This course is designed to provide knowledge and skills in order to:

• Identify pathogenic microorganisms, parasites, fungi
• Assess the quality of patient clinical specimens
• Process patient and plate clinical specimens
• Perform and interpret a gram stain from a patient clinical specimen or culture medium
• Differentiate clinically significant microorganisms from normal flora of various body sites/specimen types using a variety of media and methodology
• Identify clinically significant microorganisms using rapid, commercial and conventional methods
• Perform and interpret antibiotic susceptibility testing on clinically significant microorganisms using appropriate methods and antibiotics
• Correlate microbiology results with disease states and conditions in order to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients
• Successfully perform antibiotic susceptibility testing on microorganisms
• Perform and interpret quality control, computer applications, instrumentation, quality assurance/improvement, safety and governmental regulations.