Incorporating Hands-on Flow Cytometry Into a Medical Laboratory Science Program Curriculum

<h3>ABSTRACT</h3> <h3>INTRODUCTION:</h3> Through grant funding, faculty provided hands-on flow cytometry experience to students who were enrolled in the Fall 2018 immunology and/or the Spring 2019 advanced hematology courses. This study assessed the effect of including hands-on flow cytometry exposure to students in a university-based medical laboratory science program. <h3>METHODS:</h3> Students spent approximately 4 hours processing, staining, and analyzing samples from a nearby hospital facility. In immunology, students were tasked with identifying lymphocyte subset populations in whom comprehension was assessed through short-essay and multiple-choice questions on an online homework quiz. In advanced hematology, students were tasked with immunophenotyping leukemia/lymphoma samples, in which comprehension was assessed via interpretation of patient scattergrams and correlation of results with the corresponding patient diagnoses. <h3>RESULTS:</h3> All students (100%) correctly interpreted a histogram presented to them in both the immunology and advanced hematology courses. A survey assessed students’ perceptions of the effectiveness, strengths, and weaknesses of both exercises. Ninety-one percent and 100% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the hands-on exercise enhanced their understanding the flow cytometry principles underlying lymphocyte subset analysis and leukemia/lymphoma immunophenotyping, respectively. Respondents reported the experience as “extremely helpful” and that it allowed them to “correlate what was taught in class.” <h3>DISCUSSION:</h3> Results indicated successful comprehension of basic lymphocyte and leukemia/lymphoma subset analysis. It was apparent that the activity helped students apply these principles toward their understanding of the material. Incorporating flow cytometry during didactic was beneficial, as it provided students with an experience they might not have gained during rotations.