Elements and Performance Criteria

The range of variables relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
Where reference is made to industry Codes of Practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used.
All operations must comply with relevant standards, appropriate procedures and/or enterprise requirements.

These procedures include or have been prepared from
Australian and international standards, such as -
AS ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO 9000 series Quality management and quality assurance standards
AS/NZS 2243 Safety in Laboratories - biological aspects, chemical aspects
AS 2830 Good laboratory practice
AS 2162.1 General - Volumetric glassware
AS 2134.1 Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
AS 3753 Recommended practice for chemical analysis by ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry
Therapeutic Goods Act
National Measurement Act
Codes of Practice, such as GLP and GMP
material safety data sheets (MSDSs)
standard operating procedures (SOPs)
quality manuals and equipment and procedure manuals
equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures
calibration and maintenance schedules
enterprise recording and reporting procedures
production and laboratory schedules
material, production and product specifications.

Techniques for preparation of samples may include
dissection, such as preparation of thymus extracts from mice
extraction (for example, solvent extraction)
filtration (for example, filter water samples and plate the sediment onto agar plates for incubation and growth of E Coli)
separation (for example, dialysis)
precipitation and flocculation
centrifugation (excluding ultra centrifugation)
chromatography
gel filtration chromatography (for example, crude purification of proteins)
affinity chromatography (for example, purification of immunoglobulins)
electrophoresis
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for separation of DNA segments
agarose gel electrophoreis
capillary electrophoresis
gradient gel electrophoresis.

Techniques to classify cells or species may include
classification of species according to taxa
classification of cells according to microscopic or staining characteristics
characteristics of bacterial colonies, such as-
growth on differential media
colony morphology (size, shape)
biochemical reactions, such as miniaturised test strips, redox reactions, sugar tests.
Techniques to analyse chemical and biological characteristics may include-
staining
Gram stain for gram negative and positive bacteria
Romanowsky stain for blood films
Haematoxylin and Eosin for tissue sections
Oil red O for fatty cellular inclusions
spore staining
flagella staining
microscopic examination, such as-
light
phase contrast
bright field
dark ground
enumeration
colourimetry and spectrophotometry, such as-
ultraviolet/visible
fluorimetric
infrared
flame emission
atomic absorption spectrometry
electrochemistry, such as-
pH
ion selective electrodes and polarography (for example, concentration of chloride ions)
chromatography, such as-
column and thin layer analytical and preparative chromatography
paper, gas, liquid chromatography and HPLC.

Hazards may include
microbiological organisms and agents, associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, human or animal tissue and fluids
chemicals, such as acids, solvents and stains
aerosols from broken centrifuge tubes, pipetting
sharps, broken glassware
flammable liquids and gases
cryogenics, such as dry ice and liquid nitrogen
fluids under pressure, such as steam, hydrogen in gas liquid chromatography, acetylene in atomic absorption spectrometry
sources of ignition
disturbance or interruption of services.

Hazard control measures may include
ensuring access to service shut-off points
recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs
labelling of samples, reagents, aliquoted samples and hazardous materials
handling and storage of hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, materials safety data sheets and manufacturer's instructions
identifying and reporting operating problems or equipment malfunctions
cleaning and decontaminating equipment and work areas regularly using enterprise procedures
using personal protective clothing and equipment, such as gloves, safety glasses, coveralls, gown
using containment facilities (PCII, PCIII and PCIV physical containment laboratories), containment equipment (biohazard containers, laminar flow cabinets, Class I, II and III biohazard cabinets) and containment procedures
following established manual handling procedures
reporting abnormal emissions, discharges and airborne contaminants, such as noise, light, solids, liquids, water/waste water, gases, smoke, vapour, fumes, odour and particulates to appropriate personnel.

Disposal of biohazardous wastes may include
collection for sterilization by autoclaving (for example, autoclaving of microbiological plates)
appropriate storage (for example, of waste containing radioactive isotopes)
use of biohazard waste containers.

Records may include
test calibration results
equipment use, maintenance and servicing history
faulty or unsafe equipment
batch number, catalogue number, use by date for analytical kits.

Health, safety and environment
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environmental (HSE) requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.
All operations assume the potential hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied. Users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and State and Territory Departments of Health. All operations are performed in accordance with standard operating procedures.

The Evidence Guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence.
Critical aspects of competency

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard. In particular, assessors should look to see that the candidate:

interprets test procedures accurately
prepares and tests samples using procedures appropriate to the nature of sample
performs calibration checks (if required)
safely operates test equipment to enterprise standards and/or manufacturer's specification
prepares calibration graphs and calculates results in appropriate units and precision
applies basic theoretical knowledge to interpret gross features of data and make relevant conclusions
identifies atypical results as out of normal range or an artefact using reference material or QC sera
traces and sources obvious causes of an artefact
communicates problem(s) to a supervisor or outside service technician
records and communicates results as per enterprise procedures
maintains security, integrity, traceability and identity of samples, sub-samples and documentation
follows OHS procedures and GLP.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

hazards and risks in biological laboratories
biological principles and concepts underpinning test/procedure, such as-
molecular interactions within the compounds of nucleic acids and nucleotides, proteins and amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids and vitamins, influencing structure, activity, chemical reactivity and physical properties, including solubility, energy levels and emission/absorption spectra
chemical and biochemical characteristics of lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and proteins influencing structure, function and reactivity both in vitro and in vivo
chemical significance of biologically significant ions, such as calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and phosphate
key metabolic pathways and the significance of initial nutrients, products and wastes on those pathways
structure and function of organelles, cells, plant and animal tissue and organs
interrelationships of biological systems (carbon cycle, energy cycle, the web of life)
classifications, such as bacteria, viruses, yeasts, single cell, multicellular, plants, animals, prions, helminths, prokayotes, eukaryotes
phases of the cell cycle
Mendelian genetics, such as inheritance, meiosis, karyotypes, dominant and recessive traits, genotypes and phenotypes, pedigrees
significance of the genetic code and transcription and translation
cell membrane activity, including diffusion (passive, facilitated and active), osmosis, tonicity and plasmolysis
staining reactions involving acid/base, redox, complex ion formation, solubility and equilibrium
use of instruments for qualitative and/or quantitative analysis
separation techniques underpinning test/procedure
principles and concepts related to equipment/instrument operation and testing
function of key components of the equipment/instrument and/or reagents
effects of modifying equipment/instrument variables
sample preparation procedures
reagent maintenance and evaluation procedures
basic equipment/method troubleshooting procedures
use of calibration charts
calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision
sources of uncertainty in measurement and methods for control
importance and appropriate use of controls and certified reference materials
enterprise and/or legal requirements for traceability
relevant health, safety and environmental requirements.

Assessment context and methods
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of results obtained by the candidate over a period of time to ensure accuracy, consistency and timeliness
review of testing records and workplace documentation completed by the candidate
observation of candidate conducting a range of biological procedures
feedback from peers and supervisors
oral or written questioning of biological concepts, principles and enterprise procedures.

Interdependent assessment of unit

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

PMLDATA400A Process and interpret data
PMLTEST404A Perform chemical tests and procedures.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

standard laboratory equipped with appropriate test equipment and instruments, reagents and materials
standard operating procedures and testing methods.

This competency in practice
A laboratory technician conducts a screening test for parasites in stool samples. He/she checks the sample identification details, cross-checks the sample barcode with the request slip and the data entry in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The technician locates the test method and then examines the sample container to ensure that it has not leaked and that there is sufficient volume for the test. He/she prepares the sample by adding solvent to a portion and shaking it before placing it in a centrifuge. After satisfactory separation, he/she pipettes a small quantity of the top layer of solvent onto a glass slide and adds iodine as a stain. The technician carefully views the slide using x40 magnification and searches for eggs. He/she enters a nil result in the LIMS and disposes of the sample in accordance with enterprise procedures.
Biomedical
A technical officer is requested to determine the total protein concentration of a blood sample using colorimetry. After checking the condition of the sample, he/she collects the Biuret reagent from the refrigerator, the required number of tubes and protein control samples and standards specified in the method. The officer labels the tubes and then accurately dispenses the correct volumes of reagent, standards, controls and samples into them. The solutions are thoroughly mixed using a vortex mixer and allowed to stand for five minutes for the reaction to occur. He/she records absorbance readings for each tube and prepares a calibration curve. The officer reads the concentration values from the graph for the control and test samples and checks the control data against the expected values. As these fall within the accepted range, he/she enters the test results into the LIMS.

The seven key competencies represent generic skills considered for effective work participation. The bracketed numbering against each of the key competencies indicates the performance level required in this unit. These are stand-alone levels and do not correspond to levels in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Level (1) represents the competence to undertake tasks effectively
Level (2) represents the competence to manage tasks
Level (3) represents the competence to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks.
Communicating ideas and information
(1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(2)

Planning and organising activities
(2)

Working with others and in teams
(1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(2)

Solving problems
(2)

Using technology
(2)