Revised 08/2025

MDL 236 - Parasitology and Virology (2 CR.)

Course Description

Teaches identification of the common parasites affecting man. Stresses methods of isolation and identification.

Lecture 1 hour. Laboratory 3 hours. Total 4 hours per week.

This course is for AAS MLT students enrolled in the second year of the program.

Students should be enrolled in the second year of the Medical Laboratory Technology AAS degree program.
Completion of the first-year core courses with a grade of “C” or better.

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

Apply principles of safety, quality assurance, and quality control.
Evaluate specimen acceptability.
Describe basic morphology and physiology of parasites.
Classify parasites and viruses.
Perform appropriate laboratory techniques used in the processing of specimens and identification of parasites and viruses.
Evaluate and correlate test results with patient condition(s).

Describe the nature of a DNA or RNA virus and their replication.
Describe the mechanism of antiviral agents.
Diagnose viral and parasitic diseases.
Differentiate between the medically relevant viruses, such as adenovirus, poxvirus, and reoviruses.
Identify viruses in the laboratory.
Differentiate between various human parasites and explain the life cycles of each.
Determine the primary organs/systems affected by the various viruses and parasites.
Determine how parasites are transmitted and identify the vector of the parasite.
Study laboratory techniques to isolate viruses and parasites from biological samples.