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.

Personnel will have access to procedures that include or have been prepared from the following
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 2243 Safety in Laboratories
AS 2830 Good laboratory practice
Codes of Practice (such as GLP and GMP)
safety manuals
quality manuals and equipment and procedure manuals
standard operating procedures (SOPs) describing personal protective equipment requirements, indications for use of biohazard and laminar flow cabinets, containment and cleanup of spillages, and disposal of wastes
material safety data sheets (MSDSs)
enterprise recording and reporting procedures
production and laboratory schedules
material, production and product specifications.

Preparation of samples may include
filtration
centrifugation
aseptic transfer of specimen
selection of diluent to preserve or enhance visibility of the cells to be counted
serial dilution to enable individual cells to be reliably counted
selection, filling and cover slipping of a clean, dry counting chamber to ensure even distribution of cells during filling
thin film or smear on a slide
fixing of films to minimise cell damage and the production of artefacts
staining of fixed material to illustrate required tissue or cell characteristics
mounting of stained films, sections and whole mounts to ensure long term preservation
permanent labels for smears, films and sections for presentation, storage and retrieval
filling a counting chamber in one continuous flow without bubbles or overflow.

Checking sample condition may include
labelling
spillage
spoilage due to incorrect storage and transport conditions
temperature control
suitability for the examination.
Pre-use checks may include calibration, cleaning and routine maintenance.

Equipment may include
glass slides
counting chambers (for example, haemocytometer)
optical graticules and stage micrometers
tissue culture flasks.

Light microscopes may include
bright field illumination microscopic examination up to 1000x magnification
stereomicroscopes, dissection microscopes
compound microscopes
phase contrast microscopes
inverted microscopes.

Biological samples may include
smears, impression smears, sections, squashes, films and whole mounts
a monolayer of cells in smears and films
fixed smears for demonstration of bacteria by the methylene blue and Gram staining techniques
blood films stained by a Romanowsky technique to clearly show differentiation of granulocytes
stained sections of animal tissues using regressive haematoxylin and eosin to differentiate cytoplasmic and nuclear detail
differentially stained monocotyledon and dicotyledon stem sections to demonstrate the structure of vascular bundles (xylem, phloem and cambium)
stained whole mounts of helminths
whole mounts, such as liver flukes, planaria and samples of animal faeces to demonstrate ova, cysts and larvae
pond water organisms
onion root tip squash
midstream sample of urine.

Checking prepared samples may include looking for
clean and scratch-free microscope slides to reduce artefacts
a homogeneous suspension of sample
films and smears that have been fixed rapidly
thin films with a monolayer of cells
appropriate whole mounts for intact organisms
correct sample identification during and after processing.

Sample characteristics are restricted to what can be viewed by bright field microscopy and may include
number of cells (for example, cells in blood or other particulate samples, such as a yeast suspension or pollen grains)
type of cells, percentage of atypical cells, presence/absence of cells, size of cells, viable and non viable cells, trajectory
presence of stained material, such as starch
colour/staining, morphology
motility.

Calculations may include
dilutions
percentage viability
number of cells in original sample after dilution
calculation of cells/ml in a number of squares of a counting chamber.

Hazards may include
micoorganisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, human or animal tissue and fluids
chemicals and stains
sharps, broken glassware
aerosols.

Safety practices and personal protective equipment may include
use of material safety data sheets (MSDS)
use of personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses, gloves and coveralls
use of biohazard containers and laminar flow cabinet
correct labelling of reagents and hazardous materials
handling and storing hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, and manufacturer's instructions
ergonomic layout, correct illumination and organisation of workbench
regular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipment and work areas.

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 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:

follows enterprise standards, procedures and practices
maintains personal safety and that of others
uses personal protective clothing and other safety equipment correctly
minimises cross contamination and contamination of the laboratory and environment
minimises generation of aerosols as smears or films are prepared
sets up the workbench and microscope ergonomically
sets up, cleans and uses a light microscope to achieve optimum resolution of the specimen
performs cell counts on diluted and undiluted samples
performs basic cell measurements using grids
logs and tracks samples through all steps from receiving a sample through to completion of a procedure and reporting
follows enterprise quality control procedures
correctly handles and stores samples and reagents

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

basic structure and function of cells and organelles
basic classes and classification of organsims of organisms, such as prokaryotes, eukaryotes, plants, animals, bacteria, viruses and prions
cell physiology and processes, such as simple and facilitated diffusion, plasmolysis, osmosis, tonicity, active transport, energy production, mitosis, motility, phagocytosis and pinocystosis
parts and function of a light microscope
purposes and mechanisms of staining (for example, Gram +ve and -ve)
interpretation and recording of test result, including simple calculations
importance and appropriate use of controls and certified reference materials
hazards and risks in laboratories associated with performing microscopic examination
enterprise and/or legal traceability requirements
relevant health, safety and environment 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:

observation of the candidate performing microscopic examinations
review of data records prepared by the candidate, such as counts, observations, results
feedback from supervisors and peers about adherence to enterprise/technical procedures
questioning to assess underpinning knowledge.
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. Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate.

Interdependent assessment of unit

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

PMLDATA200A Record and present data
PMLTEST305B Perform aseptic techniques
PMLOHS302A Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety
PMLQUAL300B Contribute to the achievement of quality objectives.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

standard laboratory equipped with appropriate equipment, such as light microscopes, samples, stains and counting chambers
enterprise procedures, standard methods and materials.

This competency in practice
A customer complaint is received about the baking properties of a flour delivery. The laboratory assistant at the flour mill is given the task of testing the starch content of the suspect flour. She/he prepares iodine stained samples of the returned flour and a range of baked and partially baked products prepared from it. First, the assistant makes up fresh iodine staining solution and then prepares slides of each sample for microscopic examination. She/he identifies the characteristic starch granules of the flour sample and records the degree of gelatinisation in the starch granules in the baked samples. She/he discusses the results with the supervisor and prepares a report for the customer.
A laboratory assistant works in the microbiology laboratory of a public hospital and is responsible for preparing and staining sputum smears from patients for micro and culture. The assistant puts on a clean gown and gloves before collecting the specimens from the reception area of the laboratory. The assistant prepares cultures of the sputum specimens on simple and selective media before preparing, fixing and staining smears for microscopic examination. The results are checked by the supervisor, entered into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and sent to the appropriate section of the hospital.
A laboratory assistant prepares media for plant tissue culture. There has been some contamination of Gram-positive bacteria in the last two batches and the supervisor has initiated an overhaul of the preparation and aliquotting procedure. The laboratory assistant has been asked to follow the new procedure exactly and to remove samples at each stage of ingredient addition for microscopic examination. The laboratory assistant records the exact addition amounts, batch numbers and brands of the reagents; the location of the addition (which biohazard cabinet); the equipment used and the pre-sterilisation records of all equipment.
The laboratory assistant then prepares slides, fixes them and performs a Gram stain on each of the aliquots removed from the new preparation run. Microscopic analysis of each aliquot reveals nil contamination. The supervisor decides that there has been a breach in the old procedure and the laboratory assistant is asked to follow the new procedure and to perform a routine microscopic check on all batches for the next month.

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
(1)

Planning and organising activities
(1)

Working with others and in teams
(1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(1)

Solving problems
(1)

Using technology
(1)