A one-week introductory course in clinical biochemistry and research based on renal function testing in man.
A one-week introductory course in clinical biochemical and research techniques was devised to provide a brief but concentrated experience for interested persons. Urinary creatinine concentrations were measured to demonstrate acceptable degrees of precision of a method (co-efficients of variation, 0.5-2.4%), and to give confidence by favourable comparison with routine laboratory results (day 2, mean 0.95 vs 0.94 mg/ml). Subjects then submitted themselves to one-day renal function testing, and subsequently measured their own urinary acid-base parameters by autotitrimetry and glomerular filtration rates by spectrophotometry. The values obtained for the latter fell within the normal range (85-124% of normal, corrected for age and surface area). Finally, statistical methods and a small desk-top computer were employed to compute linear regression equations, correlation coefficients, and t tests from the week's data. The course contained a number of features which stimulated learning, including active participation by the learner, and the use of meaningful materials to induce both desire for success and tolerance of mistakes.
D001315:Australia; D001671:Biochemistry / Q000193:education*; D003401:Creatine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003479:Curriculum; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007858:Learning; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014556:Urine
D003401:Creatine