Fundamental principles of molecular technology and techniques used in clinical laboratories such as nucleic acid extraction, DNA amplification, sequencing and hybridization, gel electrophoresis, and chromosome analysis. Prediction and detection of human disease (infectious disease, cancer, and other inherited disease), identity testing, molecular epidemiology, pharmacogenetics, and ethical issues. Previous knowledge of genetics and biochemistry lab techniques is highly recommended.

The immunology of blood, including blood group systems and the critical role they play in safe transfusion medicine. Additional topics include blood collection, component use, transfusion reactions, and transfusion-transmitted infections.

Hands-on experience in clinical blood banking practices including blood typing, antibody screening and identification, cross matching, and confirmatory testing.

Use of body fluids to assess specific disease states including the pathophysiology of the disease, pre-analytical issues, analytical methodologies, and instrumentation. Topics include the biochemistry of analytes (amino acids, proteins, enzymes, tumor markers, non-protein nitrogen metabolites, carbohydrates, lipids, electrolytes, blood gases, etc.), clinical endocrinology, toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring.