Online Programs
TAles from the CRIT: Interactive Hematology Case Studies with the Laboratory Retrievers
The Laboratory Retrievers continuing education (CE) program is an online learning experience for veterinary professionals, created by the Laboratory Retrievers LLC and Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
These highly interactive, case-based modules help veterinarians and technicians confidently interpret CBC data, analyze cytograms and recognize key blood film cell morphology in minutes.
Sharpen your canine and feline hematology interpretation skills.
Why Choose This Course?
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Learn to properly interpret hematology data for erythrocyte, leukocyte and platelet evaluation using common clinical presentations and real clinical cases.
- Learn to analyze the most common erythrocyte, leukocyte and platelet dot plot patterns encountered in everyday practice.
- Learn the Laboratory Retrievers’ approach to the three-minute blood film evaluation.
- Learn to integrate peripheral blood cell morphology abnormalities with other hematology data in dogs and cats.
Partnership
The online Laboratory Retrievers program is offered in partnership with the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Program Information
The course is composed of modules:
- All materials are recorded and available anytime if attendees cannot attend the live sessions.
- Each module is 100% online including the use of Laboratory Retriever’s virtual microscopy (your computer becomes your microscope).
- Each module is four weeks in length (with weekly one-hour live case discussions).
- A one-hour live session occurs Wednesdays 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET during the course.
- Week 1: Focus on case introduction and Laboratory Retrievers’ approach to the complete blood count.
- Week 2: Focus on hematology numeric data and Laboratory Retrievers’ approach to cytograms.
- Week 3: Focus on cytogram interpretation and Laboratory Retrievers’ approach to blood cell morphology.
- Week 4: Focus on blood cell morphology and final case discussion with Laboratory Retrievers’ key take-home messages.
- MODULE 1 – Hematology Case 1 -Wednesdays March 25, April 1, 8, 15
- MODULE 2 – Hematology Case 2 – Wednesdays May 13, 20, 27, June 3
- MODULE 3 – Hematology Case 3 – Wednesdays Aug 26, Sept 2, 9, 16
- MODULE 4 – Hematology Case 4 – Wednesdays Oct 28, Nov 4, 11, 18
- Each module is $100 USD per one 4-week module or $350 for four 4-week hematology modules (1 year).
- Complete one 4-week module and receive 4 CE credits* from the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Complete four 4-week modules (1 year) and receive 16 CE credits* from the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition, a certificate of completion suitable for framing will also be available from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.
*R.A.C.E. approval pending.
Meet THE LABORATORY RETRIEVERs
Al Rebar received both his DVM and PhD from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1973 and 1975, respectively. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. He served as a veterinary clinical pathology faculty member in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology at Purdue for 40 years. From 1977 to1979, he served as an experimental pathologist at the Lovelace Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In addition to his faculty status while at Purdue, Dr. Rebar was head of the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology (1993-1996), associate dean for research (1989-1996), dean (1996-2005) and senior associate vice president for research and executive director of Discovery Park (2005-2015). From 2015 to 2018, he was the vice chancellor for research and innovation at North Carolina State University.
Dr. Rebar’s professional activities have included president of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology, editor of “Veterinary Clinical Pathology” and Councilor for the American College of Veterinary Pathology. He is currently the editor-in-chief of the “Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association.”
Dr. Rebar has authored or co-authored 11 books and monographs, 23 textbook chapters and more than 100 scientific articles in diagnostic cytology, hematology, clinical biochemistry and inhalation toxicology. He is an internationally recognized expert in veterinary clinical pathology and has presented more than 270 invited lectures nationally and internationally.
He has received many awards and recognitions from multiple agencies, and in 2015, Dr. Rebar received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. In 2020, he also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the European Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.
Dr. DeNicola received both his DVM and PhD from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1978 and 1981, respectively. He was a faculty member at Purdue for 21 years and as a full professor, he directed the teaching hospital clinical pathology laboratory and was the primary clinical pathology educator for veterinary students, interns, and residents. He has been an invited speaker at more than 500 national and international education symposia and has authored or co-authored over 150 refereed manuscripts, textbook chapters, monographs and textbooks. During his tenure at Purdue, he received multiple teaching and service awards, and received the Distinguished Alumnus award.
In 2002, he joined IDEXX as Chief Veterinary Educator, where he supported both IDEXX education and research and development activities. At the 2017 ASVCP/ACVP meeting, he received the ASVCP Lifetime Achievement Award in Veterinary Clinical Pathology. In May 2021, he retired from IDEXX and now serves as an independent pathology consultant and educator associated with Laboratory Retrievers, LLC that he co-founded with Dr. Fred Metzger and Dr. Alan Rebar.
Dr. Fred Metzger is a 1986 graduate of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at The Pennsylvania State University.
Dr. Metzger is the coauthor of “Clinical Pathology Interpretation in Geriatric Veterinary Patients” and “A Guide to Hematology in Dogs and Cats.” He is the founder of VCA Metzger Animal Hospital, a 13-doctor, 100-team-member, AAHA-accredited general, referral and 24-hour emergency hospital in State College, Pennsylvania, serving more than 30,000 patients annually.
His honors include the Distinguished Alumni Award from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine (2022) and the Distinguished Alumni Award from The Pennsylvania State University (2024).
In October 2022, he co-founded Laboratory Retrievers, LLC, a clinical pathology education and advisory company, with Dr. Dennis DeNicola and Dr. Alan Rebar.
Register today!
Take your next step in learning veterinary hematology.