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Unit of study_
VETS9054: Diagnostic Instrumentation Advanced
2026 unit information
This Unit of Study focuses on laboratory instrumentation used in veterinary practice as well as in a commercial laboratory practice. Students will be exposed to in-depth theory and practice of a wide range of diagnostic techniques and procedures. There will be a greater emphasis on quality control and assurance for laboratory results. Statistical analysis of results and establishment of reference intervals will be an important component of this UoS. At the end of this Unit of Study, students will: Effectively operate common and advanced laboratory instrumentation; Know safety requirements for handling and processing biological specimens; Have advanced understanding aspects of quality control and assurance in relation to laboratory results; Understand the statistical evaluation of laboratory results; Be able to develop reference intervals for a range of biochemical and haematological tests; Know in-depth the theory behind common and advanced diagnostic laboratory techniques; Communicate effectively to colleagues results of laboratory tests. Risk assessments are regularly conducted for units that require the completion of compulsory learning activities that may expose students to zoonotic diseases. These assessments aim to identify appropriate risk mitigation controls, such as vaccination against vaccine- preventable zoonoses. Vaccination against Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) is an inherent requirement for students enrolling in this unit of study. Students must be vaccinated against Q fever before commencing the unit or no later than week two of the enrolled teaching session. Q fever vaccination is only available in Australia with the vaccination process taking three weeks to complete. Students must also submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration upon enrolment. Students who fail to receive vaccination by the specified deadline and/or submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration are precluded from practical learning activities and will not be able to satisfactorily complete relevant units of study and/or progress in their course more generally. Please refer to the University’s website https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/q-fever-vaccinations.html for more information on student vaccinations.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | School of Veterinary Science Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
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VETS9050 and VETS9051 |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Describe the key components of a laboratory quality control and assurance program.
- LO2. Develop reference intervals for biochemical and/or haematological tests.
- LO3. Explain how reference intervals should be applied to the interpretation of laboratory tests.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Semester 1 2025
|
Supervision | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney | |
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Semester 2 2025
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Supervision | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Semester 1 2026
|
Supervision | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Semester 2 2026
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Supervision | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
|
Find your current year census dates
Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
Important enrolment information
Departmental permission requirements
If you see the ‘Departmental Permission’ tag below a session, it means you need faculty or school approval to enrol. This may be because it’s an advanced unit, clinical placement, offshore unit, internship or there are limited places available.
You will be prompted to apply for departmental permission when you select this unit in Sydney Student.
Read our information on departmental permission.
Additional advice
Students must have current registration with the NSW Veterinary Practitioners Board, Australia and must be admitted into a UVTH residency training program.