Molecular Diagnostics Continuing Education Modules

Purpose:  To help prepare cytotechnologists and clinical laboratory scientists to take the certification examination in Molecular Biology by providing instruction in molecular science, medical genetics, molecular methods and clinical applications of molecular-based diagnostic tests.

Educational Methods:  Online lectures and demonstrations of procedures.  Optional  on-site 2-day laboratory session to obtain “hand-on” training in commonly utilized molecular procedures.  Each of the modules includes  a  self-assessment exercise that includes questions at varying levels of difficulty simulating questions on the certification exam.

Text book:  Molecular Diagnostics, Fundamentals, Methods & Clinical Applications by Buckingham and Flaws, FA Davis Company, Philadelphia, 2007.

Module I:  Basic Molecular Biology

Educational Objectives:

• Understand DNA chemistry, structure, replication
• Understand RNA chemistry, function, transcription, genes
• Understand protein chemistry, structure, translation

Contact hours:  10

CEU:  1.0             

Module II:  Medical Genetics and Molecular Methods

1.  Medical Genetics

Educational Objectives:

• Describe gene structure and function
• Understand mutation types
• Understand outcomes of specific mutations
• Describe chromosomal structure
• Describe and differentiate between genetic and chromosomal mutations

2.  Methods used to purify, separate, detect, and analyze nucleic acids

Educational Objectives:

• Describe the solid-phase approach for isolating cellular DNA
• Describe the spectrophotometric method used to determine the quantity and quality of nucleic acid preparations
• Calculate the concentration and yield of DNA or RNA from a given nucleic acid preparation
• Describe the following hybridization procedures, their applications, advantages, and limitations:Southern blot analysis, In Situ Hybridization (ISH), Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH)
• Describe 3 basic steps of PCR
• List the components of a PCR reaction mix
• Describe appropriate controls to include in a PCR assay
• List the major advantages and disadvantages of PCR

Contact hours:  10

CEU:  1.0     

Module III:  Molecular Methods

1. Methods used to amplify nucleic acids
2. Signal amplification methods
3. Molecular methods:  Detecting mutations

Educational Objectives (Sessions A-C):

• Understand the role of HPV in cervical cancer and molecular testing
• Describe and differentiate between assays used to detect HPV
• List the advantages/disadvantages of each assay
• Understand the significance of genotyping for high-risk HPV types 16 & 18
• Explain the difference between nucleic acid amplification methods and signal amplification methods
• Describe, differentiate between, and list clinical applications of nucleic amplification methods (PCR, nested PCR, real-time PCR, RT-PCR, multiplex PCR, transcription-based amplification systems)
• Describe and differentiate between, and list clinical applications of signal amplification methods (branched DNA, hybrid capture, target capture, Invader)Discuss a variety of PCR-based and electrophoretic methods of analysis used to detect mutations, and list examples of clinical applications that use these technologies
• List the methods that can be used to determine point mutations
• List the factors affecting the sensitivity of mutation scanning assays