Laboratory Medicine (Honours) Adelaide University

Overview

Throughout this Laboratory Medicine (Honours) course from Adelaide University you'll gain the skills and knowledge needed to work as a medical laboratory scientist in diagnostic pathology or research.

Develop core knowledge of the natural and biomedical sciences, and their application in diagnostic pathology. Learn how to perform diagnostic tests, including cross-matching for blood transfusions, identifying infection-causing organisms, screening for cancer cells and detecting genes responsible for disease conditions. Undertake training in all areas of pathology, including biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, molecular pathology, haematology and histopathology.

Put your learning into practice in a variety of private, public, community and allied health settings with up to 26 weeks of clinical placements. Get hands on in our purpose-built histopathology and haematology laboratories, where you’ll use industry-standard technology to perform, analyse and interpret test results. Gain advanced research skills and contribute new knowledge to the field through a major honours research project.

Through a comprehensive blend of theory, practical experiences and clinical placements you’ll develop the skills to expertly diagnose disease. You’ll graduate with the knowledge, skills and experience to thrive in your medical laboratory career – in whatever setting you choose.

Career opportunities:

As a medical laboratory scientist, you'll support clinicians in the diagnosis, management and treatment of disease. You may recommend treatments, monitor dosage and effects, and track the progress of patients. Medical laboratory scientists also play a pivotal role in making new medical discoveries, developing improved tests for disease detection and shaping public health initiatives.

You might be based in hospital, conducting diagnostic tests on blood and bodily fluids to monitor how patients are responding to treatment. Perhaps you’ll be employed by a pharmaceutical company, helping develop and prepare new types of medicines for clinical trials.

Medical laboratory scientists are employed in a wide range of areas, including:

• Clinical biochemistry 
• Cytology 
• Diagnostic pathology 
• Forensic science 
• Government policy 
• Haematology 
• Histopathology 
• Immunology 
• Medical microbiology 
• Product manufacturing 
• Public health and health management 
• Research 
• Transfusion science 
• Veterinary medicine 
• Virology.