Overview
On completion of this unit, you will be able to evaluate the evidence base for biochemical tests used in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases in the major organ systems of the body. Problem-solving and decision making skills will be developed through the use of authentic case studies. Skill development in instrument calibration, best practice measurement, interpretation of test results and test quality control monitoring will occur through practical exercises. You will be required to attend a residential school in order to promote the development of unit learning outcomes. The residential school may be scheduled outside of the term of offering of the unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite Enrolment in Master of Laboratory Medicine.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Staff feedback & Self reflection
Some students found the unit content challenging.
Review and refine the unit content and delivery approach for future iterations to enhance student learning and engagement.
Feedback from Informal student feedback
The Residential School was appreciated by students as it allowed them to put theory into practice.
Investigate the option of scheduling the Residential School earlier to align more effectively with the theoretical delivery of the unit.
- Explain the various processes involved in biochemical method evaluation, interpretation and development
- Appraise the limitations of laboratory procedures and regulatory aspects including external quality assurance and accreditation bodies
- Describe the rationale and clinical correlation of specialised biochemical tests used in the detection and monitoring of processes affecting the major organ systems
- Demonstrate skills in the use of biochemical instrumentation including corrective action as required
- Evaluate biochemical clinical cases to derive a provisional diagnosis.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Laboratory/Practical - 0% | |||||
| 4 - Examination - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY: PRINCIPLES, TECHNIQUES, AND CORRELATIONS
- Edition: 9th (2023)
- Authors: Michael L. Bishop; Edward P. Fody; Carleen Van Siclen; James March Mistler; Michelle Moy
- Jones and Bartlett Learning
- ISBN: 9781284238860
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom (both microphone and webcam capability)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.siddiq@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
- Basic principles and practices of Clinical Chemistry
Chapter
- Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations:1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - Introduction
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
1. Analytical techniques
2. Introduction to Automation and Point of Care Testing (POCT)
Chapter
- Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 4
- Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 5, 29
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Renal Function & Electrolytes
Chapter
Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 11 & 21
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - covering Week 2
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
pH, Buffering systems and Blood Gases
Chapter
Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - covering Week 3
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Liver & Pancreatic function
Chapter
Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 19 & 22
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - covering Week 4
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Laboratory Markers of Cardiac Function & Cardiac Damage
Chapter
Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 20
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - covering Week 5
Written Assessment 1 -Case Report Due: Week 6 Monday (13 Apr 2026) 11:00 am AEST
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
N/A
Events and Submissions/Topic
No tutorial
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Carbohydrates & Diabetes
Chapter
Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - covering Week 6
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
- Lipids & Lipoproteins
Chapter
- Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - covering Week 7
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
1. Analytical process, data interpretation and method evaluation
2. Quality Control and External Quality Assessment
Chapter
Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - covering Week 8
Written Assessment 2 - Practical Report Due: Week 9 Wednesday (13 May 2026) 11:00 am AEST
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
- Basic Endocrinology
- Calcium & Bone
Chapter
- Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 13
- Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 18
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - covering Week 9
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
- Tumour Markers & Introduction to Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)
Chapter
- Clinical Chemistry, Principles, Techniques and Correlations: 28 & 25
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - covering Week 10
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
REVISION
Chapter
N/A
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial - covering Week 11
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students will be notified of the exact date and time of the invigilated exam once it has been scheduled" in the Exam Week and Vacation/Exam week rows
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
This unit will provide you with technical and applied knowledge of Chemical Pathology. LMED28001 Chemical Pathology 1 is a core unit in one course: CM18 - Master of Laboratory Medicine.
The Unit Coordinator for this Unit is Dr Amer Siddiq, who can be contacted by e-mail (a.siddiq@cqu.edu.au) or via the Moodle forums.
Lectures will all be pre-recorded and will be posted on the Moodle page. If scheduled tutorials fall on a public holiday, they will be pre-recorded and posted on the Moodle page. Some of the lectures may have been recorded by guest lecturers who are specialists in the field. There are weekly tutorials that will be linked to Zoom to enable remote attendance, and these sessions will also be recorded and posted to the Moodle page. Please note that in each tutorial, we will be discussing and applying knowledge gained in the preceding week`s lectures. These tutorials will summarize the weekly lecture content and provide an opportunity for you to discuss the lecture content.
I encourage you to engage with the tutorials preferably by attending in person or virtually via Zoom, or if that is not possible, review the recorded video. A reminder that, if you are an international student it is a requirement that you should attend in person for a minimum of 80% of your classes. You will be provided an opportunity to develop your skills in Chemical Pathology in a compulsory residential school.
As per Australian educational standards, you are expected to commit 150 hours of engagement to your study of this unit. This is broken down as:
2 - 3 hours per week watching recorded lectures and revising the content through study notes
3 - 4 hours per week completing the weekly study questions on the unit's Moodle page
1 - 2 hours per week attending the weekly tutorial and reflecting on your answers to the weekly study questions
3 - 4 hours per week preparing your assessments or studying for your end-of-term exam
Karnik, A., Kishore, P., & Meraj, M. (2020). Examining the linkage between class attendance at university and academic performance in an International Branch Campus setting. Research in Comparative and International Education, 15(4), 371-390. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745499920958855
1 Written Assessment
You will be provided with a clinical case study on the Moodle page.
You will be provided with information regarding the clinical presentation, patient history and specific biochemical
parameters (provided by an automated analyser) for this clinical case study. You are required to write a report using a
case study approach describing the pathophysiology, specific biochemical profile characteristics observed that led to the
provisional diagnosis, differential diagnoses and potential treatment options. You may also be recommended further
tests that will assist in confirming the diagnosis. Further details on the case, a template and an exemplar will be
provided to you on the Moodle site to assist in preparation.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: AI PLANNING
Al may be used for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining and initial research. This level focuses on the effective use of Al for planning, synthesis, and ideation, but assessments should emphasise the ability to develop and refine these ideas independently.
Week 6 Monday (13 Apr 2026) 11:00 am AEST
The assessment should be uploaded into Moodle.
To be marked and returned two to three weeks after submission deadline.
The assessment task is marked according to how well you have met the specific requirements and in accordance with
the criteria outlined below:
Presentation: The report is presented in the provided template with clarity of purpose and coherence of expression
(spelling, grammar, syntax) in a clear and organised manner.
Abstract: Provides a clear overview and overall summary of the case study.
Introduction: Provides necessary background information and pathophysiology of the case. Does not discuss the final
diagnosis rather supports the intended diagnosis via arguments.
Materials and Methods: Briefly describes all the methods used to aid in diagnosis. Discusses further tests to be
employed in order to confirm the diagnosis.
Results: All data presented clearly with reference ranges. Layout is clear with further tests and expected results
discussed.
Discussion: Clear discussion of the results with supporting arguments and reasoning for arriving at the final diagnosis.
References: Relevant and correct referencing system used with appropriate in-text references
- Describe the rationale and clinical correlation of specialised biochemical tests used in the detection and monitoring of processes affecting the major organ systems
2 Written Assessment
You will be required to write a report in basic scientific journal format from given data. Scientific journal format typically
contains the following elements:
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion/conclusions
Limitations/future directions
This task requires you to complete a similar yet abbreviated format that only requires IMRAD (introduction, methods,
results and discussion/limitations).
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: AI PLANNING
Al may be used for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining and initial research. This level focuses on the effective use of Al for planning, synthesis, and ideation, but assessments should emphasise the ability to develop and refine these ideas independently.
Week 9 Wednesday (13 May 2026) 11:00 am AEST
The practical report should be uploaded into Moodle.
To be marked and returned two to three weeks after submission deadline.
Clarity of expression (spelling and grammar), the inclusion of key facts, accurate research, correct and relevant
referencing, and clear diagrams will be important general criteria for performing well in this assessment item. The use
of information contained solely within the study notes/practical support information will result in the awarding of a
passing grade at best. To obtain higher marks, information from other sources will be required. Students who use
relevant information from other sources in their reports will be successful. As a guide, between 10 to 12 journal articles
should be used! The failure to cite references in your assignments will result in you not achieving the full value for your
efforts.
- Appraise the limitations of laboratory procedures and regulatory aspects including external quality assurance and accreditation bodies
- Evaluate biochemical clinical cases to derive a provisional diagnosis.
3 Laboratory/Practical
Attendance at the Residential School / Laboratory is mandatory to pass the unit. Dates and times will be notified when scheduled.
You will be provided with a laboratory workbook on the Moodle page. This workbook will contain all the tasks that need to be completed during the residential school block. It will also contain a series of short questions and patient reports to be completed in relation to the authentic cases provided. Group experimental activities during the residential school will foster teamwork and provide hands-on experience of the biochemical techniques used in pathology laboratories. Completion of the workbook will evidence student engagement and understanding of the principles behind the Biochemical tests. Laboratory staff or demonstrators will assess your individual experimental capability during the residential school to ensure your understanding of the learning outcomes.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 1: You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
Due to be handed in at the completion of the chemical pathology practical at residential school
To be marked within two weeks following the residential school.
Residential school Workbook component:
Each section will have respective assigned marks as indicated on the provided workbook.
The Workbook is a PASS/FAIL Assessment.
The laboratory staff will provide immediate verbal feedback to you on the practical hands-on aspect of this assessment
item.
The laboratory workbook template will contain the weighting of marks associated with the tasks and subsequent
questions/reports to be completed and submitted.
The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
- Demonstrate skills in the use of biochemical instrumentation including corrective action as required
Examination
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
