General Microbiology Practicals
- Sciences
- 42 pages
- 7 units
This course provides students with practical knowledge and skills in general microbiology, specifically within the context of environmental health science. It covers essential laboratory techniques for analyzing various environmental samples, including faecal, urine, blood, water, milk, food, and air. The course emphasizes safety protocols, microscopy, and the detection of microorganisms relevant to public health and environmental management.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 50 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Practical
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assessments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of EHS213, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
EHS213 · UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO LABORATORY AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
Glass wares in the laboratory include: Beaker, Conical flask, cylinder, Pipette, Petri dish, Aspirator, Autoclave, Biosafety cabinet, Colony counter, Laboratory centrifuge, Crucible, Hot air oven, Incubator, Retort stand, Spectrophotometer, Stirring rod and Thermometer.
What you should be able to do
- Apply standard safety protocols in a microbiology laboratory.
- Use a microscope to identify microorganisms in various samples.
- Perform faecal sample analysis to detect intestinal parasites.
- Perform urine sample analysis to detect Schistosoma haematobium.
- Perform blood sample analysis to detect Plasmodium species.
- Perform bacterial examination of water to assess its potability.
What it prepares you for
- Environmental Health Officer
- Public Health Microbiologist
- Laboratory Technician
- Water Quality Analyst
- Food Safety Inspector
- Healthcare
- Environmental Monitoring
- Water Treatment
- Food Industry
- Research
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2:
Unit 3: Blood Sample for Plasmodium Specie Detection
Requires precise technique and careful observation to differentiate between different Plasmodium species based on subtle morphological differences in stained blood films.
- Module 2:
Unit 4: Bacterial Examination of Water
Involves understanding the principles of bacterial indicators and interpreting results from multiple tube fermentation tests, which can be challenging for beginners.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 44 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1:
Unit 1: Introduction to Laboratory and Laboratory Equipment · 2 hours
Read the introduction to clinical/health laboratories and their role in disease diagnosis and treatment.. Identify different types of clinical/health laboratories and their functions.. Familiarize yourself with common laboratory equipment and glassware..
Unit 2: Laboratory Safety Content · 2 hours
Understand the importance of laboratory safety and precautions.. Learn about common laboratory hazards and how to prevent accidents.. Familiarize yourself with safety equipment and emergency procedures..
- Week 2Module 1:
Unit 3: Microscopy · 3 hours
Learn the parts of a microscope and their functions.. Practice using a microscope to view specimens.. Understand the do's and don'ts of microscopy..
- Week 3Module 2:
Unit 1: Faecal Samples · 4 hours
Understand the importance of faecal sample analysis in detecting intestinal parasites.. Learn the proper techniques for collecting and numbering faecal samples.. Practice macroscopic and microscopic examination of faecal samples..
- Week 4Module 2:
Unit 2: Urine Sample for Schistosoma haematobium · 4 hours
Learn about the detection of Schistosoma haematobium in urine samples.. Understand the proper techniques for collecting urine samples for Schistosoma detection.. Practice the sedimentation technique for examining urine samples..
- Week 5Module 2:
Unit 3: Blood Sample for Plasmodium Specie Detection · 4 hours
Understand the importance of blood sample analysis in detecting Plasmodium species.. Learn the proper techniques for collecting blood samples and preparing blood films.. Practice Giemsa staining technique for blood films..
- Week 6Module 2:
Unit 4: Bacterial Examination of Water · 4 hours
Understand the importance of bacterial examination of water.. Learn the proper techniques for collecting water samples.. Practice the multiple tube method for presumptive coliform count..
- Week 7Module 1:
Unit 1: Introduction to Laboratory and Laboratory Equipment · 3 hours
Review Module 1: Introduction to Laboratory and Laboratory Equipment. Focus on understanding the different types of laboratories and their equipment.. Practice identifying laboratory equipment and their uses..
- Week 8Module 1:
Unit 2: Laboratory Safety Content · 3 hours
Review Module 1: Laboratory Safety Content. Focus on understanding safety rules and precautions in the laboratory.. Practice identifying safety equipment and their uses..
- Week 9Module 1:
Unit 3: Microscopy · 3 hours
Review Module 1: Microscopy. Focus on understanding the parts of a microscope and their functions.. Practice using a microscope to view specimens..
- Week 10Module 2:
Unit 1: Faecal Samples · 3 hours
Review Module 2: Faecal Samples. Focus on understanding the techniques for collecting and examining faecal samples.. Practice identifying intestinal parasites in faecal samples..
- Week 11Module 2:
Unit 2: Urine Sample for Schistosoma haematobium · 3 hours
Review Module 2: Urine Sample for Schistosoma haematobium. Focus on understanding the techniques for collecting and examining urine samples for Schistosoma.. Practice the sedimentation technique for examining urine samples..
- Week 12Module 2:
Unit 3: Blood Sample for Plasmodium Specie Detection · 3 hours
Review Module 2: Blood Sample for Plasmodium Specie Detection. Focus on understanding the techniques for collecting and examining blood samples for Plasmodium.. Practice Giemsa staining technique for blood films..
- Week 13Module 2:
Unit 4: Bacterial Examination of Water · 3 hours
Review Module 2: Bacterial Examination of Water. Focus on understanding the techniques for collecting and examining water samples.. Practice the multiple tube method for presumptive coliform count..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all laboratory procedures and safety protocols.
- Practice identifying microorganisms under the microscope.
- Understand the principles behind each laboratory test.
- Focus on the key differences between parasite species.
- Practice interpreting laboratory results and drawing conclusions.
- Create flowcharts for each sample analysis procedure.
- Review all TMAs and assignments.
- Allocate time for focused revision of each module.
- Practice past questions to familiarize yourself with the exam format.
- Form study groups to discuss challenging concepts.
Questions students ask about this course
What is EHS213 about?
This course provides students with practical knowledge and skills in general microbiology, specifically within the context of environmental health science. It covers essential laboratory techniques for analyzing various environmental samples, including faecal, urine, blood, water, milk, food, and air. The course emphasizes safety protocols, microscopy, and the detection of microorganisms relevant to public health and environmental management.
How many units does EHS213 have?
EHS213, General Microbiology Practicals, has 7 units across 2 modules, over 42 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
Is EHS213 hard?
EHS213 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly practical work, and it has a practical component.
How long does EHS213 take to study?
About 50 hours of study, spread across its 7 units.
How is EHS213 assessed?
EHS213 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assessments and Final Examination.
What can I do with EHS213?
Environmental Health Officer, Public Health Microbiologist, Laboratory Technician, Water Quality Analyst and Food Safety Inspector.