Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for safe microbiological work using aseptic techniques
- Work area and equipment are selected for the safe handling of materials that may contain micro-organisms
- Protective apparel is worn
- Relevant emergency equipment is selected, for timely response to microbiological accidents
- Correct disinfection procedures are applied to work areas before, and after use
- Standard precautions, when handling biological materials, are applied
- Process microbiological samples and undertake microscopy
- Thin smears of samples for subsequent staining are prepared and stained
- Liquid films of specimens, for direct observation, are prepared
- Relevant samples are concentrated to facilitate microscopy
- Stereo and compound microscopes are set up correctly, and causes of variations in image quality are identified
- Microscopes are cleaned and stored according to procedures
- Dry, wet and stained microbiological specimens are correctly examined
- Apply aseptic techniques correctly to cultivate and isolate micro-organisms
- Broths, slopes, and plates of typical media are prepared
- Aseptic transfers of micro-organisms to prepared liquid and solid media are performed
- Bacteria are streaked onto agar plates to isolate single colonies using aseptic technique
- Temperature conditions and gaseous environments are selected which are suitable for the growth of a range of common micro-organisms
- Estimate the number of micro-organisms in food and water samples
- Perform and interpret tests to assist in the identification of common bacterial genera
- Apply quality assurance procedures commonly used in a food testing laboratory
- Interpret the results of laboratory testing and relate to the production plan