APPLICATION OF PATHOLOGY TECHNIQUES I PROGRAMME COURSE DESCRIPTION

Code	Name of the Course Unit	Semester	In-Class Hours (T+P)	Credit	ECTS Credit
PLP154	APPLICATION OF PATHOLOGY TECHNIQUES I	2	4	2	7

GENERAL INFORMATION
Language of Instruction :	Turkish
Level of the Course Unit :	ASSOCIATE DEGREE, TYY: + 5.Level, EQF-LLL: 5.Level, QF-EHEA: Short Cycle
Type of the Course :	Compulsory
Mode of Delivery of the Course Unit	-
Coordinator of the Course Unit	Assist.Prof. ARZU KAYA KOÇDOĞAN
Instructor(s) of the Course Unit	Assist.Prof. ARZU KAYA KOÇDOĞAN
Course Prerequisite	No

OBJECTIVES AND CONTENTS
Objectives of the Course Unit:	The aim of this course is to enable students to acquire fundamental knowledge and practical skills related to routine pathology laboratory applications, including laboratory safety, solution preparation, tissue fixation, macroscopic examination, tissue processing, sectioning, staining, artifact recognition, archiving, and basic reporting processes.
Contents of the Course Unit:	This course covers occupational health and safety in the pathology laboratory, biosafety principles, laboratory equipment, solution preparation techniques, fixatives and fixation procedures, macroscopic examination and tissue sampling, tissue processing steps, paraffin embedding, microtomy, slide preparation, routine staining techniques, identification of artifacts, quality control procedures, archiving of specimens and slides, and basic laboratory reporting practices.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE COURSE UNIT (On successful completion of this course unit, students/learners will or will be able to)
Apply occupational health and safety rules in the pathology laboratory.
Work in compliance with biosafety and infection control precautions.
Receive and register tissue specimens delivered to the laboratory in accordance with standard procedures.
Explain the purpose and basic principles of tissue fixation.
Distinguish different types of fixatives according to their intended use.
Perform tissue processing steps in the correct sequence.
Prepare paraffin blocks using appropriate techniques.
Operate the microtome and produce histological tissue sections.
Prepare histological sections appropriately for staining procedures.
Apply Hematoxylin–Eosin staining steps according to standard techniques.
Identify technical errors and artifacts that may occur in histological preparations.
Demonstrate professional ethics, quality control awareness, and responsibility in pathology laboratory practices.

WEEKLY COURSE CONTENTS AND STUDY MATERIALS FOR PRELIMINARY & FURTHER STUDY
Week	Preparatory	Topics(Subjects)	Method
1	Literature review, Individual preparation	Introduction to the pathology laboratory, occupational health and safety	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
2	Literature review, Individual preparation	Biosafety, infection control, and personal protective equipment	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
3	Literature review, Individual preparation	Introduction to basic equipment used in the pathology laboratory	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
4	Literature review, Individual preparation	SHORT QUİZ/Introduction to the light microscope, adjustment, and maintenance practices	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
5	Literature review, Individual preparation	Solutions used in pathology and solution preparation techniques	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
6	Literature review, Individual preparation	Fixative solutions and tissue fixation practices	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
7	Literature review, Individual preparation	Macroscopy: macroscopic examination, sampling, and documentation	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
8	Literature review, Individual preparation	SHORT QUİZ/Tissue processing: dehydration and clearing steps	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
9	Literature review, Individual preparation	Paraffin infiltration and tissue embedding techniques	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
10	-	MID-TERM EXAM	-
11	Literature review, Individual preparation	Use of the microtome and sectioning from paraffin blocks	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
12	Literature review, Individual preparation	Mounting tissue sections onto slides and drying procedures	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
13	Literature review, Individual preparation	Routine staining techniques: Hematoxylin–Eosin	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
14	Literature review, Individual preparation	Practical exam/ Artifacts: causes, types, and prevention methods	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
15	Literature review, Individual preparation	Archiving of slides and blocks, basic reporting, and quality records	Lecture, Question and answer, Practical application
16	-	FINAL EXAM	-
17	-	FINAL EXAM	-

SOURCE MATERIALS & RECOMMENDED READING
Usubütün, A. (Ed.). (2023). Patoloji ve patoloji laboratuvarını anlama kılavuzu (2. baskı). Ankara: Nobel Tıp Kitabevi
Ceylan, T., & Ünal, M. A. (2019). Patoloji ve histoloji laboratuvarı uygulama kitabı. Kapadokya Üniversitesi
Bancroft, J. D., & Gamble, M. (2019). Theory and practice of histological techniques (8th ed.). Elsevier.
Usta, U. (2019). Patoloji laboratuvar teknikleri ve laboratuvar yönetimi. İstanbul: Kongre Kitabevi

ASSESSMENT
Assessment & Grading of In-Term Activities	Number of Activities	Degree of Contribution (%)	Description	Examination Method
Final Exam	1	100		Computer-Lab-Practice Exam
TOTAL	1	100

Level of Contribution
0	1	2	3	4	5

KNOWLEDGE
Theoretical
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Defines professional responsibility issues such as ethical principles, respect for patients and patient specimens, biosafety of biological samples, and data confidentiality.						5
2	Has basic knowledge of current pathology practices, relevant literature, and emerging technologies (e.g., tissue banking, immunohistochemistry, and molecular pathology) and demonstrates awareness of lifelong learning.						5
3	Plans professional duties in accordance with time management principles.						5

KNOWLEDGE
Factual
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Defines the basic concepts, terminology, and theoretical knowledge used in pathology laboratories.						5
2	Explains tissue processing, fixation, embedding, microtome sectioning, staining, histochemistry, and microscopic examination techniques together with their underlying theoretical principles.						5
3	Has knowledge of laboratory quality control, quality assurance, accreditation standards, biosafety, hygiene, and sterilization principles.						5
4	Explains the characteristics and principles of use of equipment, materials, and chemicals used in pathology laboratories.						5

SKILLS
Cognitive
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Differentiates between normal tissues and pathological structures and provides basic interpretations while evaluating tissues using a microscope.						5
2	Identifies chemical, biological, and physical risks and performs basic risk management.						5
3	Solves basic problems encountered in professional processes by applying analytical thinking.						5

SKILLS
Practical
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Performs fixative preparation, tissue processing, embedding, microtome sectioning, and paraffin section–microscopic slide preparation in the pathology laboratory.						5
2	Performs laboratory procedures such as staining, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, special staining techniques, and microscopic examination accurately and safely.						5
3	Appropriately manages the use, maintenance, and safety procedures of laboratory equipment (e.g., microtome, microscope, stainer).						5
4	Contributes to sample tracking and result reporting processes by maintaining laboratory records and accurately performs sample coding and data management.						5
5	Complies with biosafety and occupational health and safety regulations while adhering to laboratory quality control procedures.						5
6	Shares professional knowledge and findings accurately and effectively within a team.						5
7	The student develops preventive approaches to creating safe working environments in terms of occupational health.						5

OCCUPATIONAL
Autonomy & Responsibility
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Carries out professional duties and responsibilities independently.						5

OCCUPATIONAL
Learning to Learn
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Is open to continuous professional development and lifelong learning; follows the scientific literature and is willing to learn new techniques.						5

OCCUPATIONAL
Communication & Social
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Communicates effectively with physicians, pathologists, nurses, and laboratory staff, demonstrating openness to teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration.						5
2	Takes professional responsibility, uses initiative, and demonstrates problem-solving skills when necessary.						5

OCCUPATIONAL
Occupational and/or Vocational
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Demonstrates behaviors that prioritize laboratory safety and biosafety at all times, while complying with ethical and professional conduct principles and maintaining patient and specimen confidentiality.						5
2	Takes responsibility for time management, laboratory organization, and work planning, and performs procedures in accordance with standards, accurately, and on time.						5
3	Is aware of legal regulations related to the field, patient rights, biosafety standards, and ethical rules, and complies with these regulations.						5

WORKLOAD & ECTS CREDITS OF THE COURSE UNIT
Workload for Learning & Teaching Activities
Type of the Learning Activites	Learning Activities (# of week)	Duration (hours, h)	Workload (h)
Lecture & In-Class Activities	14	4	56
Preliminary & Further Study	14	4	56
Land Surveying	0	0	0
Group Work	0	0	0
Laboratory	0	0	0
Reading	0	0	0
Assignment (Homework)	0	0	0
Project Work	0	0	0
Seminar	0	0	0
Internship	0	0	0
Technical Visit	0	0	0
Web Based Learning	0	0	0
Implementation/Application/Practice	0	0	0
Practice at a workplace	0	0	0
Occupational Activity	0	0	0
Social Activity	0	0	0
Thesis Work	0	0	0
Field Study	0	0	0
Report Writing	0	0	0
Final Exam	1	1	1
Preparation for the Final Exam	1	20	20
Mid-Term Exam	1	1	1
Preparation for the Mid-Term Exam	1	20	20
Short Exam	1	1	1
Preparation for the Short Exam	1	20	20
TOTAL	34	0	175