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.
This unit of competency describes the testing of tissues, blood, bodily fluids (cerebrospinal fluid, peritoneal and wound aspirates, sweat, sputum), calculi, and excreta (urine and faeces) in laboratories. Tests examine and measure compounds that can give information about alterations in individual physiology and pathology, or compounds, such as therapeutic drugs or drugs of abuse that will alter normal physiology.

Information sources could include
AS/NZS 2243.3 Safety in laboratories, Part 3 - Microbiology
AS ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competency of testing and calibration laboratories
enterprise procedures, SOPs and operating manuals
test procedures (validated and authorised)
sampling procedures (for example, labelling, preparation, storage, transport and disposal)
safety requirements for equipment, materials or products
cleaning, hygiene, personal hygiene requirements
quality system and continued improvement processes
incident and accident/injury reports
schematics, work flows and laboratory layouts
instructions to comply with new legislation, standards, guidelines and codes
waste minimisation and disposal procedures.

Equipment, materials and systems could include
centrifuges, waterbaths and incubators
manual and automated spectrometers and other related measurement devices
various discrete and multi-channel analysers for chemical analytes
laboratory information management systems, databases, record and filing systems
chemicals, reagents and biological materials, including immunological reagents and DNA probes necessary for laboratory testing
laboratory glassware and measuring equipment
materials suitable for the safe collection and disposal of biological and non- biological wastes.

Communication may include
supervisors and managers (laboratory, quality and customer service)
other laboratory or clinical personnel
patients and clients
external auditors and accreditation agencies (for example, NATA).

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.

Whilst testing blood and body fluids, including excreta, testing should focus on:

the identification of chemical substances that are associated with organ dysfunction or indications of success or failure of treatment
biological activity (for example, assessment of enzyme activity indicative of organ/ tissue damage)
monitoring humoral immune system components
the application of DNA techniques
evidence of prior exposure to infective agents, as in the case of identifying plasma changes that are consequent to or associated with immune responses.

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

recognises problems in systems and documentation
discriminates between significant data and artefact
uses enterprise information system efficiently (for example, networks or ordering for consumable materials)
critically analyses information or documents and respond appropriately to an abnormal result
prepares documentation that is accurate, concise and in accordance with enterprise requirements
uses samples, reagents and materials correctly and economically
disposes of wastes safely
communicates appropriately with a diverse range of internal and/or external customers
reports equipment malfunction or liaises with contracted service technician to ensure equipment downtime is minimised.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

enterprise procedures relating to selection and use of testing procedures, in terms of the supposed or defined clinical problem
range of tests results that have meaningful clinical significance
selection and use of quality control and quality assurance processes, as they pertain to the issuance of meaningful results
sources of error in pre- and post-analyses of samples and corrective actions
need for confidentiality of work results
management of work flow for effective and efficient use of resources
the central place the patient, client or customer occupies in the business of the enterprise
application of enterprise occupational health and safety and environmental policies.

Competency includes:

the ability to accurately use scientific, medical, clinical, technical and workplace terminology relevant to job role/function
sufficient knowledge of the relevant terminology and normal and abnormal anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and immunology to enable efficient communication with laboratory and clinical staff.
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:

review of results/data/records generated by the candidate
feedback from peers and supervisors to confirm that enterprise procedures are consistently followed and that results meet enterprise requirements
oral and/or written questions associated with laboratory determinations and record keeping
integrated assessment with a case focus, such as the measurement of single or multiple chemical substances and metabolites in serum or other bodily fluids.
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:

PMLQUAL401B Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

enterprise documents, standard chemical pathology laboratory with relevant equipment, samples and reagents
enterprise procedures, test methods, equipment manuals.
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 viruses, but this does not preclude the use of universal precaution in the use of blood samples.

This competency in practice
A patient's blood sample and request form have been brought to the laboratory. The sample has been recorded in the laboratory's log as 'urgent cardiac enzymes'. The specimen has been processed ahead of the other routine samples. The technical officer selects the panel of tests in the cluster designated cardiac enzymes on the automated analyser. The technical officer also ensures that the instrument has adequate reagents, quality control sera and reference sera loaded before placing the sample for analysis. At the end of the analysis cycle, the quality control is validated and the result report generated. An elevated troponin is noted. The technical officer alerts the supervisor and confirms that this result can be phoned through to the requesting physician. The rest of the sample is refrigerated awaiting immediate follow up tests. Within 24 hours, it will be frozen for a week in case more tests are requested. At the end of the day, the technical officer sets the analyser on standby, stows sensitive reagents in the refrigerator, cleans his/ her work area, and safely disposes of biological and non-biological wastes.

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)