Laboratory-medical engineering

Medical and pathology laboratory technicians perform clinical tests on samples of body fluids and tissues to obtain information about a patient's health or cause of death.

Tasks include:

• chemical analysis of body fluids, including spinal fluid, blood, and urine, to determine the presence of normal and abnormal components;
• operation, adjustment and maintenance of equipment used in quantitative and qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, photometers and computer-controlled means of analysis;
• entering data obtained from the analysis of laboratory tests and clinical results into archive systems and communicating the results to medical experts and other healthcare workers;
• analysis of samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction;
• adjustment, cleaning and maintenance of laboratory equipment;
• analysis of laboratory research for the purpose of checking the accuracy of the results;
• creating and monitoring programs to ensure the accuracy of laboratory results and the development, standardization, evaluation and modification of procedures, techniques and tests used in the analysis of samples;
• sample acquisition, care, isolation and identification of microorganisms for analysis;
• examination of discolored cells to detect abnormalities;
• inoculation of fertilized eggs or other bacteriological media with organisms.

The most general generic competencies at the level of each cycle of education, which must be possessed by every graduated student, regardless of the study program or the institution where he completed his higher education, are defined as:

• Dublin descriptors (Dublin descriptors), which represent a set of criteria on the expected achievements and abilities of students to distinguish different cycles of education, which were proposed by the Joint Quality Initiative (JQI), and which are accepted as the basis of the description of each cycle of education on ministerial meeting in Bergen in May 2005.
• The general framework for qualifications in European higher education (Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education - EQF for HE), which was adopted at the ministerial meeting in Bergen in May 2005.

These competencies are categorized as instrumental, interpersonal and systemic:

• Instrumental competencies include:
  • Cognitive abilities, understanding and manipulation of ideas and thoughts.
  • Methodological abilities to communicate with the environment: organizing time and strategies for learning, making decisions or solving problems.
  • Technological abilities related to the use of technological means, computers and the application of information management skills.
  • Language skills such as written and oral communication or knowledge of foreign languages.
• Interpersonal competences: Individual abilities that include the ability to express one's feelings, social skills such as interpersonal skills, working in teams, or expressing social and ethical commitment. These competencies enable processes of social interaction and cooperation.
• System competencies are those skills and abilities that relate to the entire system. They represent a combination of understanding, sensibility and knowledge, with the help of which a person will be able to see the relationship between individual parts and how they make up the whole. These abilities include the ability to plan changes in order to improve existing systems and create new systems. Systemic competences require prior acquisition of instrumental and interpersonal competences

Qualifications representing the successful completion of the first cycle (180-240 ECTS points) are awarded to students who:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the field of study, which builds on their secondary education and is common at first cycle level, supported by appropriate learning resources at higher education level (university textbooks, information and communication technologies), which includes aspects of knowledge of advanced achievements in a given field of study;
• can apply detailed knowledge and critical understanding of the principles related to a given field of study/discipline in a way that shows a professional approach to work or profession, and possess competencies that are usually expressed by the ability to form and support opinions and positions with arguments and the ability to solve problems within the given field of study;
• have the ability to collect and interpret relevant data (within a given field of study) on the basis of which they make judgments that may also include reflections on relevant social scientific or ethical issues;
• they can apply the basic methods of acquiring knowledge and applied research in a given discipline, and are able to decide which approach to use to solve a given problem, and are aware of the extent to which the chosen approach is appropriate for solving such a problem;
• can present and convey information, ideas, problems and solutions to an audience that is specialized in a given field of study, but also to an audience that is not specialized, using the appropriate language (and where appropriate, one or more foreign languages) and using communication tools technology;
• have built learning skills necessary for further study, with a high degree of autonomy and academic skills and properties necessary for research work, understanding and evaluating new information, concepts and evidence from different sources;
• possess the foundation for future self-direction and lifelong learning;
• have acquired interpersonal and teamwork skills, suitable for employment and/or further study.

Specific competencies acquired by students in the Laboratory-Medical Engineering program:

The study of laboratory medicine implies the education of a health expert with professional knowledge that enables him to work on complex analytical procedures in medical-laboratory diagnostics and analytics. In order for these goals to be achievable, a laboratory medicine engineer must possess psychophysical qualities that include normal mental and physical health, good vision and color discrimination, precision and orderliness in work.

Since in their work they come into contact with sick, traumatized, infirm, operated, and non-contactable persons, the characteristic of communicativeness and a positive psychological approach to the patient is especially emphasized.

A prerequisite for working in a laboratory of any kind is mandatory knowledge of a foreign language (preferably English), use of professional literature, knowledge of computer work, adherence to the rules of medical ethics, monitoring and advancement in the profession, involvement in research activities and transfer of knowledge to younger associates.

Upon completion of the studies, graduates will have acquired knowledge and skills for performing all types of laboratory diagnostics and will thus be able to:

• to work according to the principles of medical ethics, respecting international codes of conduct in healthcare
• master the prerequisites of working in the laboratory: organization in the functioning of the laboratory as well as connection with other departments,
• deal with professional terminology,
• know the hierarchy in healthcare, legal and other regulations and other regulatory acts,
• to ensure the safekeeping of equipment,
• achieve successful communication with staff, especially with patients,
• carrying out all the work of a medical-laboratory engineer in laboratory medicine as well as laboratory medicine as part of overall medicine.

Highly technological modern medicine implies the teamwork of various experts in which laboratory medicine is one of the essential links as the fundamental starting point in the detection of diseases, treatment and cure of patients. Modern medicine practices a new approach to the phenomenon of health and health policy through the World Health Organization's definition of health: "Health is created by caring for oneself and others, the ability to make decisions and to control life circumstances, and by ensuring life in such a society, which will enable to all its members to achieve health. ” (Ottawa, 1986).

In this context, engineers of medical laboratory diagnostics make an important contribution to prevention, diagnosis and treatment. With its well-performed and well-interpreted tests, it will help create an accurate picture of the individual's condition, which enables proper, most often successful treatment.

In order to achieve these goals, it is necessary to educate a medical-laboratory engineer according to a regular study program lasting at least three years, and a previous twelve-year education is implied.

Upon completion of the studies, the graduate will be prepared for the following jobs:

• organizing the collection, transport and storage of biological material
• organization of work in the area of ​​the regular work program on the analysis of biological material, directing and controlling the work of health technicians and laboratory medicine engineers
• maintenance and calibration of some devices with the application of the principles of work quality
• performing complex tests from all areas of laboratory medicine with the knowledge of handling simple and complex devices that work on the principle of spectrophotometry, fluorimetry, polarimetry, nephelometry, turbidimetry, densitometry, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, gas chromatography, electrophoresis
• proving and determining substrates, activity of enzymes, hormones, vitamins, drugs
• hemogram preparation (KKS, RDW, MCV, MCH, MCHC), determination of the number of leukocytes, reticulocytes, DKS, platelets, PDW, thrombocrit, MPV, and other cytochemical and hematological tests, including coagulation and transfusion tests
• sterile work in special conditions - sterilization, decontamination
• isolation and evidence of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi in all diagnostic segments
• production of histological, pathohistological and cytological preparations in all their phases in all types of laboratories in medicine, and in related scientific disciplines (veterinary, biology, pharmaceutical industry, etc.)

Although the laboratory medicine engineer is a team member, he must still be able to work independently, on duty and in shifts, and fully control the quality of his work.

Laboratory-medical engineers are qualified to:

• chemical analysis of body fluids, including spinal fluid, blood, and urine, to determine the presence of normal and abnormal components;
• operation, adjustment and maintenance of equipment used in quantitative and qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, photometers and computer-controlled means of analysis;
• entering data obtained from the analysis of laboratory tests and clinical results into archive systems and communicating the results to medical experts and other healthcare workers;
• analysis of samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction;
• adjustment, cleaning and maintenance of laboratory equipment;
• analysis of laboratory research for the purpose of checking the accuracy of the results;
• creating and monitoring programs to ensure the accuracy of laboratory results and the development, standardization, evaluation and modification of procedures, techniques and tests used in the analysis of samples;
• sample acquisition, care, isolation and identification of microorganisms for analysis;
• examination of discolored cells to detect abnormalities;
• inoculation of fertilized eggs or other bacteriological media with organisms.