Table 1.

Summary of courses offered at diploma level, and for completion of the degree program

	Diploma program	Degree program
Duration	3 years	1 year
Courses	Mathematics	Cell biology
	Physics	Genetics
	Chemistry	Biochemistry/microbiology
	Environmental health	Molecular biology
	Human anatomy and physiology	Virology
		Immunology
	Sociology	Molecular diagnostics
	Public health	Research methods
	Medical microbiology	Introduction to biostatistics
	Medical parasitology	Research project
	Haematology	Laboratory management
	Immunohematology	Attachment to CD4 and viral load testing laboratories for 5 weeks
	Clinical chemistry
	Histology and cytology
	Attachment to a hospital laboratory for 1 year