative learning. You will get the opportunity to peer-review your colleagues as part of developing your team-based communication skills.
2. An Inquiry-oriented approach
You will be required to search organisational websites of government accrediting bodies as well as scientific literature to discover what is required in the approval process of new blood product.
By collecting and collating that information you will then be able to communicate that information back to your peers.
3. Professional skills and their appropriate application
You will develop personal organisation skills, teamwork skills, laboratory skills, blood testing and handling skills. You can obtain these skills through the practical, tutorial and assessment components of the course.
As part of building skills in teamwork, you will have an opportunity to review yourself and your team in SPARK Plus.
5. Engagement with the needs of society
As blood transfusion is a high-risk medical procedure it relies on the highest level of accuracy by transfusion scientists. You will develop an understanding and be able to explain: the need for blood and blood products; blood transfusion and human tissue regulations; and the importance of blood transfusion practices to enable you to be a transfusion scientist.
6. Communication skills
Communication skills are practiced and expanded through multiple aspects of the course including practical classes and assessments. You will work in small groups providing feedback on how other team members can better contribute in the “workplace” as well as consolidate findings of research and present it to your cohort in both written and verbal formats.
Teaching and learning strategies
Transfusion Science involves 6hrs of face-to-face contact hours per week through lectures and practical (laboratory) sessions and 1.5 hours per week of both online and team-based activities. You will need to support these strategies with your own study.
The face-to-face sessions have been designed to be delivered together to give you three opportunities to understand the more difficult aspects of this course. The lectures and tutorials are provided in the same session time of Wednesday night 6-9pm. These lectures will have active learning activities, including Kahootz quizzes, pre-learning videos and associated UTS Online quizzes and some flipped team-learning discussion and presentation.
Over the session, you will have:
- 22 x 1 hour lectures.
The lectures will provide you with a foundation of knowledge necessary for understanding the various aspects of transfusion. You will have online preparation or review material to compliment your lectures and practical material, available on UTS Online. This gives you the opportunity to further develop your understanding of the subject.
- 9 x 3 hour laboratory practical sessions
Practicals give you hands-on experience to work individually, in pairs and teams of four to learn the techniques essential for safe transfusion of blood. These include understanding the use of controls in the context of transfusion science, using antibody screening and full antibody panel tests to determine the compatibility of blood from donors and recipients or a mother and her child as well as being able to determine and report on the tests performed. Lecture material is the foundation for this subject and you will use that knowledge to critically analyse results from your laboratory techniques. Practical demonstrators are available to provide ongoing feedback during the class and to assist with laboratory skill development.
- 9 x 1 hour tutorials either at the end of the lectures or as online flipped learning exercises
These tutorials use case studies to exemplify the relevance of the concepts of the lectures to the needs of the society. By having the tutorials integrated into the 3 hour lecture session you will be able to work in small groups to work through case studies and to receive immediate feedback on the more difficult concepts and processes of Transfusion Science.
The lectures, tutorials and practicals are all closely integrated to help you. The principles presented in lectures are reinforced by applications in tutorial, practical and online learning activities. Flexible learning and communication between yourself and teaching staff outside class time is facilitated by use of a Discussion Board on UTS Online.
Content (topics)
Upon completion of the lecture and practical material you will have knowledge of:
1. IBST definitions of blood group systems
2. How to utilize, report and determine the results of antibody tests
3. Using column agglutination as well as tube techniques
4. Types of transfusions and transplants
5. Transfusion reactions, their risks and severity
6. The organizations and regulations that govern blood transfusion medicine
7. When transfusions or blood compatibility may be important
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Skills test
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application 2. An Inquiry-oriented approach 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application 6. Communication skills |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 4 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 10% |
| Criteria: |
Students will be assessed on:
|
Assessment task 2: Online learning activities
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application 2. An Inquiry-oriented approach 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application 5. Engagement with the needs of society 6. Communication skills |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 5% |
| Criteria: | Complete an online quiz that tests knowledge of material covered in lectures, tutorial and practicals for the following topics:
|
Assessment task 3: Presentation on the use of regulation of therapeutic agents used in transfusion medicine
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application 2. An inquiry-oriented approach 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application 5. Engagement with the needs of society 6. Communication skills |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Group, group assessed |
| Weight: | 15% |
| Length: | Prepare and present a 10 minute presentation to their practical class and create a poster summarising the main points for all students to refer back to in preparation for the final exam. |
| Criteria: | The presentation and poster will be graded based on:
|
Assessment task 4: Practical application of case studies
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application 2. An inquiry-oriented approach 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application 6. Communication skills |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | Work individually to perform two laboratory tests that include: ABO Group, and or Antibody Screen, and or Full Antibody Panel to test compatibility of two patients/donors/recipients presented in two case studies. They will need to apply the knowledge of the course to the case studies, determine the risks of transfusion, perform practical application of blood tests, interpret results, accurately report the results and answer questions related to the case studies. |
Assessment task 5: Final theory examination
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application 2. An inquiry-oriented approach 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application 6. Communication skills |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Criteria: | Theory examination that tests the knowledge of lectures, tutorials and practical material.
|
Minimum requirements
You are expected to attend all scheduled classes; lectures, tutorials and practical classes.
Any assessment task worth 40% or more requires the student to gain at least 40% of the mark for that task. If 40% is not reached, an X grade fail may be awarded for the subject, irrespective of an overall mark greater than 50.
You must obtain an overall mark of 50 or greater to pass the subject.
The minimum requirement for completion of this subject is at least 80% attendance at practical classes, unless a medical certificate or documented 'special consideration' forms are lodged.
Recommended texts
Harmening, D (6th edn) (2012) Modern Blood Banking and Transfusion Practices. FA Davis
Or
Overfield, Dawson and Hamer (2nd edn) (2008) Transfusion Science. Scion
References
Others as listed in Transfusion Science Practical Manual
