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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Confirm collection requirements
   • Greet client courteously and identify self
   • Identify client following organisation and regulatory procedures
   • Confirm that client meets pre-testing criteria for required collection
   • Obtain, interpret and accurately record personal and clinical information in accordance with organisation policies and procedures
   • Explain collection procedure to client
   • Obtain consent for collection procedure from client
3. Prepare for collection procedure
   • Confirm method of collection based on correct interpretation of clinical request and organisation requirements
   • Select equipment and prepare following organisation procedures
   • Position client appropriately to ensure comfort and safety of both client and collector
   • Identify when assistance may be needed and seek help if required
4. Collect specimen
   • Adopt standard and additional infection control guidelines and precautions according to organisation documented procedure
   • Follow documented procedures for collection of sample
   • Use collection and clinical equipment appropriately and safely to avoid contamination of sample
   • Observe client during and after collection for potential adverse effects and respond according to procedure
5. Follow post collection procedures
   • Dispose of waste in accordance with infection control protocols and organisation policies and procedures
   • Accurately label sample in front of client with time and date of collection, client details and other required information following regulatory and organisational guidelines
   • Confirm information accuracy with client
   • Complete other collection documentation in accordance with organisation procedures
   • Prepare collected samples for transit or storeaccording to test and organisational requirements

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

followed established technical, infection control and safety procedures for a minimum of 5 different specimen types selected from the following:

aspirates

breath

DNA swabs

nail clippings and/or scrapings

saliva

semen

skin scrapings

sputum

stool

swabs – bacterial, viral and PCR

urine

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations for pathology collection, and how these are applied in organisations:

children in the workplace

duty of care

informed consent

mandatory reporting

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

records management

work role boundaries

boundaries of responsibilities

sources of non blood sample requests and interactions with other health services

work health and safety

standard infection control requirements for clinical procedures:

hand hygiene

use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

avoiding contact with bodily fluids

sharps injury prevention and treatment if sustained

waste disposal

industry terminology used in specimen collection:

equipment

procedures

abbreviations

medical terminology

key aspects of anatomy and physiology sufficient to make safe specimen collection

clinical risk factors in specimen collection and procedures designed to minimise those risks for different specimen types

factors which may affect the chemical analysis of specimens and the impact on collection:

appropriate times to collect

timing of last dose

required fasting times

protecting the integrity of the specimen

features, functions and use of the following specimen collection equipment:

sterile jars

24hr urine containers with and without additives

swabs - viral, bacterial, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

paediatric urine collection bag

breath balloons

skin scraping equipment

nail clipping and scraping equipment

handling and storage methods for different specimen types

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