VET PATHO 413 Veterinary Clinical Pathology.pptx

Course Topics

  • Week 1: Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Pathology

  • Weeks 2-4: Hematology

    • RBCs & WBCs and their abnormalities

    • Coagulation disturbances

  • Weeks 5-6: Urinary Clinical Pathology

    • Renal Physiology, Clinical Diagnostics & Disease

  • Weeks 7-8: Hepatobiliary Clinical Pathology

    • Liver Physiology, Clinical Diagnostics & Disease

    • Liver function tests

  • Weeks 10-11: GI tract Clinical Pathology

    • Fecalysis & Other tests

  • Weeks 12-13: Fluids, Electrolytes, and Acid-Base Balance

  • Weeks 14-16: Endocrine Clinical Pathology

    • Adrenal & Thyroid function tests

  • Weeks 17-18: Clinical Cytology

    • Veterinary Clinical Oncology

    • Vaginal Smear Analysis in Dogs

Key Definitions

  • Pathology: Branch of medicine detailing structural and functional changes in organs and tissues caused by disease (Stockham and Scott, 2002).

  • Clinical Pathology: Subspecialty of pathology analyzing laboratory methods (clinical chemistry, microbiology, hematology) for disease diagnostics and treatment (Stockham and Scott, 2002).

Major Reasons for Analyzing Patient Samples

  • To detect unidentified pathological states.

  • Define, classify, or confirm diseases.

  • Rule out possible causes of illness.

  • Assess changes in disease state progression or treatment response.

Sample Collection

  • Examples include blood, urine, feces, skin scrapes.

  • Blood Samples: Collected via venipuncture; must be handled carefully and analyzed promptly to avoid hemolysis.

  • Plasma & Serum: Plasma harvested through centrifugation of anticoagulated blood; serum from coagulated blood after clotting.

Basic Concepts of Laboratory Assays

  • Clinical Hematology Assays: Quantifying cell concentrations (RBC/WBC/Platelet counts).

  • Clinical Chemistry Assays: Detecting and quantifying chemicals (e.g., liver enzymes).

  • Clinical Microscopy: Analysis of cytology, histopathology, urine sediments, and parasites.

Common Tests in Clinical Pathology

  • Assessment methods include total erythrocyte count, differential leukocyte counts, and various hematologic and clinical chemistry profiles.

  • Hemostasis: Process involving complex interactions among blood vessels, platelets, and coagulation factors to maintain vascular integrity.

Quality Assurance in Clinical Pathology

  • Identify sources of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical errors to ensure accurate results.