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.
This unit of competency assumes that the technical officer would perform tests and procedures under the close supervision of scientific and/or medical staff.
The involvement of the technical officer in mortuary work will be determined by the enterprise. Work of this nature will always be closely supervised by scientific/medical staff.
Technical workers may need to interrupt their routine work in order to assist with or perform frozen sections or special staining procedures to facilitate rapid diagnosis of specimens from patients in the operating theatre.
It is expected that all work would conform to statutory and enterprise occupational health and safety Codes of Practice.

Information sources could include
AS ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
AS/NZS 2243.3 Safety in laboratories
enterprise procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and operating manuals
test procedures (validated and authorised)
medico-legal and laboratory accreditation requirements for traceability of specimens and records
sampling procedures (labelling, preparation, storage, transport and disposal)
safety requirements for equipment, materials or products
cleaning, hygiene and personal hygiene requirements
quality system and continuous improvement processes
incident and accident/injury reports
schematics, work flows and laboratory layouts
instructions to comply with new legislation, standards, guidelines and codes
stock records and inventory
material data safety sheets
waste minimisation and disposal protocols.

Equipment, reagents, specimens and systems may include
microtomes and microtome knives (non-disposable or disposable)
cryostats for frozen sections
microtome knife sharpeners
embedding centres
flotation baths, drying ovens, microwave ovens
tissue processors
staining and cover slipping machines
microscopes for bright field, phase contrast and fluorescence examinations
volumetric glassware and measuring devices
general laboratory glassware and equipment identified with an anatomical pathology laboratory
reagents, such as formaldehyde, ethanol, xylene, paraffin, picric acid, mercuric chloride
reference material for automated and manual quality control and quality assurance systems
fresh and fixed specimens
computer information systems, databases, record and filing systems, including specimen accessioning.

Communication may involve
supervisors and managers (laboratory, quality and customer service)
other laboratory or clinical personnel (pathologists, nursing staff, pathology registrars, other medical staff and clerical staff)
clients
external auditors and accreditation agencies (for example, NATA).

Health, safety and environment
All operations assume the potentially 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 performs manual and automated histological tests and procedures for:

preparation, safe storage and disposal of stains and reagents
cutting of paraffin embedded sections, free of wrinkles, scores and folds, at the specified thickness to demonstrate tissue and cellular structures, granules, inclusions and organelles if required
cutting and staining of frozen sections at the specified thickness to demonstrate tissue and cellular structures and inclusions as required
staining of paraffin embedded sections to demonstrate normal and abnormal tissue structure
specialised staining, for example to demonstrate connective tissue, musclestriations, central nervous system, glands, basement membrane, micro-organisms, pigments and deposits
histochemical stains, for example to demonstrate carbohydrates, amyloid and mucins
specialised techniques, such as polarising microscopy, fluorescent staining and use of microwave ovens in histopathology
basic immunohistochemical staining
cover slipping of slides, ensuring that no air bubbles are formed and material is preserved for the life of the slide
clear labelling of slides with case, specimen and stain details.

In particular, the assessor should look to see that the candidate:

recognises problems in systems and documentation, and troubleshoots under direction and/or where appropriate
uses enterprise information system efficiently
critically analyses information in enterprise documents
prepares documentation that is accurate, concise and in accordance with enterprise requirements
manages tasks and organises work to ensure the timely completion of tasks
uses samples, reagents and materials economically and disposes of wastes safely
uses equipment safely
maintains equipment, recording and reporting malfunctions appropriately.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

terminology used to communicate issues that relate to underpinning normal and abnormal anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and immunology
relationship between strict adherence to enterprise procedures during each step and the maintenance of specimen integrity
relevant health, safety and environment requirements - particularly those related to handling irritating, volatile, flammable and potentially carcinogenic substances, such as formaldehyde, xylene, histoclear, ethanol and chloroform
importance of recognising the uniqueness of patient histological tissues (a non-renewable resource)
relationship of the anatomy and morphology of tissue types and the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of stained sections
chemistry of fixatives and their role in retaining size and spatial relationships in tissues and in preventing autolysis and putrefaction
relationship between the tissue components to be demonstrated and the choice of fixatives and fixation procedures, such as microwave fixation, processing and staining techniques
chemistry of dehydration and rehydration of tissues during processing and staining
relationship between correct orientation of the tissue during embedding and ability to cut sections from surface required for subsequent microscopic examination
correlation between poorly maintained processing reagents and resultant tissue blocks being difficult to cut or unsuitable for cutting
properties of the embedding medium
labile nature and chemistry of stains and the importance of correct preparation and storage to ensure required staining outcome
chemical interaction between the tissues and the various staining procedures implemented, including histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures. (that is, reasons why the stains worked)
effects of the presence of artefacts in sections on microscopic examination of tissues.

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:

inspection of stained tissue sections/slides prepared by the candidate
feedback from peers and supervisors

observation of candidate performing tests and procedures, such as:

preparation of microtome for cutting, cutting blemish free sections, successful flotation and pickup of section
staining tissues to demonstrate tissue structures and cell components as required
morphological identification of tissues, such as epithelial, muscle, central nervous and glandular
oral and/or written tests and paper problems associated with test methods and laboratory processes, such as equipment calibration and maintenance.

Interdependent assessment of unit

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

PMLQUAL401A Apply quality systems and continuous improvement processes.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

standard histology/laboratory with relevant equipment, samples and reagents
enterprise procedures, test methods, equipment manuals.
Under duty of care requirements, off-the-job training providers will only use samples and organisms of a risk category compatible with their laboratory as defined in AS2243.3.

This competency in practice
In preparation for cutting some sections, a technical officer followed standard procedures. This involved checking the flotation bath temperature, checking the surface of the bath for cleanliness, inserting the microtome knife and checking the angle of the knife. They referred to the work sheet to confirm the number of slides required per patient and then labelled slides accordingly. They then proceeded with section cutting, carefully observing the safety protocols. They ensured that as the sections were picked up from the flotation bath, the patient identification on the slides and the block matched. They then cleaned the surface of the bath to prevent cross contamination of samples between patients. The technical officer's care and diligence in performing these procedures ensured that specimen integrity was maintained.

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
(2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(2)

Planning and organising activities
(2)

Working with others and in teams
(2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(2)

Solving problems
(2)

Using technology
(2)