TECH155-0712: Reptile Hematology - Continual Education

TECH155-0712: Reptile Hematology

INSTRUCTOR(S): Jenni Jenkins-Perez, LVT, CVT

COURSE OPEN: July 10-August 3, 2012

REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Tuesdays, July 17 and 24, 2012; 9:00pm-10:30pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter
Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a Practice Session prior to the first Real Time Session. Please arrive promptly at the start time; each Practice Session is up to 1 hour in length. For more information, please visit the CE Practice Area

* The instructor for this course will be using audio which will require you to have a headset or speakers to listen. If you have any concerns regarding your computer's audio capabilities, please be sure to attend a Practice Session.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course will focus on reptilian blood cell identification and include sampling and collection. Participants must have basic knowledge of blood slide preparation (does not need to be reptile knowledge) and be familiar with reading blood smears.
VSPN CE Course. This course has been submitted for RACE approval for veterinary technicians only.

Course Description:
This course is designed to help the veterinary technician understand the basics of reptilian hematology. Topics covered include sample collection locations from snake, lizard, and chelonian species and how to perform smear and stain techniques. Students will also learn the basics of performing manual erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, and differential evaluation. This course will focus on reptilian blood cell identification and students are encouraged to bring their own images of reptilian blood cells to post on the message boards for discussion and/or identification. Common hemoparasites seen in various species of reptiles will also be covered briefly; abnormal blood cells will be briefly covered.

This course consists of two (2) ninety (90) minute Real Time Sessions, supplemental library materials, interactive message board discussions, a mandatory end-of-course test, and may include online multiple choice quizzes (after each Real Time Session). Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to be considered for a course certificate of completion.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

identify the different locations for blood collection in reptiles.
understand why certain anticoagulants are preferred over others in reptile species.
describe and explain the smear and stain techniques needed for successful blood cell identification.
describe and discuss the various manual erythrocyte and leukocyte counting techniques.
identify the various blood cells and be able to perform a differential evaluation.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Texbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Instructor: Jenni Jenkins-Perez has years of experience both in practice and personally with reptiles and amphibians.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session July 17): Sample Collection, Preparation, Staining, and Blood Cell Counting Techniques
Content: This session will include blood collection sites commonly used with snakes, lizard, and chelonian species. Other topics covered this week include how to make blood smears for differential evaluation and which stains are most effective for staining reptilian blood. The Natt-Herrick, the Eosinophil, and estimated white blood cell manual counting methods will also be discussed.

Week 2 (Real Time Session July 24): Cell Identification, Differential Evaluation, and Hemoparasite Identification
Content: This week's session will focus on identification of the reptilian blood cells and how they differ in structure and function from both mammalian and avian blood cells. The various hemoparasites seen in reptiles and abnormal cells associated with certain disease processes will also be discussed briefly.

CE HOURS: 3

Tuition: $60 ($54 early bird if registered by June 26, 2012).
*Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
** To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first Real Time Session unless otherwise noted. If the first Real Time Session is on a weekend, course will close on the Friday before the first Real Time Session.

**For more on how online CE works see the Participant Resource Center

TO ENROLL:
>>Enroll now

Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
For further assistance call 1-800-700-INFO (4636) or email (VIN CE) CEonVIN@vin.com or (VSPN CE) VSPNCE@vspn.org). Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

Note: "This course has been submitted for RACE approval for 3 continuing education credits in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education." Call VSPN CE at 1-800-700-4636 for further information. (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN/VSPN office 1-800-700-INFO (4636) to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
**Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN/VSPN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out https://www.vin.com/CE/VSPN/VSPN_M02231.htm

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & VSPN CE Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
Darci Palmer (Darci@vspn.org); ext 179
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178
Jennifer Withrow (Jennifer@vspn.org); ext 159
Barb Burri (Barb@vspn.org ; ext 764
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187

800.700.4636 | CEonVIN@vin.com | 530.756.4881 | Fax: 530.756.6035
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