Lesson 1Internal quality controls (IQC): controls types, frequency, target ranges, Levey-Jennings charts and Westgard rulesThis section explains internal quality control concepts in Zambian labs, types of control materials, selection of target ranges, plotting and interpreting Levey–Jennings charts, applying Westgard rules, and documenting corrective actions when control failures occur.
Control material types and selectionSetting target means and control rangesLevey–Jennings chart creation and reviewApplying key Westgard decision rulesDocumenting and resolving QC failuresLesson 2Common clinical chemistry tests: glucose, creatinine, electrolytes (K+, Na+), CRP, AST/ALT, renal panel — biochemical relevance and interferencesThis section reviews major clinical chemistry tests such as glucose, creatinine, electrolytes, liver enzymes, CRP, and renal panels in Zambia, describing biochemical roles, assay principles, common interferences, and interpretation in clinical contexts.
Glucose assays and glycolysis preventionCreatinine methods and eGFR reportingElectrolytes by ISE and common artefactsLiver enzymes: AST, ALT, ALP, GGTCRP and basic inflammatory markersLesson 3Calibration, reagent handling, lot changes, and impact on assay performanceThis section covers calibration principles, selection of calibrators, reagent storage and stability, managing lot-to-lot changes, verification procedures, and how these factors influence accuracy, precision, and long-term assay performance in Zambian settings.
Calibration frequency and acceptance criteriaCalibrator traceability and documentationReagent storage, stability, and labellingLot-to-lot comparison and validationImpact of calibration on patient resultsLesson 4Instrumentation basics: automated haematology analysers and clinical chemistry analysers (photometry, ISE, enzymatic assays)This section introduces automated haematology and chemistry analysers in Zambian labs, including cell counting technologies, photometric and enzymatic assays, ion-selective electrodes, and key maintenance tasks that ensure reliable, continuous instrument performance.
Principles of automated cell countingPhotometric and colorimetric assay basicsIon-selective electrode measurementEnzymatic assay kinetics and endpointsRoutine maintenance and daily checksLesson 5Common haematology tests: CBC components, parameters (Hgb, Hct, RBC indices, WBC count, differential) and clinical significanceThis section details CBC components in Zambia, including haemoglobin, haematocrit, RBC indices, platelet count, WBC count, and differential, explaining measurement principles, reference intervals, and clinical interpretation in common disease states.
Haemoglobin and haematocrit measurement methodsRBC indices: MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDWPlatelet count and platelet indicesTotal WBC count and differential patternsCBC flags and smear review criteriaLesson 6Interferences and common artefacts: haemolysis, lipaemia, icterus — detection and mitigationThis section reviews haemolysis, lipaemia, and icterus in Zambian samples, how they distort haematology and chemistry results, methods for visual and automated detection, decision limits for rejection, and strategies to prevent and correct these interferences.
Mechanisms and causes of haemolysis in samplesLipemic interference in photometric assaysIcterus and bilirubin-related spectral overlapUse of HIL indices and automated flagsPolicies for sample rejection or recollectionLesson 7Pre-analytical variables affecting haematology and chemistry results (anticoagulants, fasting state, sample type)This section covers pre-analytical factors that alter haematology and chemistry results in Zambia, including anticoagulant choice, fasting status, posture, sample type, storage time, and transport conditions, and how to standardise collection procedures.
Anticoagulant types and tube selectionFasting, posture, and circadian influencesSerum vs plasma vs whole blood selectionEffects of storage time and temperaturePneumatic tube and transport-related issuesLesson 8Throughput, sample queueing, STAT processing on analysers and protocols to prioritise urgent samplesThis section explains analyser throughput, sample loading patterns, STAT flags, and software rules used to prioritise urgent specimens in Zambian labs while maintaining accuracy, traceability, and compliance with laboratory turnaround time targets.
Defining routine vs STAT turnaround timesConfiguring analyser sample racks and carouselsSoftware rules for STAT and priority flagsManaging high-volume workflows and bottlenecksMonitoring real-time workload dashboards
