Curriculum of

Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology

D.M.L.T

Revised: June 2011

Board of Studies (paraclinical) Faculty of Medicine

SARDAR PATEL UNIVERSITY Vallabh Vidyanagar 388120 (Gujarat)
 Curriculum of
DIPLOMA IN MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY (DMLT)

JUNE-2011

RDMLT-1 : A Candidate for admission to the Diploma in Medical Laboratory

Technology(DMLT) must have passed the B Sc. Degree Examination of the Sardar Patel
University with Medical Laboratory Technology(or Medical Technology in clinical Laboratory
Technology) / Microbiology/ Bio Chemistry/ Zoology / Botany/ Chemistry / Bio- Technology /
Environment Science / Genetics / Bioinformatics / B. Sc. (Home Science) (Food and Nutrition) /
B. Sc (Home Science) (Food Science and Quality Control) (Vocational) or B. Sc (Industrial
Microbiology) (Vocational) as principal subject or an examination of any other university
recognized as equivalent thereto and must have:

RDMLT-2 : The course of study for the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology shall be a
full time course and its duration shall be of one academic year.

RDMLT-3 : A candidate who has passed an equivalent examining body and is seeking
admission to the Institute recognised by this University shall not be admitted without
producing on eligibility certificate from the Sardar Patel University.
RDMLT-4 : To become eligible to appear in the final examination conducted by Sardar

Patel University -

a) a candidate has to keep two terms at the Institute recognised for teaching the course of studies
in Medical Laboratory Technology by the university.
b) a candidate has to keep the minimum attendance of 75% in Theory and Practicals
separately.
c) a candidate has to obtaine at least 30% marks in aggregate of all the papers in the internal tests
conducted by the Institute.
RDMLT-5 : A candidate desirous of appearing at the Examination for the Diploma in
Medical Laboratory Technology must forward his application in the prescribed form accompanied
by a Certificate of attendance to the Registrar through the Head of the institute on or before the
date prescribed for the purpose under the ordinance/s.
RDMLT-6 : For the purpose of deciding final result at this examination, the ratio between the
Internal assessment and final University examination shall be 20:80 for both theory &
practicals. For the purpose of internal assessment the Institute will conduct at least one test in each
term.

RDMLT-7 : The final examination for the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology shall
be held at the end of the academic year.

RDMLT-8 : The Diploma Medical Laboratory Technology shall not be conferred upon a
candidate unless he/she has passed in all the subject of the theory examination and the
practicals in accordance with the provisions of relevant regulations.

RDMLT-9 : The subject of examination for the Diploma Medical Laboratory Technology will
be as under.
DMLT-Examination System and Marks distribution: Theory and Practical

Distribution of marks
Duration of
Course
Examina University Internal Total
Code
tion (hours) exam assessment
Subject
Clinical
DMLT-101 3 hours 80 20 100
Biochemistry
Medical
DMLT-102 3 hours 80 20 100
Microbiology
Clinical Pathology
DMLT-103 & Blood Banking 3 hours 80 20 100

Hematology &
DMLT-104 3 hours 80 20 100
Histopathology
Practicals and
DMLT-105
3 days* 240** 60** 300
(P)
Oral

Total 560 140 700

* One day for each of Pathology, Microbiology & Biochemistry practical per batch

** Internal : 20 marks and External: 80 marks for each of Pathology, Microbiology and
Biochemistry Practical
RDMLT-10 : STANDARD OF PASSING: (As per DMLT Rules of June 2001)

(A) To pass the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology Examination, a candidate must
obtain at least 45% marks in each paper/practical/oral at the University Examination as also in the
total of the internal assessment and the University Examination.
(B)AWARD OF CLASS:

(1)The successful candidates who obtain at least 50% or more but less than

60% marks in the total of Internal assessment & the University examination will be place in
Second Class.
(2)The successful candidates who obtain at least 60% or more but less than

70% marks in the total of Internal assessment & the University examination will be place in First
Class.
(3)The successful candidates who obtain at least 70% or more marks in the total of Internal
assessment & the University examination will be declared to have passed the examination in First
Class with Distinction.

Exemption:

A candidates failing the examination but securing 45% marks in a paper/practical may at his
option be exempted from appearing again in that subject at the subsequent examination and will
be declared to have passed the examination when he passes in all the remaining papers/practicals
in accordance with the provisions of (i) above A candidates who has refused once to avail himself
of the exemption earned by him in any paper/practical can not claim it on a subsequent occasion.

Candidates passing the examination in compartments in the manner herein

provided for, shall not be eligible for a scholarship awarded at the examination or for the award
of a class.
 Detailed Syllabus
DMLT
PAPER I: CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY UNIT:1 Introduction & General aspects
• Introduction to Clinical Biochemistry

• Study of weights, volumes and Units, Inter-conversion of units, Measurements,

Preparation of solution, Normal range

• Different anticoagulants used in Clinical Biochemistry, its application and Mechanism

of action.

• Hazards in the Laboratory.

UNIT:2 Instrumentation

Automation in Clinical Biochemistry laboratory

Electrophoresis, Chromatography, Colorimeter, Spectrophotometer, ELISA, RIA,

Flame photometer

UNIT:3 General Biochemistry of Carbohydrates

Classification, Boimedical importance, properties (chemical & physical)

Carbohydrate Metabolism (In brief) : Glycolysis, TCA, HMP shunt, Regulation of

blood sugar, GTT, Diabetes

UNIT:4 General Biochemistry of Proteins

Amino acids, Peptides, Classification & Properties of Plasma proteins,

Immunoglobulins,

Protein metabolism : Transamination, Deamination, Urea cycle, Phenyl ketonuria,

Alkaptonuria.

UNIT:5 General Biochemistry of Lipids

Lipids: Definition, Classification, Properties, Phospholipids.

Lipid metabolism : Cholesterol, Lipoproteins, VLDL, LDL, HDL, Atherosclerosis,

Ketosis, Lipid Profile

UNIT:6 Nucleic acids

Nucleotides : Nucleic acids, Functions (In Brief), Purine catabolism, Uric acid: Formation,
Estimation, Interpretation, Gout
UNIT:7 Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin structure, Hbs, Thalassemia

Hemoglobin : Synthesis (In brief) Porphyrias, Heme breakdown, Bilirubin, Jaundice,

Lab. diagnosis

UNIT:8 Enzymes

Enzymes : Definition, Classification, Factors affecting enzyme activity, Inhibition,

Diagnostic use of Enzyme

UNIT:9 Minerals & Vitamins

Minerals : Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Iodine, Sodium & Potasium.

Vitamins (In brief) : A,D,E, K,B12,Folic acid & Vitamin C (In brief)

UNIT:10 Function Test

Liver Function tests: Introduction, function of liver, type of investigations carried out, normal
range and interpretation of results

Renal function tests: Functions of kidneys, Various renal function tests including clearance
tests and interpretation of results.

Thyroid function tests: Estimation of T-3, T-4, TSH, Interpretation of results. pH, Blood buffers,
Acid-base balance, Anionic gap
Quality Control: Internal and External

Nice To Know:
UNIT:11 Nutrition
Principles of nutrition, Balance diet, BMR. Kwashiorkor and marasmus
UNIT:12 Molecular biology
Molecular biology (In brief) : Replication, transcription, DNA recombinant technology, Blot
techniques, PCR
PAPER II: GENERAL & CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
MUST KNOW:
UNIT 1: HISTORY & CLASSIFICATION

History and Pioneers in Microbiology: Contributions of Antony Van Leeuwenhoek, Louis

Pasteur, Joseph Lister, Robert Koch (Koch’s Postulates)
Bacterial Taxonomy: Nomenclature and classification of microbes (in brief)

UNIT 2: MORPHOLOGY

Microscopy, Stained preparation, Size & Shape

Morphology of bacteria: Structures of a bacterial cell and their functions
Physiology of Bacteria: Nutrition, Gaseous requirement, temperature requirement and other
growth requirements

UNIT 3: GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY

Sterilization and disinfection

Culture media
Culture methods
Identification of Bacteria: biochemical tests
Antibiotic sensitivity testing

UNIT 4: IMMUNOLOGY

Immunology
Infection, Immunity, Antigen, Antibody,
Antigen-Antibody reactions (General features, Precipitation, Agglutination, Complement fixation test,
Immunofluorescence, Radio Immunoassay, ELISA),
Complement system,
Hypersensitivity
UNIT 5: SYSTEMIC MICROBIOLOGY
Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Pneumococcus, Neisseria, Corynebacteria, Clostridia,
Coliforms, Proteus, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Pseudomonas, Haemophillus, Mycobacteria,
Spirochaetes
UNIT 6: MYCOLOGY

Morphological Classification of fungi

Laboratory diagnosis of Fungal Infections
UNIT 7: PARASITOLOGY
Morphology, life cycle, laboratory diagnosis of following parasites:

Protozoa:
Entamoeba, Giardia, Trichomonas, Leishmania, Plasmodium
Helminthology

Cestodes:

Taenia, Echinococcus

Nematodes:

Trichuris, Ancylostoma,

Ascaris, Enterobius, Wuchereria bancrofti(filaria)

UNIT 8: VIROLOGY

General Properties of Virus: Morphology, Replication & cultivation of viruses

Disease caused, Laboratory diagnosis & prevention of

Hepatitis viruses

HIV

UNIT 9: CLINICAL / APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY

Collection, Transportation & Culture of

Sputum and other respiratory specimens

Urine

Faeces

Blood

CSF and other body fluids

Hospital-acquired infections & Laboratory Hazards

Disposal of Biomedical waste

Quality control in Diagnostic Microbiology

Automation in Diagnostic Microbiology
Paper – III: Clinical Pathology & Blood Banking
Clinical Pathology
MUST KNOW

Urine Examination: Physical, Chemical and Microscopic

Stool examination : Gross, chemical & microscopic

CSF Examination

Semen examination

NICE TO KNOW

Sex chromatin determination.

Other body fluids examination

Quality control in Clinical Pathology

Blood Banking
MUST KNOW

Immunohematology of red cell and blood group systems

Apparatus used in blood banking, its care and cleaning

Record keeping

Methods of ABO and Rh blood grouping

Screening of a blood donor, tapping of blood donor

Cross matching tests

Storage of blood

Coomb’s test

Blood component therapy

NICE TO KNOW

Antibody titrations

Blood transfusion reactions

Quality control in Blood Banking
Paper – IV: Hematology & Histopathology

Hematology

MUST KNOW

Vein puncture

Instruments used in hematology

Common anticoagulants and their use

Composition of blood cellular elements, functions of blood

Estimation of Hemoglobin

Methods and counting of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and
reticulocytes.

Estimation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, packed cell volume, blood indices

Preparation of blood films, staining methods and preparation of different stains
and diluting fluids

Study of blood smear examination for red blood cells, different white blood
cells, normal and abnormal cells, platelets, and parasites.

Studies for blood coagulation and haemostasis

Sickling tests, red cell fragility test and LE cell test. Foetal Hemoglobin
Estimation and Hemoglobin electrophoresis.

Basics of automated Blood Cell counters

NICE TO KNOW

Quality control in Hematology

Born Marrow Examination

Laboratory diagnosis approach on Anemias, Leukemias, and Bleeding
disorders.
 Unit: 2. Histopathology/Cytology

MUST KNOW

• introduction to Histology
• Handling Biopsy Specimen
• Instruments in Histopathology
• Fixation & common fixatives
• Tissue processing: dehydration, clearing, embedding, methods of tissue
processing: automated & manual, Preparation ob block.
• The manipulation and use of microtomes, Microtom knives and methods of
sharpening. Paraffin block, section cutting, picking up sections, drying
sections,
• Staining : principle of staining, preparation and use of Hematoxyline and
eosin stain.
• Mounting,
• Frozen section apparatus: a theoretical knowledge of its application,
construction and use.
• Diagnostic Cytology: preparation of smears and Papanicolaou stain.

NICE TO KNOW

1. Quality control in Histopathology

• Methods in common use for decalcification

• recognition and correction of faults·in section cutting

• Preservation of slides and blocks

List of Practials/skills

1.Pathology:
Students should be able to perform:

Haematology :
1. Microscopy
2. Collection of Blood
3. Preparation of bulbs for collection
4. Blood cell counter
5. Estimation of Hemoglobin
6. RBC count
7. PCV & RBC indices
8. Platelet count
9. Total WBC count
10. Differential count
11. Peripheral smear
12. Reticulocyte count
13. ESR
14. Sickling tests
15. Bleeding time & Clotting time

Clinical Pathology
1. Urine Exam. R & M
2. Stool R & M
3. Semen examination R & M
4. CSF Exam. R & M

Blood Banking
1. Blood Group
2. CM Tests
3. Du Tests
4. Comb's Tests,
5. Antibody Tests

Histopathology & cytology

Must acquire
1. Preparation of fixatives
2. Haematoxylin and eosin
Nice to acquire:
1. Logging of tissue processing
2. Paraffin embedding
3. Section cutting
4. Staining
5. Mounting
6. Pap Stain.
2. Biochemistry:
Students should be able to perform:
Must acquire
1. Preparation of standard solution, molar solution and other reagents
2. analysis of normal and abnormal urine
3. Estimation of blood /serum glucose by various methods
4. GTT
5. Estimation of total protein and A/G ratio
6. Electrophoresis of plasma proteins
7. Electrophoresis of lipoproteins
8. Estimation of total cholesterol and its fractions
9. Estimation of calcium
10. Estimation of phosphorous
11. Estimation of Creatinine
12. Estimation of urea
13. Estimation of uric acid
14. Estimation of AST
15. Estimation of ALT
16. Estimation of alkaline phosphatase
17. Estimation of Bilirubin , direct , total
18. Auto analyzers
19. Electrolyte analyzer
20. Arterial blood gas analyzer
21. Chemiluminance equipment
22. Spectrophotometer

Nice to acquire:
1. Estimation of iron and TIBC
2. Chromatography

3. Microbiology:
Students should be able to perform:

Bacteriology

Must acquire

1. Aseptic practices in laboratory and safety precautions.

2. Preparation and pouring of media – Nutrient agar, Blood agar, Mac Conkey agar,
Sugars, Serum sugars, TSI, Sabouraud dextrose.
3. Operation of autoclave, hot air oven, distillation plant, filters like Sietz and membrane
and sterility tests.
4. Washing and sterilization of glassware (Plugging and packing)
5. Disposal of contaminated materials like cultures.
6. Quality control of media, reagents etc.
7. Care and maintenance of common laboratory equipments like water bath, centrifuge,
refrigerators, incubators, etc.
8. Performance of antimicrobial suceptibility testing e.g. Kirby-Bauer,
9. Collection of specimens for Microbiological investigations such as Blood, Urine, Pus
(Swabs),
10. Identification of Bacteria of Medical Importance upto species level
11. Preparation of stains viz. Gram, Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) etc. and performing of staining.
12. Care and operation of Microscopes viz. Light and Fluorescent microscopes.
13. Preparation, examination, and interpretation of direct smears from clinical specimens, viz.
Sputum for AFB: ZN, Slit smears for M. leprae by modified ZN staining,
14. Quantitative analysis of urine by pour plate method and semi-quantitative analysis by
standard loop test for finding significant bacteruria.
15. Plating of clinical specimens on media for isolation, purification, identification and
quantitation purposes.
16. Methods for the preservation of bacteria, Maintenance of stock cultures.
17. Tests for motility: hanging drop preparation

Nice to acquire:
1. Techniques of anaerobiosis, anaerobic jars, evacuation and filling with CO2 and H2.
2. Preparation of stains viz., capsules, spores etc. and performing of staining.
3. Skin tests like Mantoux.
4. Special tests-Bile solubility, chick cell agglutination, sheep cell haemolysis, niacin and
catalase tests for mycobacterium, satellitism, CAMP test, catalase, slide agglutination tests.
5. Culture and Antimicrobial susceptibility tests for mycobacteria.

Immunology
Must acquire :
1. Collection of blood by venipuncture, separation of serum and preservation of serum for short
and long periods.
2. Performance of serological tests viz. Widal, VDRL/RPR
3. Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay: HIV, HBsAg, HCV
4. Latex agglutination tests: RA, CRP,
5. Rapid tests (Immunochromatography or Flow through type) HIV .
Nice to acquire:
1. Performance of serological tests viz. Brucella tube agglutination, Weil-Felix, cold
agglutination, indirect haemagglutination, Paul-Bunnel, Rose-Waaler, IFA.
Mycology

Must acquire
1. Direct Examination of specimens by KOH, Gram, Kinyoun’s, Giemsa, Lactophenol Cotton
Blue stains.

Parasitology:
Must acquire

1. Performance of stains – Leishman, Giemsa.

2. Examination of faeces for parasitic ova and cysts etc. by direct and concentration methods
(Salt flotation and Formol-Ether methods).
3. Examination of blood for protozoa and helminths by wet mount, thin and thick stained smears.
Nice to acquire:
1. Identification of common arthropods and other vectors viz., Mosquito, sand-fly, Ticks, Mite,
Cyclops.
2. Collection of specimens.
3. Preservation of parasites-mounting, fixing, staining, etc.
4. Serodiagnosis of parasitic infection.

Virology:
Must acquire
• Serological tests – ELISA for HIV, HBsAg, HCV
Nice to acquire:

RPHA for HBsAg, Haemagglutination Inhibition for Influenza, and Haemadsorbtion for
parainfluenza.
Chick Embryo techniques – inoculation and harvesting.

SUGGESTED BOOKS :

• Dr. Praful B. Godkar,Text Books of Medical Laboratory Technology

• Anathanarayana & Panikar – A Text Book of Medical Microbiology
• P. Chakraborthy- A Text Book of Parasitology
• Vasudevan & Shreekumar : Biochemistry for Medical students
• Dacie, Practical Haematology
• K.Laxminarayan : Histological techniques
• Dr. Mukherjee, Medical Laboratory Technology, Volume I , II & II
• Silvertone : Introduction to Medical Lab. Technology
• Manual for Clinical Pathology by Sabitry Sanyal
• Harper’s Biochemistry