Elements and Performance Criteria
- Assemble equipment and materials
- Confirm the number and type of sections required
- Collect equipment and arrange the workspace so that equipment can be used safely and efficiently
- Perform pre-use and safety checks to ensure equipment is fit for purpose
- Report faulty or unsafe equipment to appropriate personnel
- Inspect processor reagents for deterioration and adequate volume, and report any items requiring replacement
- Process and embed plant and animal tissue
- Select program and reagents for processing
- Monitor processor regularly during processing sequence to ensure dehydration, clearing and infiltration are complete
- Check that temperature of wax is suitable for embedding process
- Check that volume of wax is sufficient for uninterrupted embedding of processor load
- Embed tissue in correct orientation
- Allow block to solidify evenly according to wax requirements
- Cut sections of plant and animal tissue
- Place and secure block and knife in microtome strictly in accordance with safety directions
- Label required number of microscope slides in accordance with workplace traceability requirements
- Cut ribbons of representative sections at the required thickness observing prescribed safety measures
- Float sections onto water bath to flatten tissues
- Pick up sections onto microscope slides ensuring identification on slides matches that on block
- Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between samples
- Cut freehand sections of plant tissue as required
- Inspect sections and reject items that do not meet specifications
- Stain sections
- Select reagents specified in the method
- Stain sections according to the method
- Examine sections microscopically to ensure expected staining outcomes have been achieved
- Mount sections to ensure long-term preservation
- Attach permanent labels giving specimen details according to workplace traceability requirements
- Maintain a safe work environment
- Ensure personal safety and minimise cross-contamination through the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Handle all specimens and equipment in accordance with workplace safety protocols/procedures
- Clean up spills using appropriate techniques to protect personnel, work area and environment
- Minimise generation of waste and environmental impacts
- Collect and dispose of all wastes safely
- Report hazards and incidents to designated personnel using workplace procedures