MEDICAL LABORATORY PROGRAM

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 3
Preamble ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................. 4
Academic AWARD ............................................................................................................................................ 4
AUTHORISING BODY ...................................................................................................................................... 4
CAREER PROGRESS ...................................................................................................................................... 5
QUALIFICATION LEVEL ................................................................................................................................... 5
Teaching staff ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Table 1: Medical lab tutors ................................................................................................................... 5
STUDY TIME IN THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM .......................................................................................... 5
Table 2: contact hours of each course module ...................................................................................... 5
PLACEMENT& FOLLOW UP OF STUDENTS DURING HOSPITAL ATTACHMENTS ............................................ 5
HOSPITALS OF PLACEMENT FOR LABORATORY STUDENTS ......................................................................... 6
KEY COMPETENCES / DUTIES OF A MEDICAL LABORATORY ASSISTANT ..................................................... 6
COURSE MODULE BREAK DOWN AND STAFFING ......................................................................................... 7
Table 4: course modules in each semester, their LWAs and medical tutor incharge..........................10
ASSESSMENT OF MEDICAL LABORATORY STUDENTS ................................................................................10
STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN CLT AT KIST ......................................................................................................10
FUTURE PROSPECTS ...................................................................................................................................10
KIST MEDICAL LABORATORY INVENTORY ...................................................................................................10
Table 5: reagents/consumbles in the KIST medical lab for CLT trainees ...........................................12
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS IN KIST..................................................................................12
PHOTO GALLERY OF LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AT KIST LABS ..............................................15

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CLT Certificate in Medical Laboratory Techniques

MLT Diploma in Medical Labaoratory Technology
BBLT Bachelor of Bioedical Laboratory Technology
PGDME Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Education
LWA Learning working assignments
PEX Practical Exercises
UAHEB Uganda Allied Health Examination Board
SEM Semester
KIST Kampala Institute of Science and Technology
MOU Memorandum of Understanding

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 KAMPALA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
P.O. Box 14274, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256772120046/ +256779837314
Email:kistsecretary@gmail.com
Web: www.kist.ac.ug

THE MEDICAL LABORATORY PROGRAM AT KAMPALA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY (KIST)

Preamble
The program taught is Certificate In Medical Laboratory Techniques (CLT), the registration centre number
is UAHEB/154.

The program has so far had two cohorts of graduands of the years of entry 2018 who completed in 2019,
cohort 2019 completed in April- 2022 due to effect of COVID-19. Currently there are three cohorts of
students; finalists (entrants of March 2021), first years (Feb 2022 intake, now in 2 nd semester) and year
1(new entrants).

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A minimum of 5 passed subjects at the same sitting of the Uganda Cerficate of Education, these include (4)
passes in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or General science and a credit in English language
obtained OR their equivalent.

No age limit, any successful candidate with a minimum Uganda Certificate of Education with atleast 4
passes in the 3 core science subjects and mathematics, a credit in English.

Academic AWARD
Upon successfully studying for two years (4 Semesters), and passing all the prescribed school based and
national examination (conducted at the end of each semester), a Certificate in Medical Laboratory
Techniques is awarded by UAHEB.

AUTHORISING BODY
The program is taught at Kampala Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) – a private licensed fully
tertiary Institution with a licence number MOES/BTVET/161.

The program is also registered by the Uganda Allied Health Examination Board (UAHEB) with a centre
number UAHEB/154.

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CAREER PROGRESS
A Medical Laboratory Assistant may progress to Qualification Level 4, with an award of the Diploma in
Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT).

A Medical Laboratory Assistant may also opt for any of the following Diploma programs at KIST

• Diploma in pharmacy (3 years)

• Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health (3 years)

QUALIFICATION LEVEL
The qualification level is 3. And upon successfully completing the program, one’s cadre title is a medical
laboratory assistant.

Teaching staff
SN Name of Medical Academic Years of teaching Number of years at KIST
laboratory Tutor qualifications experience
1 KIGGUNDU MOSES CLT, MLT and BME 15 years 4 years and still present
2 WALAKIRA CLOVIES BBLT 4 Years 3 years and still present
3 ONORIA EMMANUEL Dip Educ, BBLT 9 years 2 years and still present
4 MASETE GEORGE BBLT, PGDMEduc 6 years 1 year and still present
5 SSALI SAMUEL BBLT, PGDMEduc 3 years 1 year and still present
6 EWOCU PATRICK BSc (Computer) 6 years 4 years and still present
7 NYAKATO JOSELYN Entreprenuership 2 YEARS 2 year and still present

Table 1: Medical lab tutors

STUDY TIME IN THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM

Module title Average time
Contact (hours) Weeks
1 Perform GLP 320 8
2 Perform routine parasitological tests 480 12
3 Perform microbiological tests 520 13
4 Perform routine haematological tests 480 12
5 Perform routine clinical chemistry tests 320 8
6 Perform routine blood transfusion tests 200 5
7 Perform routine management and Entrepreneurship 160 4
Total 2480 HOURS 62 WEEKS

Table 2: contact hours of each course module

PLACEMENT& FOLLOW UP OF STUDENTS DURING HOSPITAL ATTACHMENTS

As an institution policy, hospital attachments are a mandatory part of the students training, and this is done
after a month of face-face classroom teaching, in which students are inducted on what to be taught and

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examined in the semester. This paves way for specific skill acquisition during placement in the various
laboratories during hospital attachments.

The schedule for supervision of students, during hospital attachments, by medical laboratory tutors is
always available and adhered to, to ensure maximum benefit from these routine clinical attachments.

Each student has a log book (field attachment book) that is filled by the supervisor called an assessor
(laboratory technician/technologist/ medical tutor), during the entire time of placement, depending on
the semester content scope. With this record, the quality of hands-on practice is guaranteed.

The log books are also a partial component of the fulfillment of the ward of any medical laboratory
certificate/diploma by UAHEB. These are always presented to the board for assessment before the year 2
semester 2 finals commence.

During holidays or semester breaks, students are also given introductory letters to community hospitals
where they can gain further clinical experience from.

A t the end of the 5 weeks placement, a practical/ performance test is arranged for students at KIST, to
ascertain the level of achievement by students. Students are examined in routine tests like gram staining,
microscopy, film comments, calorimetry and stool analysis, depending on their scope of training in a given
semester.

HOSPITALS OF PLACEMENT FOR LABORATORY STUDENTS

KIST has up-to date MOUs with the following hospitals where students are placed for clinical skills
experience along-side teaching.

Hoima Regional Referral Hospital

Mityana General Hospital and Mityana District Health Centres
Kiruddu National Referral Hospital
Butabika National Referral Hospital
Kawempe National Referral Hospital
Wakiso District Health Centres
Table 3: Hospitals for placement

KEY COMPETENCES / DUTIES OF A MEDICAL LABORATORY ASSISTANT

A competence is what a person can do, after a given time period of training/education.

At KIST we train train Medical Laboratory Assistants to perform but not limited to the following;

• Ensure well planned/ organized laboratory work schedules through, but not limited to,
organizing the laboratory work area, preparation of reagents, prepare items for emergency,
organize work schedules and prepare laboratory materials for out-reach tasks.

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 • Observe health and environmental safety precautions through instituting safety signs(where
absent), uphold hygiene and safety, recommended good laboratory practice- wearing PPEs, ideal
waste segregation and management, decontamination, safe preparation, package and storage of
laboratory chemicals, perform first aid and care for fire safety equipment.
• Collection of specimen for laboratory tests- through practicing the skill of phlebotomy, having
knowledge on preserving and transporting field specimen to diagonistic centres, storing specimen,
collecting specimen for culturing.
• Perform routine parasitological tests- examine blood for haemoparasites, examine urine for
urogenital parasites, examine sputum, examine stool, prepare reagents(stains), fixatives and
smears/swabs for parasitological tests.
• Perform routine microbiological tests- examine urine for bacteria and fungi, prepare smears and
perform gram staining, examine sputum for Acid Fast Bacilli/ lung fluke (Paragonimus westermani),
examine stool in intestinal helminth infection.
• Perform routine haematological tests- through aquainting laboratorians with the skill(s) of
preparing anticoagulants, prepare Romanowsky stains (Giemsa, Wright’s stain, leishmann stain),
• Perform ABO, Rhesus grouping and perform compatiability testing and counsel clients on
the importance of blood transfusion.
• Perform serological tests- perform Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin(HCG) test, TPHA
(Treponenema pallidum Haemoagglutination Test), BAT, test for Helicobacteur pylori, test for HIV ,
typhoid and Hepatitis B serologically.
• Perform Clinical chemistry – By preparing standard acid solutions, carry out Blood Glucose test,
carry out Urine biochemical tests, and carry out Occult blood test.
• Carry out quality control by carrying out policiency testing, follow S.O.Ps manuals for equipment
maintence and cleaning of equipment, ascertain expiry of consumables, carry out blinded checking
and determine quality of reagents.
• Maintain Health Information Management System (HIMS) through preparing an up-date stock
cards, prepare laboratory reports, maintaining a laboratory inventory, disseminate laboratory
information, complete patient/client laboratory report card, and store laboratory registers.
• Maintain laboratory equipment through care for equipment by cleaning, covering, switching off/
defrosting equipment, report faulty equipment, maintain laboratory equipment log books, and
organize and storage of equipment.
• Perform administrative tasks through knowing ideal channels of communication, prepare
administrative reports, carrying out consultations, participating in community out-reach activities,
and observing professional ethics.
• Pursing professional development through conducting on job training, participate in educational
refresher work-shops, learn new equipment technologies like advanced immunological techniques
ELISA, participate in Health events and net working with peers.

COURSE MODULE BREAK DOWN AND STAFFING

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(the practical exercises are not included in this break down(PEXs)- can be extracted from the
curriculum).

YEAR I SEMESTER I
YR SEM I Module/course unit and In- Learning & working Course code
I charge assignments (LWAs) as assigned by
(the respective PEXs are UAHEB
detailed in the curriculum)
General Laboratory Practice • Maintain laboratory equipment CLT 1101
Taught by Mr. Walakira and Mr. and apparatus (LWA 3)
Onoria Emmanuel • Operate or use laboratory
equipment (LWA 4)
• Specimen reception (LWA 5)
First Aid, Laboratory Safety and • Carrying out lab safety CLT 1104
Ethics taught by Clovies practices. (LWA 1)
• Perform first aid in a laboratory
setting (LWA 2)
• Professional Ethics
Microbiology I taught by Mr. Ssali Perform sterilization (LWA 1) CLT 1103
Prepare stains and reagents.
(LWA 2)
Parasitology I taught by Onoria ➢ Prepare reagents and stains CLT 1102
used in parasitology. (LWA 1)
➢ Examine blood for
haemoparasites. (LWA 3)
Computer Applications taught by • Perform Microsoft applications CLT 1105
Mr. Ecowu Patrick and other computer packages
(LWA 6 Under Module7-
management and
Entreprenuership)
Practical by all laboratory tutors Covering all the above CLT 1106
YEAR I SEMESTER II
YR SEM II Module/course unit and In- Learning & working Course code
I charge assignments (LWAs) as assigned by
(the respective PEXs are UAHEB
detailed in the curriculum)
Microbiology II by Mr. Kiggundu Examine urine (LWA 3) CLT 1202
and Mr. Ssali Examine sputum (LWA 4)
Examine swabs (LWA 5)
Carry out serological tests
(LWA 6)
Parasitology II by Mr. Onoria Carry out stool analysis for CLT 1201
Emmanuel intestinal protozoans
(intestinal nematodes and
protozoans, urogenital parasites
including S.haematobium) (LWA

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 2 and 4)
Haematology I by Clovies • Prepare anti-coagulants CLT 1203
(LWA 1)
• Perform haemoglobin
estimation tests (LWA 2)
• Perform total white blood cell
count (LWA 3)
General Practical by all tutors. Covering all the above CLT 1206
SECOND YEAR SEMESTER I

YR SEM I Module/course unit and In- Learning & working assignments Course
II charge (LWAs) code as
(the respective PEXs are detailed assigned by
in the curriculum) UAHEB
Clinical Chemistry I by Mr. Introduction to Clinical Chemistry CLT 2103
Kiggundu and carry out urinalysis.
Parasitology III by Onoria Carry out stool analysis for CLT 2102
Emmanuel intestinal parasites (Cestodes
&Trematodes/Flukes) (LWA 3 and
4)
Haematology II by Clovies • Perform blood film examination CLT 2101
(LWA 4)
• Perform sickling tests (LWA 5)
• Perform Erythrocyte
sedimentation rate (LWA 6)
Blood Transfusion I by Onoria and • Introduction to blood transfusion. CLT 2104
Mr. Kiggundu • Reagent preparation.
• ABO and Rhesus grouping (LWA
1)
General Practical by all laboratory Covering all the above CLT 2106
tutors
SECOND YEAR SEMESTER II

YR SEM II Module/course unit and In- Learning & working Course code
II charge assignments (LWAs) as assigned by
(the respective PEXs are UAHEB
detailed in the curriculum)
Clinical Chemistry II by Mr. • Perform blood sugar tests CLT 2202
Kiggundu/ Clovies Walakira (LWA 2)
• Perform occult blood tests
(LWA 3)
Management & Entrepreneurship • Manage work teams (LWA 2) CLT 2203
by Ms • Communicate with customers
Nyakato (LWA 3)
• Perform financial

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 management tasks (LWA 4)
• Carry out quality control tasks
(LWA 5)
Blood Transfusion II by Mr. Onoria/ • Reagent preparation CLT 2204
Mr. Ssali • Compatiability testing
• Transfusion reactions
• Blood banking
Practical by all laboratory tutors Covering all the above CLT 2206

Table 4: course modules in each semester, their LWAs and medical tutor incharge

ASSESSMENT OF MEDICAL LABORATORY STUDENTS

Asssessment is both formative and summative. Formative assessments are school-based and constitute
15% of the total mark and a summative assessment 85% of the overall mark in a course module.

Both the summative and school based assessment comprise of performance test items, short essays, long
essay type and multiple choice test items.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN CLT AT KIST

The program has so far successfully graduated two cohorts of students; with the first group whose year of
entry was 2018, these were 8 students and completed in December 2020, the second group which had 15
students whose year of entry was 2019 completed in April-2022 (due to Covid 19 lock down). This group is
still awaiting its results.

Currently, there are 16 students in their final year and final semester of study out of the 19 students that
were enrolled for the program in March 2021. In addition, the first years are 13 students, and these were
enrolled in February 2022.

FUTURE PROSPECTS
The faculty of laboratory medicine is working towards introduction of a Diploma in Medical Laboratory
Technology for vertical progress of Medical Laboratory Assistants.

KIST MEDICAL LABORATORY INVENTORY

CHEMICALS AND CONSUMABLES Description/ EXPIRY DATE

Glycerine (300mls) July 2025
Diethylether (2ltrs) Nov 2025
Benedict (800mls) Nov 2024
Antiseras 04/2023
Ammonium sulphate (400g) 04/2023
4x giemsa (25g) Sept 2023

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Glucose (enzymax) 100mls Jan 2023
10 parameter uristripes 17/01/2023
Antiseptic100mls
NaCl (200g)
Sodium carbonate (500g)
Anhydrous sodium carbonate Dec 2024
Indian ink soln
EDTA
Phenol detached crystals
Glacial acetic acid June 2022
2x Leishman stain (25g)
Leishman liquid Feb 2022
EDTA tubes / vacutainers 1 pack
Serum tubes / vacutainer 1 pack
Potassium iodide (20g)
Iodine crystals (68g)
2x methylene blue stain (20g)
Eosin yellow
Immersion oil
Sulphosalicyclic acid (20g)
Filter paper (100 circles)
Ethanol
HCl
Methanol
Sulphuric acid
Sodium phosphate dibasic(500g) Jan 2023
Formaldehyde Jan 2023
2x Acetone Sept 2023
500g Barium chloride Nov 2023
Potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate(500g) April 2023
Sodium acetate(500g) Aug 2023
25g Safranine Sept 2023
Field stain A May 2023
Field stain B Jan 2023
Methylene blue solution 04/2023

Sodium metabisuiphite Sept 2023

Trisodium citrate dehydrate Feb 2026
Nitric acid Aug 2024
2x strong carbolfuschin (200mls) Expired
Ammonia Dec 2023
Hydrogen peroxide Aug 2023
Crystal violet Feb 2023
Acetone April 2024

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 Tourniquet 01

Malachite green Jan 2023

2x ethanol Jan 2025
25g Basic Fuchsin
Neutral red Jan 2026
New lugol’s iodine Jan 2026

Table 5: reagents/consumbles in the KIST medical lab for CLT trainees

LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS IN KIST

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 Hot air oven 01 and operational
Writing marker(black) 01
Distiller 01 from pharmacy lab
Conical flask 10 Glass type
Beakers (glass)
500mls 04
100mls 17
200mls 03
400mls 05
250mls 05
Beakers Plastic
250mls 05
Buckets 02
Pipettes(5mls) 05
(10mls) 04
Lab thermometers 19
Filter funnels plastic 37
Wash bottles 27 and Some have reagents
Volumetric flask (500mls) 10
50mls 10
100mls 10
Pipettes(20mls) 05
30cm transparent Ruler 01
Droppers 31
Test tubes (pyrex) 98
Test tubes racks 10 Wooden and 2 plastic
Slide box (glass) 01
Tiles 14
Test tube brushes 05
Wet and dry hygrometer 02
falcon tubes 25
Staining rack 01
Micropipette 01 100microlitre capacity
Drying rack 01
Cuvettes(round) 16
Cuvettes (squares) 07
Jerrycans(20ltrs) 03
Jerry cans 5ltrs) 12
ESR stands -
westergreen tubes -
Moppers 05
Magnifying lens With plastic handles
Sahli’s haemometer 03
Test tube brushes 05
Triple beam balance 01

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 Ice/ Freeze block 01
Litmus paper blue 01 pack
Litmus paper red 01 pack
rectangular boards 05
White blood cell counter 06
Hand tally counter (4 digits) 10
Crocodile clips 04
Orbital shaker 01
Intelligent shaker 01
Glucometer 01 Faulty
Basket 01
Wooden application stick -
Chairs 01
HaemoCue 01
Calorimeter (old model) 01
Digital calorimeter 03 Fully operational
Chambers for counting blood cells 05 packs
Capillary tubes -
Mortar and pestle 10
Vortex mixte 01
Triple balance with weights of 500g 01
and 2(1000)g
Microscopes(05) new 05 operational
(4) old diagnostic microscopes 3 are faulty
1 simple microscope
Electric centrifuge 02 Fully operational
Manual centrifuge 01
Coverslips 6000 (6- 1000 packs)
Bulb sucker 01 From skills lab
Wooden retort stands 10
Measuring cylinder (plastic)
100mls 09
1000mls 03
Measuring cylinders Glass
250mls 03
500mls 02
1000mls 01
Stool containers --
Urine containers -
Anaerobic jar 01

Table 6: showing list of laboratory apparatus and equipment

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PHOTO GALLERY OF LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AT KIST LABS

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