Required skills

Required skills include

processing and embedding of plant and animal tissue

cutting of sections free of wrinkles scores and folds and at the specified thickness to demonstrate tissue and cellular structures granules inclusions and organelles

regressive haematoxylin and eosin staining

cover slipping slides ensuring that no air bubbles are formed and material is preserved for the life of the slide

labelling slides clearly with case number specimen and stain details

maintaining equipment and recording and reporting malfunctions appropriately

maintaining traceability through all steps from receiving a specimen through to completion of a procedure

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

functions of the components of a rotary microtome

safety precautions relevant to tissue processing embedding and microtomy

importance and appropriate use of certified reference materials

relationship of the anatomy and morphology of tissue types and the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of stained sections

correlation between poorly maintained processing reagents and resultant tissue blocks being difficult to cut or unsuitable for cutting

relationship between correct orientation of the tissue during embedding and ability to cut sections from surface required for subsequent microscopic examination

occupational health and safety OHS procedures related to micrometry and handling irritating volatile flammable and potentially carcinogenic substances such as formaldehyde xylene histoclear ethanol and chloroform

safe and environmentally responsible disposal of wastes

enterprise andor legal traceability requirements

relevant health safety and environment requirements

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

process embed and cut tissue safely to enterprise procedures

stain sections according to enterprise procedures

manage tasks and organise work to ensure the timely completion of tasks

use specimens reagents and materials economically and dispose of wastes safely

maintain equipment recording and reporting malfunctions appropriately

minimise crosscontamination between specimens

maintain traceability through all steps from receiving a specimen through to completion of a procedure

work safely

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

MSLA Perform microscopic examination

MSL973007A Perform microscopic examination.

Resources may include

standard laboratory equipped with appropriate equipment and materials such as microtomes stains animal and plant tissues

processing system for paraffin blocks

associated OHS equipment such as extractor systems

enterprise procedures and standard methods

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

observation of the candidate performing tissue processing embedding cutting pickup and mounting

inspection of sections and slides prepared by the candidate

review of quality control records for sections and slides prepared by the candidate

feedback from supervisors and peers on adherence to enterprisetechnical procedures

questioning to assess underpinning knowledge

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 andor 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 show its relevance in a workplace setting

Biomedical

A laboratory assistant is asked to prepare a series of m or less sections of rats livers as part of a teams work to investigate a new treatment for Hepatitis C Shehe retrieves the liver samples from the cutup bench for processing The assistant checks that the processor is warmed up and that all the reagents are topped up Shehe chooses a program to suit the cm square liver samples and loads the cassettes into the processor As processing continues the assistant regularly checks that the system is working correctly The next day the assistant embeds the tissue into paraffin wax and cuts sections from each block using a rotary microtome Shehe checks that each section is smooth flat and free of artefacts taking care to ensure that there is no contamination between specimens and that traceability of all specimens and documentation is maintained The assistant stains the tissue with a routine Haematoxylin and Eosin stain and passes the tray of prepared slides to the researcher for further analysis

Education

A laboratory assistant in a high school was asked to prepare sections of plant tissue using a hand microtome in preparation for a practical class where the students will stain and examine the slides in order to consolidate their knowledge about plant tissue structure and function Heshe was also asked by the supervising teacher to prepare a brief written outline for the students of the procedures used to prepare the plant tissue sections and to demonstrate the procedures to the student group under the control of the teacher The laboratory assistant emphasised the importance of setup preuse checks of the equipment and appropriate disposal of the sections at the end of the practical class

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Equipment, reagents, specimens and systems

Histological procedures

Pre-use checks

Hazards

Safety protocols/practices

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements