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:

interpret client requests, test methods and procedures accurately

safely set up and shut down equipment using enterprise procedures

check calibration/qualification status of equipment

prepare standards and samples appropriately

choose and optimises procedures and equipment settings to suit sample/test requirements, such as selection of wavelength maxima and position of burner)

operate equipment to obtain valid and reliable data

make approved adjustments to procedures for non-routine samples

recognise atypical data/results

troubleshoot common analytical procedure and equipment problems

apply theoretical knowledge to interpret data and makes relevant conclusions

record and report data/results in accordance with enterprise procedures

maintain security, integrity and traceability of samples and documentation

follow OHS procedures and principles of GLP.

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.

Resources may include:

standard laboratory equipped with appropriate spectrometers, laboratory reagents and equipment

SOPs and test methods.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of test data/results obtained by the candidate over time to ensure accuracy, consistency and timeliness of results

inspection of test records and workplace documentation completed by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisors

observation of candidate applying a range of routine spectrometric techniques

oral or written questioning of chemical principles and concepts, spectrometric techniques and enterprise procedures.

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 studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.

Manufacturing

Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy is a sensitive technique for measuring polycyclic hydrocarbons. Because polycyclic hydrocarbons are considered carcinogenic, they are strictly regulated, and technicians making these measurements must follow enterprise procedures when handling samples. A technician conducting such an analysis noted variable results. After some discussion with the laboratory scientist, it was determined that the standard materials were light sensitive and were being degraded. The technician suggested that they change the light in the work space to yellow. When the lighting was changed, the standard remained stable and the measurements for polycyclic hydrocarbons were carried out successfully.

Biotechnology

DNA can be extracted from human blood for subsequent identification of inherited genetic disorders, paternity disputes or forensic investigations. It is not a difficult procedure and is performed by technical officers in diagnostic molecular biology laboratories and those working in university research laboratories.

In such a procedure, the DNA is separated from the haemoglobin and blood cells, the protein in the plasma and the fat by a series of enzymic digests and phenol/chloroform extractions. The last purification step involves precipitation by clod ethanol and dissolving the DNA in TRIS buffer. The yield from 10mL of human blood is about 12-20mg of DNA if all is well. The yield is determined by spectrometric absorption at 260 and 280nm. The two wavelengths are used to determine the DNA extract and the degree of protein contamination. The technical officer will carry out this step before proceeding. Too small a yield will make further testing impractical and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) will then be used to amplify the DNA in the sample.

Food processing

A technician was determining the amount (by mass) of (-carotene in imported tomato paste. The technician extracted a known mass of the paste into acidified ether, evaporated off the solvent and measured the absorbance of the remaining material by spectrometry. After reference to the Australian Food Additive Guide, the technician was able to report the tomato paste met the requirements of the Australian standard.

Required skills

Required skills include:

interpreting client requests, test methods and procedures accurately

safely setting up and shutting down equipment using enterprise procedures

checking calibration/qualification status of equipment

identifying and calculating potential sources of uncertainty

preparing standards and samples appropriately

choosing and optimising procedures and equipment settings to suit sample/test requirements, such as selection of wavelength maxima and position of burner

operating equipment to obtain valid and reliable data

making approved adjustments to procedures for non-routine samples

recognising atypical data/results

troubleshooting common analytical procedure and equipment problems

applying theoretical knowledge to interpret data and making relevant conclusions

recording and reporting data/results

maintaining security, integrity and traceability of samples and documentation

followingoccupational health and safety (OHS) procedures and principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

spectrometric principles and concepts related to instrumentation operation and testing

relationship of chemical structure to electromagnetic radiation absorption

handling of unstable or hazardous chemicals and samples and/or the fragile/labile nature of biological material

sample preparation procedures

use of spectroscopy for qualitative and quantitative analysis

function of key components of the equipment

effects on spectra of modifying and/or optimising instrumental variables, such as wavelength, slit width, burner position and lamp voltage

basic procedure and equipment troubleshooting techniques

preparation and use of calibration charts and/or standards

calculation steps to give results in appropriate accuracy, precision, uncertainty and units

enterprise and/or legal traceability requirements

basic equipment maintenance procedures

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

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 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

AS ISO 1000-1998 The international system of units (SI) and its application

AS 2134.1-1999 Recommended practice for chemical analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry - Flame atomic absorption spectrometry

AS 3753-2001 Recommended practice for chemical analysis by ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry

ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008 Uncertainty of measurement - Part 3 Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM)

Eurachem/CITAC Guide CG4 Quantifying uncertainty in analytical measurement

Australian code of good manufacturing practice for medicinal products (GMP)

calibration and maintenance schedules

cleaning, hygiene and personal hygiene requirements

data quality procedures

enterprise procedures, SOPs and operating manuals

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures

Guide to physical containment levels and facility types

incident and accident/injury reports

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

material, production and product specifications

national measurement regulations and guidelines

principles of GLP

production and laboratory schedules

quality manuals, equipment and procedure manuals

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 OHS requirements

stock records and inventory

test procedures (validated and authorised)

training program contents

waste minimisation, containment, processing and disposal procedures

Routine spectrometric methods

Routine spectrometric methods may include:

ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS)

infrared, including Fourier transform infrared and near infrared

atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)

fluorescence

flame emission spectroscopy

Tests

Tests may include methods for:

control of starting materials, in-process materials and finished products (e.g. petroleum, food, mining and manufacturing)

environmental monitoring pollutants in air, water, soil and vegetation

forensic tests

therapeutic drug analysis

diagnostic pathology tests

determinations of enzyme activity

routine chemical analytes, such as starch, glucose, DNA, and therapeutic degradation products

troubleshooting enterprise processes

Preparation of sample

Preparation of sample includes processes, such as:

identification of any hazards associated with samples and/or analytical chemicals

grinding, mulling, preparation of discs, ashing, dissolving, refluxing, extraction, filtration, evaporation, precipitation, centrifugation, drying and washing

determination of and, if appropriate, removal of any contaminants, impurities or interfering substances

Common analytical procedure and equipment problems

Common analytical procedure and equipment problems may include:

dirty or contaminated sample cells

inappropriate selection of wavelength

problems with interfering or complexing substances

incomplete atomisation of analyte

poor resolution of peaks

poor sensitivity

need to dilute samples

Hazards

Hazards may include:

electric shock

radiation (UV)

biohazards:

microbiological organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, and human or animal tissue and fluids

mycotoxins

acids (e.g. sulphuric and nitric)

hazardous materials (e.g. heavy metals and pesticides)

hydrocarbons (e.g. phenol, benzene, toluene and complex mixtures)

aerosols from broken centrifuge tubes and pipetting

sharps and broken glassware

flammable liquids and gases

fluids under pressure, such as acetylene in atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)

sources of ignition

high temperature ashing processes

disturbance or interruption of services

Addressing hazards

Addressing hazards may involve:

use of MSDS

labelling of samples, reagents, aliquoted samples and hazardous materials

use of personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety glasses and coveralls

use of fumehoods, direct extraction of vapours and waste gases

use of appropriate equipment, such as biohazard containers, laminar flow cabinets, Class I, II and III biohazard cabinets

use of Class PCII, PCIII and PCIV physical containment laboratories

handling and storage of all hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, MSDS and manufacturer's instructions

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