Description: An interactive computer simulation to teach the principles of the laboratory determination of red blood cell indices and blood group and their use in the diagnosis of anaemias.   The program is divided into four sections: 1. RED BLOOD CELL INDICES: this program simulates the determination of standard red blood cell indices, which may be performed in the laboratory using fresh blood samples and used to produce a haematological profile: Red blood cell count - simulated haemocytometry; Haematocrit (PCV) - simulation of the use of an haematocrit reader; Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration - simulated spectrophotometry including the construction of a standard haemoglobin curve.   2. In the METHODS SECTION the principles of each method are explained using a combination of text and imaginative graphics.   Students select from an easy-to-use menu to perform tests on one of the following subjects: normal male or normal female.   This allows them to interactively obtain results for red cell count, PCV and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration which may then be entered into a simple calculation program to give MCV, MCH and MCHC.   The complete haematological profile may then be printed.   3. BLOOD GROUPS: Text and high-resolution graphics are used to introduce and explain the basis of the determination of ABO and Rhesus blood groups.   There is an exercise in which students can observe the interaction of a blood sample from a subject of unknown blood group and known antisera (anti-A, anti-B and anti-D).   The students are then asked to select the correct blood group from a list of possible answers.   Different blood groups are generated randomly and students can try as many examples as they wish.   A record of their score is kept and displayed on screen.   4. ANAEMIAS: Nine patient case histories are used to teach the principles of how the medical history, peripheral blood films and the results of haematological tests can contribute to diagnosis of anaemias.   Each case has a brief medical history, a haematological profile (RBC count, Hb concentration, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC), a peripheral blood film which indicates how this differs from normal blood and the results of other blood indices.   Students are required to select an appropriate diagnosis initially from one of the four main types (iron deficiency, megaloblastic, haemolytic and aplastic) and then with the aid of additional test results to further define this by selecting one from nine possible diagnoses (enzyme deficiency, thalassaemia, haemorrhage, sickle cell, bone marrow aplasia, folate deficiency, hereditary spherocytosis, vitamin B12 deficiency, autoimmune (drug induced), iron deficiency).

Comments & References: Suitable for undergraduate students.   Some sections may also be suitable for good high school students.   System requirements: Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP and Mac OS 8.6 to OS X v10.1 (or later).   Minimum system requirements include: Pentium II/G3 processor, 32 MB RAM, a 16-bit colour monitor capable of 800 x 600 resolution, and a CD-ROM drive.   A review of this product is available from EURCA (European Resource Centre for Alternatives in Higher Education, (http://www.eurca.org/rev_full.asp?EdID=825451).   Please see their alternatives database for another description of this product (http://www.eurca.org/list_res.asp?CatID=All).

ISBN: 1-874758-10-7

Computer type: IBM & Macintosh

Price: Multiuser departmental licence: £199.00

Version: 2000