A combined interactive online simulation and face-to-face laboratory enable undergraduate student proficiency in hemocytometer use, cell density and viability calculations
Date
2025
Authors
Costabile, M.
Bailey, S.
Denyer, G.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Immunology and Cell Biology, 2025; 103(2):137-148
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
A hemocytometer is a key piece of laboratory equipment typically used in diagnostic and immunology research laboratories to enumerate white blood cells. The accurate quantification of cell density is essential to ensure accurate numbers of cells are added to assays to generate valid data. Hence, learning to correctly use a hemocytometer is a critical skill for all undergraduate immunology students. However, this skill can be challenging to learn because of students' unfamiliarity with correct cell identification, differentiating viable versus dead cells and mathematical proficiency in calculating cell density and viability. To address these issues, we developed an interactive computer simulation that replicated all aspects of a Neubauer-style hemocytometer. This simulation was used to teach second-year undergraduate immunology students before a face-to-face (F-2-F) laboratory exercise where these skills were applied. Using a mixed methods approach, student performance and feedback were collected on broad aspects of the intervention and its benefits to the F-2-F setting. The approach was found to be extremely successful with all measures indicating a significant impact of the virtual hemocytometer on student learning, understanding and confidence. We suggest that integrating an online simulation to teach students the fundamentals of hemocytometer use and calculations is a valuable educational aid for learning this important skill.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2024 The Author(s). Immunology & Cell Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology, Inc.This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)