Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Codes of practice
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used
Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements
Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:
Australian and international standards, such as:
AS 2252 Biological safety cabinets
AS ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
AS/NZS 2243 Set:2006 Safety in laboratories set
AS/NZS 2982.1:1997 Laboratory design and construction - General requirements
AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set
AS/NZS ISO 9000 Set:2008 Quality management systems set
cleaning, hygiene and personal hygiene requirements
enterprise procedures, SOPs and operating manuals
incident and accident/injury reports
instructions to comply with legislation, standards, guidelines and codes
quality system and continued improvement processes
safety requirements for equipment, materials or products
sampling procedures (labelling, preparation, storage, transport and disposal)
schematics, work flows and laboratory layouts
statutory and enterprise occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements
stock records and inventory
test procedures (validated and authorised)
training program contents
waste minimisation, containment, processing and disposal procedures
Equipment, materials and systems
Equipment, materials and systems may include:
blood mixers
reference material for automated and manual quality control and quality assurance systems
instruments for the semi-automated or automated electronic counting and partial characterisation of blood cells, the measurement of haemoglobin and the computation of red cell indices
staining machines
safe working cabinets
centrifuges, water baths and incubators
volumetric glassware and measuring devices
cell counting chambers
microscopes for bright field and phase contrast examinations
spectrometers
coagulometers
counters for single or multiple cell types
computer information systems, databases, record and filing systems
general laboratory glassware and equipment associated with a serology laboratory
Communication
Communication may involve:
supervisors and managers (laboratory, quality and customer service)
other laboratory or clinical personnel
patients and clients
personnel of accreditation agencies (e.g. national Association of Testing Authorities (NATA))
Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements
OHS and environmental management requirements:
all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time
all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied
where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
count and measure cells
derive cell data that can assist with classification of cell populations
stain cells, identify their morphology and classify them
determine of the amount and function of blood components, such as haemoglobin and other substances quantified by spectrophotometry
measure clinically useful phenomena, such as erythrocyte sedimentation
assess haemostasis, coagulation, fibrinolysis and thrombosis
detect markers of immune response (where appropriate)
amplify and detect gene products (where appropriate)
contribute to the general maintenance of equipment and processes to ensure ongoing compliance with enterprise and laboratory accreditation
recognise problems in systems and documentation
use the enterprise information system efficiently
critically analyse information in enterprise documents
prepare documentation that is accurate, easily understood by the intended audience and in accordance with enterprise requirements
manage tasks and organise work to ensure the timely completion of tasks
use samples, reagents and materials economically and dispose of wastes safely
use equipment safely
maintain equipment, recording and reporting malfunctions appropriately.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
MSL925001A Analyse data and report results
MSL934002A Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes.
Resources may include:
standard haematology laboratory with relevant equipment, samples and reagents
enterprise procedures.
Under duty of care requirements, off-the-job training providers should ensure that blood samples are known to be antibody free for hepatitis B and C, syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, this does not reduce the need for universal precautions in the use of these samples.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of results/data/records generated by the candidate
feedback from peers and supervisors that enterprise procedures were followed and that work is performed consistently in line with enterprise requirements
oral and/or written tests and paper problems associated with test methods and laboratory processes, such as equipment calibration and maintenance
integrated assessment by use of case studies to demonstrate performance of the range of tests and procedures implied in the critical aspects of competency and essential knowledge sections of this standard. Suitable case studies could involve:
performance of the routine full blood count, including the examination of the stained blood film
a coagulation screen, including tests to measure anti-vitamin K and anti-heparin therapeutic agents, and the counting of platelets
studies that can assist in identifying relationships between quantitative data from blood counts and morphological findings from stained blood films.
In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.
Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.
The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work like environment.

This competency in practice
Industry representatives have provided the case study below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.
Biomedical
A patient's blood sample and request form have been brought to the laboratory. The patient has complained of rectal bleeding for some months. The technical officer has been asked by the supervisor to perform a full blood count on the analyser, set up an erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and to prepare, stain and examine a film of the patient's blood. The technical officer checks the records for information on the patient. Finding none, the technical officer records the required data in the laboratory information management system (LIMS) and then performs the required tests. Satisfied that the results of the standards are within range, the technical officer prints an interim report for the supervisor. The report incorporates the results of the differential white cell count, calculations of the leucocyte numbers and comments on the morphology of the blood cells. The report and film is taken to the pathologist for supplementary comments, verification and signature. Following these checks, the technical officer telephones the ward to advise that the patient's results can be retrieved from the ward's computer terminal.