LMP1203H: Basic principles of analytical clinical biochemistry

Who can attend

The course is open to medical biochemistry residents, postdoctoral diploma in clinical chemistry fellows, and graduate students.

Graduate students need permission from the supervisor and must be registered in the LMP graduate program to attend.

Prerequisites

Undergraduate course in biochemistry and/or molecular biology is recommended.

Course description

This course introduces current analytical techniques as applied in clinical biochemistry laboratories. We will cover the theoretical aspects of each technique, the limitations, and common applications. The course also introduces analytical and clinical evaluation of laboratory methods.

The course will be run as tutorials/lectures for medical biochemistry residents, postdoctoral diploma in clinical chemistry fellows, and graduate students.

Course coordinator

Dr. Davor Brinc

davor.brinc@uhn.ca

lmp.grad@utoronto.ca for administrative queries.

Timings and location

This course is offered every year in the Fall session.

Wednesdays, 9 am - 12 noon

Location: MSB 3290

Meetings will take place on Wednesday mornings (9:00-12:00 noon). Alternative meeting times and places may be arranged with individual lecturers if deemed necessary.

Readings

Students are responsible for the material provided in the lectures.

Optional readings

Selected chapters from N. Rifai et al (editors). Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine.

Supplementary readings can also be provided by each lecturer.

Evaluation methods

Final end-of-course exam (lectures 3,4,6,8,9,10,13,14): 57%

Take-home assignments for selected lectures (indicated in the table below): 43%

Schedule

Lectures will be in person unless stated via Zoom. Zoom details will be provided by email.

Date

Topic

Lecturer/instructor

September 13, 2023

Introduction to analytical clinical biochemistry 

Analytical method evaluation

Take-home assignment

Dr. Davor Brinc, UHN

September 20, 2023

Clinical method evaluation

Via Zoom

Take-home assignment

Dr. Dorothy Truong, LifeLabs

(dorothy.truong@lifelabs.com) 

September 27, 2023

General lab techniques

Dr. Ashley DiMeo, UHN

October 4, 2023

Enzymatic techniques and chemistry analyzers

Dr. Felix Leung, Mount Sinai Hospital

October 11, 2023

Spectrophotometry

Take-home assignment

Dr. Uvaraj Uddayasankar, LifeLabs

(uvaraj.uddayasankar@
lifelabs.com)

October 18, 2023

Electrophoresis

Via Zoom

Dr. Saranya Arnoldo, Trillium

October 25, 2023

Electrochemistry applications in a clinical chemistry laboratory

Take-home assignment

Via Zoom

Dr. Mohamed Abouelhassan, LifeLabs

November 1, 2023

Immunoassays I

Dr. Paul Yip, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

November 8, 2023

Immunoassays II

Dr. Paul Yip, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

November 15, 2023

Chromatography

Dr. Daniel Beriault, Unity Health Toronto

November 22, 2023

Mass Spectrometry 

Take-home assignment

Dr. Andrea Bozovic, UHN

November 29, 2023

Point-of-care testing

Take-home assignment

Dr. Davor Brinc, UHN

December 6, 2023

Molecular diagnostics

Via Zoom

Dr. Cuihong Wei, UHN

December 13, 2023

Ultracentrifugation and lipid analyses

Via Zoom

Dr. Dana Bailey, Dynacare

(BaileyD@dynacare.ca)

December 20, 2023

Final exam

Dr. Davor Brinc, UHN