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Volume 65 - Winter 1996
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Cost of developing a student laboratory in an academic setting
by Jean Holter, EdD and Mary Jean Rutherford, MEd, MT(ASCP)SC
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Utilization of a student laboratory in a CLS/MT or CLT/MLT program can be all inclusive or relatively simple. It should be kept in mind that all laboratory equipment and procedures need not be replicated. It is best to decide what tests are absolutely necessary for students to learn in a laboratory and then explore the options of how to accomplish these activities. The absolutely necessary list may include tests to be performed with currently available equipment and tests to be performed which will require the purchase of new equipment. Minimum equipment needed for very basic testing includes microscopes, hemacytometers, spectrophotometers or photometers, centrifuges, water baths or heat blocks, racks, slides, pipettes as well as reagents and other supplies to support the testing which will be performed.
The initial cost for equipment may be a major expense. Some available equipment may not be the most modern but could help teach concepts and skills. Some programs receive support from manufacturers or clinical laboratories that donate used equipment. There are also companies that sell refurbished equipment at a considerably reduced cost. Contact with sales/technical support personnel from equipment manufacturers or vendors can be a useful way of bringing equipment into the laboratory. Programs may arrange for a vendor to bring an instrument into the student laboratory for demonstration and/or use by the students for a period of time. This is beneficial for both parties.
In addition to equipment costs, there is a cost for reagents and supplies necessary for testing. Such cost is estimated at $5, 000 or less for two full semester classes of 30 students each. Clinical affiliates may supply patient samples but all other materials are usually purchased. Some vendors supply short dated reagents, etc. or discount such materials for use in the students laboratory.
Collaboration with other instructional areas within the academic institution is recommended. At both West Virginia University and Arkansas State University, we conduct minimal testing in the student laboratory and have concentrated on manual hematology procedures, urinalysis and basic blood bank procedures. Basic chemistry procedures are taught in the biochemistry course, and clinical microbiology is taught in the basic microbiology course. These courses have laboratories that are operated by the Biochemistry Department and the Microbiology Departments respectively. As a result, testing done in the student laboratory involves phlebotomy and finger sticks, manual cell counts with the hemacytometer, cell recognition from a prepared smear, manual hemoglobin and hematocrits, reticulocyte counts, prothrombin times, type and screen, crossmatch as well as macroscopic and microscopic urinalysis.
An advantage of utilizing a student laboratory for hematology and similar courses is that the student can accomplish a procedure at a slower pace than may be necessary in the clinical laboratory. Students have a greater opportunity to ask questions and seek help. We believe expenses associated with the operation of a student laboratory are worthwhile because the benefits far exceed the costs incurred.
Dr. Holter and Ms. Rutherford are CLSPRC Members.
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