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LSC-30098 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

LSC-30098 - Biomedical Blood Science
Coordinator: Mirna Maarabouni Room: Third Floor Roo Tel: +44 1782 7 33679
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

LSC-20089

Description for 2025/26

You will explore the roles of a typical Blood Science department. This consists of Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology, Haematology and Transfusion Science. You will learn how Biomedical Scientists assess major organ function and identify common biochemical abnormalities. You will also learn about the pathobiology of autoimmune and allergy-related conditions and how the work of Biomedical Scientists helps to screen, diagnose and monitor affected patients.
You will learn the underlying pathophysiology of disorders of blood and bone marrow and the role of the Biomedical Scientist in the diagnosis and management of conditions such as: anaemia, leukaemia, haemophilia and other bleeding and clotting problems. You will gain an insight into the importance of Transfusion Science which manage the cross-matching and issuing of a range of blood products. You will also explore key aspects of blood-grouping and cross matching as well as the importance of blood conservation and how that could be achieved.

Aims
The aim is to develop an understanding of the analytical, clinical and diagnostic aspects of Clinical Biochemistry, Blood Bank, Clinical Immunology and Haematology laboratories. It is intended that students should get an accurate insight into the role of Biomedical Scientists in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of abnormalities of the immune system - including neoplastic disease of the immune system - identification of human leukocyte antigens and transplantation.

Intended Learning Outcomes

evaluate the role of biomedical scientists in the provision of patient-focused healthcare and the contribution made to the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease with a specific focus on the role of Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology, Haematology and Transfusion Science laboratories: 1,2
interpret diagnostic laboratory results and understand their clinical association: 3,4
discuss the pathophysiology of human disease and explain how that can be used to investigate screening, diagnosis, monitoring and evaluation of prognosis for patients
: 1,3,4
evaluate and interpret laboratory-specific information from familiar and unfamiliar biomedical problems: 2,3,4
present an evidence-based argument meant for a) patients and b) health professionals, critically appraising source material and refining that argument for the intended recipient
: 1,2

Study hours

Active learning:
4x 1 hour tutorials
15x 2 hour workshops
12x 1 hour CBL tutorials
19x 6 hours engagement with asynchronous content (including consumption, wider reading and note taking)
6 x 4 hours preparation for case-based learning
10 hours practical sessions
Independent Study:
18 hours completing the clinical case study
18 hours completing the patient information leaflet
2x 2 hours completing the online timed tests
66 hours independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 20%
Clinical Report
Students will select one disease/disorder from a choice of three or four as the basis of their clinical report. This report should be written from the perspective of a practitioner Biomedical Scientist writing to a front-line clinician and should be no more than 1,500 words.

2: Creative Brief weighted 20%
Patient information leaflet
The patient information leaflet should be based on the same clinical scenario that was used for clinical report. You can decide on a range of platforms to produce the leaflet. This could include a typical paper-based leaflet submitted as a Word document (one, double-sided A4) or a digital leaflet produced as a Sway document. The final product should also be accompanied by a brief justification form that addresses your main aim and how you have considered patient accessibility, credibility, formatting and style.

3: Exam weighted 30%
1-hour closed book, invigilated exam within a 2-hour window (SEM1)
This exam is based on the Haematology and Transfusion content taught across semester 1 and is a campus-based, closed book exam. It will consist of multiple choice and short-answer style questions designed to test knowledge and understanding. An online test will be available prior to the exam to give examples of the question style and opportunities for formative feedback. The exam is designed to take approximately 1-hour, but we will timetable 2-hours for all students to promote a more inclusive approach to delivery, with less reliance on the need for specific reasonable adjustments for more time.

4: Exam weighted 30%
1-hour closed book, invigilated exam within a 2-hour window (SEM2)
This exam is based on the Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology content taught across semester 2 and is a campus-based, closed book exam. It will consist of multiple choice and short-answer style questions designed to test knowledge and understanding. An online test will be available prior to the exam to give examples of the question style and opportunities for formative feedback. The exam is designed to take approximately 1-hour, but we will timetable 2-hours for all students to promote a more inclusive approach to delivery, with less reliance on the need for specific reasonable adjustments for more time.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025