Received 3/3 marks for Distinction on this assignment. It’s quite wordy but hopefully you will be able to pick out key information and better understand the key concepts.
Disclaimer: Please only use this as a guide, thank you!
Unit 20: Biomedical Science
Learning aim B: Examine the use of histology and cytology in medicine
Learning aim C: Examine the use of urinalysis as an analytical and diagnostic tool
Assignment title: Cytology, Histology and Urinalysis
Histology & Cytology: The basics
Histology is the study of microscopic structures of cells, tissues and organs which enables
scientists to locate the relationship between structure and function.
Unlike histology, which studies an entire tissue block, cytology involves the study of a single
cell type taken from fluid that has been scraped or drawn out and is used for the diagnosis of
foetal abnormalities, infectious organisms and is also used for pap smears.
Screening techniques |: Preventative and Disease - How are these used to detect disease?
Screening tests in healthcare are used to identify the risk factors and early presence of a
potential disease and in no way act as direct treatment but rather as diagnosis which may also
be accompanied by a list of cons, many of which being false positives. Hospitals or doctors
decide which type of screening should be given or offered based on disease indicators: Is the
disease history understood? is the benefit outweighed by the harm? are there any potential
long-term effects? Below are three examples of preventative and disease screening
techniques.
*Images left to right: Pap smear, Colonoscopy and mammography.
[1]. Cervical screening test (pap smears) invitations are given to women between the ages of
24 and 64 years old and consist of taking a miniscule sample of cells from the cervix (lowest
area of the womb, located above the vagina) with a small brush for further testing and
evaluation in case of potential diseases such as the Human Papilloma Virus (HIV). However,
as it is a false-positive test, it holds the tendency to detect abnormal cells that are not present
in the cervix – leads to more tests.
[2]. Colonoscopy tests are recommended by doctors every ten years if there is little to no risk
of colon cancer – they are used to pinpoint possible tissue irritation or cancer in the large
intestine, otherwise known as the colon, and rectum but they are also generally used to
, remove abnormal tissue samples from the colon – may be used to further investigated the
severity of abnormalities or possible inflammation within an organ
[3]. Mammography tests are x-ray examinations for the detection of breast cancer in women
which requires the breasts to be placed on a flat support plate and compressed to reduce the
chances of blurry images. The doctor will examine the final image to look for abnormal tissue
discolouration that appears different to the surrounding tissue – small area of cancerous tissue
may appear white in comparison to unaffected tissue which will appear as grey.
Testing: Accurate, Timely, Prompt
- What is an Automated Sample Analysis?
An ASA is medical lab machine which is utilised when measuring various samples and
chemicals at the same time with little to no manual assistance – it is said to be a “quick and
efficient” way of sampling, yet scientists are still expected to thoroughly check samples to
detect and eliminate potential implications or visible issues.
Timely reporting of test results and frequently occurring updates enables staff and patients to
create the time needed to shape the ideal prognosis and health management timeline. A delay
in reporting = delay in receiving treatment = 60% increase risk of the predicted prognosis
being forced to go in a completely different direction and creating an increase in burden and
stress on both the medical professional and patient.
- Applications such as tissue staining may also be used in some cases to accentuate certain
areas of tissue to highlight the above abnormalities quicker using methods like Haematoxylin
& Eosin staining which paints the nuclei as well as other components of a cell – Eosin is
frequently used as a counterstain to Hae’lin, meaning it produces a stronger contrasting
background/distinction between multiple tissues as Hae’lin alone does not create a direct
stain. Eosin stains the RBCs, collagen, cytoplasm, muscle & elastic fibres, whereas Hae’lin
stains nucleic components - See below.
Automated Microtomy: How is this used?
Is the process of separating tissue samples such as teeth and bones for more quicker and
efficient diagnosis of a disease through manual AND automated implications for precision
and reduced risk of error – samples are labelled with barcodes or radiofrequency iden.
(RFID)
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