1. Immunology:

Basic Immunology:

–          Successfully completed the following modules with the University of Manchester (as a distance learner):

• Immune Physiology.
• Immunogenetics.

–          Attended most of the training days organized by the Royal College of Pathologists for Immunology trainees (April/03-To date).

–          Attended the Immunology Short Course for Clinicians and Clinical Scientists.

Clinical Immunology

–          During my years of secondment to the Immunology Department at the RVI, I got trained and gained experience in the following:

• Diagnosis, management of patients with primary immune deficiency, autoimmunity and vasculitides.
• Diagnosis and management of patients with allergic disease.
• Management of patients during the administration of IVIg for various conditions and immunotherapy for allergic disease (desensitization).
• The interpretation and authorisation of results issued by the Immunology Laboratory.

Immunology Laboratory Experience:

–          Three months period spent in the Immunology Laboratory during which practical experience was gained with the different tests performed in the different sections with special emphasis on indirect immunofluorescence, electrophoresis and immunophenotyping.

–          Authorization of laboratory results.

–          Exposed to different aspects of quality control and quality assurance.

–          A period of one month spent in the Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics laboratory during which time knowledge and practical experience was obtained in the different techniques used in tissue typing, cross matching and antibody screening (both for solid organ and bone marrow transplantation). These included DNA separation techniques and SSOP and SSCP.

Attachments at the following clinics were completed during the secondment period:

1. Paediatric immunology and allergy, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
2. Myeloma clinic, RVI, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
3. Dermatology (patch tests clinic), RVI, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
4. Rheumatology (connective tissue diseases clinic), Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

2. Haematology (as a part of training for MD Clinical Pathology):

–          Participated in the interpretation of routine results in liaison with the consultant.

–          Attended the performance of routine investigation e.g. full blood counts and peripheral films.

–          Participated in checking quality control data and equipment charts.

–          Performed bone marrow aspirates and prepared the samples for interpretation with liaison with the consultant.

3.      Microbiology (as a part of training for MD Clinical Pathology)(Bacteriology. Mycology, Parasitology and Virology):

–          Received tuition in epidemic control and participated in control of hospital infection.

–          Competent in culture inoculation techniques.

–          Practiced different serological tests and reported on results in liaison with consultants.

–          Received tuition in microscopy and staining techniques.

–          Competent in using light, fluorescence and inverse microscopy.

–          Exposed to basic immunological techniques involving Ag/Ab reactions.

–          Dealt with the subject of rational use antibiotics thoroughly during rounds and clinico-pathological meetings.

4. Chemical Pathology (as a part of training for MD Clinical Pathology):

Competence was achieved in the following:

–          Problem based work-up of cases of renal, hepatic, cardiac and other problems.

–          Routine investigations using both manual and automated methods.

–          Aspects of laboratory management under supervision.

–          Aspects of internal and external quality control.

–          Preservation of samples.

5. Histopathology (as a part of training for MD Clinical Pathology) :

–          Exposed to different types of tissue sections and their preservation.

–          Section preparation and staining techniques.

–          Reporting of routine sections under supervision.

–          Received tuition in general and systemic pathology.