Medical Laboratory Analysis Department Students Visit the Research Center at the Medical Technical College in Erbil

On Thursday, October 22, 2026, fourth-year students from the Department of Medical Laboratory Analysis at Cihan University–Erbil visited the Research Center at the Medical Technical College in Erbil, under the management of Dr. Ranj Perwan Abdullah. The visit, which was supervised by Assistant Lecturer Sally Khalil Baqer and Assistant Lecturer Daban Kanbi Rashid, included an introduction to the center, its departments, research equipment, and their applications in plant compound extraction, tissue preparation, cell culture, and genetic analysis.

Upon arrival, students were introduced to the plant extraction apparatus and how compounds are extracted from plant samples using suitable solvents. They were informed of the importance of selecting extraction conditions according to the sample and the compounds being studied, as well as using plant extracts in research investigating their biological effects on cells and microorganisms.

In the Histology Research Department, students learned about the stages involved in preparing tissue samples for microscopic examination. These included fixation to preserve tissue structure, dehydration, clearing, paraffin embedding, and the preparation and staining of thin tissue sections. They were also introduced to the comprehensive equipment used to prepare slides and informed of the importance of staining quality in revealing cellular details and tissue changes.

They later visited the Cell Culture Department, where they received an explanation of the requirements for growing and maintaining cells outside the body using nutrient media and suitable incubator conditions. They also learned about the importance of aseptic working practices and contamination prevention, monitoring cell growth and morphology under a microscope, and using cell cultures to investigate cellular responses and the effects of different compounds.

In the Genetics Department, they were familiarized with the conventional polymerase chain reaction instrument and its role in amplifying specific DNA segments through repeated cycles of strand separation, primer annealing, and extension. Students were also introduced to the examination of amplification products by gel electrophoresis, visualization of the resulting bands using a gel imaging system with a dark chamber, and comparison of band positions with a molecular size ladder to estimate fragment lengths.

Additionally, the students were introduced to the NanoDrop spectrophotometer, which measures nucleic acid concentration and estimates purity using a small drop of sample based on ultraviolet absorbance. This was followed by emphasizing the importance of measuring nucleic acid concentration and assessing purity before molecular analysis, while noting that these measurements may need to be supplemented with other tests to assess sample integrity.

During the visit, students followed the workflow across various departments and discussed equipment applications and the relationship between sample preparation quality and the accuracy of research results.