School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Clinical Biochemistry
  • Unit Code

    MMS2103
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Annette KOENDERS

Description

In this unit, students will gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills to undertake a range of clinical biochemical analyses using a variety of laboratory equipment. Emphasis is placed on aligning the detection of biochemical biomarkers with the development of human disease, and the contribution of this type of testing to the diagnostic process.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain the importance of quality control and processes required to achieve reliable medical results.
  2. Measure blood-based indicators and biomarkers of human disease
  3. Interpret clinical data to evaluate health or disease status in humans
  4. Synthesize information to determine additional testing requirements.

Unit Content

  1. The pathophysiology and biochemistry of renal disease, liver disease, heart disease, bone disease, thyroid disease, uric acid-associated diseases, diabetes and cancer.
  2. Methodologies used in biochemical assays including the hands-on use of a variety of laboratory equipment.
  3. Evaluation of clinical biochemistry results including quality control analyses and result validation techniques.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit will be taught using self-directed learning, tutorials and hands-on laboratory classes that will involve the biochemical evaluation of blood for specific biomarkers. Students prepare for tutorials and laboratory classes by engaging with, exploring and explaining the weekly content. Tutorials are used to evaluate understanding and knowledge in small groups. Students develop laboratory skills by carrying out a series of biochemical tests. Student learning is evaluated using small on-line quizzes, a laboratory skills test, a group presentation and individual written assessments.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentWritten evaluation and reflection of learning40%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory assessments40%
PresentationGroup presentation on a biomarker incorporating lab results.20%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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