Course Catalogue

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This course focuses on a range of common testing methods utilised in veterinary medicine to monitor normal biological processes and identify and quantify disease processes and pain in animals.

Weekly lectures supplemented with practicals, tutorials, seminars and self-directed study.

Students must have attained the minimum requirements for entry into level 3 of the Veterinary Biosciences [Hons]/MSci Programme as specified in the Veterinary Biosciences [Hons]/MSci Programme Supplementary Regulations.

None

In course assessment (45%): will normally comprise of critical analysis of literature relating to a novel development in diagnostics (30%); critical report on the analytical performance of a diagnostics assay (15%)

End of course assessment (55%): will normally comprise questions selected from the following formats - DIQ, SAQ, MCQ .

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

To provide students with the knowledge and understanding of

■ The range of methods, concepts and principles that can be used to identify and quantify normal biological processes as well as pathological disorders and pain in animals

■ The components of blood and tissue, and gross and microscopic morphological changes expected in health and disease

■ Mechanisms to critically evaluate the performance of different testing methods ensuring accuracy and precision

■ Assessment of disease and pain using non-invasive imaging techniques and different pain scoring systems.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1.    Critically evaluate molecular, tissue and whole-body veterinary diagnostic strategies with an understanding of the importance of laboratory quality management.

  2.    Interpret outcomes from a range of diagnostic tests such as blood profiles, histology, biological and molecular assays, imaging data and postmortem analysis.

  3.    Describe the underlying pathophysiological processes associated with infectious and non-infectious disease.

  4.    Critically discuss the physiology, pathology, and assessment of pain with an understanding of associated ethical issues and alternative therapies.

  5.    Critically appraise diagnostics-based scenarios and science through independent research

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment and attend all mandatory sessions.