Urinalysis and Body Fluids Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

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Course

MLAB-1211-001 Urinalysis and Body Fluids

Prerequisites

Course Description

An introduction to the study of urine and body fluid  analysis. Includes the anatomy and physiology of the kidney, physical, chemical and microscopic examination of urine, cerebrospinal fluid and other body fluids as well as quality control, quality assurance and safety.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 1 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Urinalysis and Body Fluids, 7th edition, Strasinger and Di Lorenzo, ISBN: 978-0-8036-7582-7

Supplies

The following includes a general list of lecture and lab supplies: 

• Textbook(s) and/or lab manual
• Scientific calculator
• Transparent ruler
• Map colors/colored pencils
• Portable tablet or laptop for in class testing with Respondus Lock Down Browser installed
• Internet access
• Printer and printing supplies
• Moisture/fluid resistant lab coat
• Facial shields
• Sharpies
• Pens/pencils/paper
• Handouts
• Notebook
• Gloves
• Notecards

Student Performance

END-OF-COURSE OUTCOMES: 
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to do all of the following with at least 70% accuracy as evaluated by the faculty in the program: (Reference: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board-Workforce Education Course Manual):

1. Apply principles of safety, quality assurance and quality control;
2. Evaluate specimen acceptability;
3. Explain principles of each test included in a routine urinalysis;
4. Describe the composition, formation and function of selected body fluids;
5. Explain the anatomy and functions of the renal system; and
6. Evaluate and correlate laboratory results with patient condition(s).

Specific learning/behavioral objectives for each lecture section and each laboratory exercise are distributed as part of the lecture/laboratory handouts.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of the college rules and regulations and is punishable as prescribed by Amarillo College Board policies. Academic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to, cheating on a test/quiz/assignment, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating shall include:

• Copying from another student's test/assignment paper.
• Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test/assignment (ex: notes, books, etc).
• Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test/assignment without permission from the test/assignment administrator/instructor.
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one's self, to take a test/assignment.
• Bribing another person to obtain an administered/unadministered test/assignment or information about an administered/unadministered test/assignment.

Plagiarism shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work.

Collusion shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.

Students may not use books, computer websites, text messaging, cellular phones, smartwatches or collaborate with another individual when completing quizzes, exams, or assignments in this course unless specifically directed to do so by their instructor.

WORK ETHICS
Amarillo College and the Medical Laboratory Technology program are committed to developing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors in students so that they can obtain entry-level employment and advance in their chosen profession. Great measures are taken to ensure that the curriculum is updated and that equipment is purchased and kept at industry level, as much as possible. Program Advisory committees meet annually to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of the local medical community as well as the program's national accrediting agency.

We are committed to providing these things to ensure that a graduate has the skills and knowledge to obtain and advance in their chosen profession. Therefore, professional education must address more than academic and skills training in order to meet this challenge. Business and industry state that their greatest need is for employees who possess strong work ethics. Therefore, we accept the challenge of providing not only academic and hands-on training but also work ethics training to students. The work ethics program is important because it provides the link between academic knowledge, skills training and successful employment in the workforce. The program focuses on those behaviors expected in a professional environment.

The following work ethics have been identified as being most important to professional employers, and will be covered and evaluated on a weekly basis, each semester, throughout the program:

• Attendance
• Character
• Teamwork
• Appearance
• Attitude
• Productivity
• Organization
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Respect

NOTE: If a student is absent during a scheduled lecture/lab period, he/she cannot be awarded points for work ethics during that missed lecture/lab period.

Personal Computers

Personal computers with internet access are required for the majority of in class exams. Respondance Lockdown Browser must be downloaded and will be used for all exams and quizzes. The exams and quizzes must be taken in class unless you have made arrangements with the instructor. Missing class and taking quizzes or exams at another location will result in a zero for that quiz or exam.

Computers use during class should be limited to class activities.

 

CELLULAR TELEPHONES and SMARTWATCHES
Cellular telephones and smartwatches are disruptive during lecture and lab sessions. Phones and smartwatches should be turned-off  or silenced during class time. If the student anticipates an emergency during class time, they should leave the number for the Student Services Office with their contact. The number is 371-5300.

 

 Phones and smartwatches are not allowed during exams or quizzes. Phones may not be used as a calculator during exams or quizzes.

 

Text/Instant Messaging is NOT permitted when lectures and labs are in session. It is disruptive and disrespectful to fellow students and the course instructor. Students who are caught engaging in either of these will be subject to disciplinary action including, but not limited to:

1. Being asked to leave class for the remainder of the day
2. Mandatory conference with the Dean of Health Sciences
3. Conference with the Vice President of Student Affairs and a permanent entry in the student's official program record
   
   The ONLY exception that will be made is if the student has discussed the situation with their instructor beforehand, and ONLY for emergency purposes.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
If a student is having a problem with the course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try and resolve any such problems through the instructor. If the problem is not resolved, the student may proceed to the Program Director, the Dean of Health Sciences, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the College President, IN THAT ORDER.

Grading Criteria

The lecture and laboratory components of this course will be weighted as follows:

Urinalysis/Body Fluids Lecture = 50% of the total grade
Urinalysis/Body Fluids Lab = 10% of the total grade

Work Ethics = 10% of the total grade

Comprehensive Final Exams = 30% of the total grade
 

Lecture Portion of Grade (50% of final grade)

           Exams (100 points each)

           Quizzes (3-10 points each)

           Notebook (25 points)

           Notecards (25 points)

 

Lab Portion of Grade (10% of final grade)

            Pre Lab Study Questions (10 points each)

            Lab Exercises (10 points each)

            Urinalysis Lab Practical (100 Points) 

            Body Fluids Lab Practical (100 Points)

 

Work Ethics Portion of Grade (10% of final grade)

             Weekly Assessments (10 Points each)

              Other Assignments/ Pop Quizzes

 

Comprehensive Final Exams (30% of final grade)

             Urinalysis Final (150 points, 7.5%)

             Body Fluids Final (125 points, 6.25%)

             Final Lab Practical (75 points, 3.75%)

             Urinalysis and Body Fluids Final (250 points, 12.5%)

Students with questions regarding examination results may call or email their instructor with their concerns. The request must be submitted within 1 calendar week after the exam closes. The student will be notified within 1 calendar week if the points have/have not been awarded.

The grading scale used for this course will be applied as follows:  

• A = 90.0% - 100.0% of the total points possible for this course
• B = 80.0% - 89.9% of the total points possible for this course
• C = 70.0% - 79.9% of the total points possible for this course
• F = 69.9% or less of the total points possible for this course

NOTE: A grade of 'D' is not possible

Points earned throughout the semester WILL NOT be rounded when computing the final semester grade.

MANDATORY SKILLS BUILDING/TUTORING:  In an effort to increase retention in MLT courses, and to assist students having difficulty understanding complex subject areas, any student who scores below a 75% on any exam (excluding the Final Exam) must complete a mandatory skills building assignment before taking the next exam. Before receiving a skills assignment, students must first schedule a time with the instructor. The assignment will be given at that time. 

INCOMPLETES
Incompletes are granted only for emergency situations such as hospitalization of the student just prior to the final exam, serious injury to the student on the day of the final exam, etc. Incompletes will not be granted for situations involving vacation plans, transportation difficulties, appointments, etc. Students who need to request an incomplete must do so prior to the scheduled time of the final exam with appropriate documentation given to the instructor.

DROPPING/WITHDRAWING FROM CLASSES
No administrative drops/withdrawals will be initiated by program officials.  It is the responsibility of each student to drop or withdraw from a course. Students can drop a course via WebAdvisor, and must do so prior to the last day to drop/withdraw as posted on the Amarillo College Master Calendar. Students should be aware that failure to attend class does NOT result in being automatically dropped from a course, and WILL result in a grade of “F”. 

Students should be advised that they may repeat a MLAB course only one time, and may repeat no more than two courses while enrolled in the program. The term “repeat” shall be interpreted to mean re-enrollment following withdrawal, drop or an unsatisfactory grade from a class. Students who are forced to completely withdraw from the college during a given semester may re-apply for admission to the program. Once the student has actually begun the program, he/she must complete all MLAB major courses within 36 months.

Examinations and quizzes may not be made-up. 

Laboratory sessions cannot be made-up under any circumstances, due to the nature of the laboratory environment and viability of specimens. Students are also responsible for gathering the information that was covered in lab during their absence. Late assignments may be accepted at the instructors discretion but points will be deducted. 

Final examinations cannot be made up, unless an incomplete has been granted, and missing the exam will automatically result in an exam grade of "F"

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Attendance is included in the Work Ethic grade throughout the course which is a component of the overall grade for this course. Attendance includes arriving for class late and leaving early.  Less than 90% attendance in a course may result in failure of the course.  Students are required to notify faculty in advance of class absence.

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