Required skills

Required skills include

identifying chemical substances that are associated with organ dysfunction or are indications of success or failure of treatment

testing for biological activity

monitoring humoral immune system components

applying DNA techniques

testing for evidence of prior exposure to infective agents

discriminating between significant data and artefact

using the enterprise information system efficiently

critically analysing information or documents and responding appropriately to an abnormal result

preparing documentation that is accurate concise and in accordance with enterprise requirements

using samples reagents and materials correctly and economically

disposing of wastes safely

communicating appropriately with a diverse range of internal andor external customers

reportingequipment malfunction

liaising with contracted service technician to ensure equipment downtime is minimised

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

the central place the patient client or customer occupies in the business of the enterprise

scientific medical clinical technical and workplace terminology relevant to job rolefunction

relevant terminology and normal and abnormal anatomy physiology biochemistry and immunology to enable efficient communication with laboratory and clinical staff

enterprise procedures relating to selection and use of testing procedures in terms of the supposed or defined clinical problem

range of test results that have meaningful clinical significance

selection and use of quality control and quality assurance processes as they pertain to the issuance of meaningful results

sources of error in pre and postanalyses of samples and corrective actions

need for confidentiality of work results

management of work flow for effective and efficient use of resources

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

identify chemical substances that are associated with organ dysfunction or are indications of success or failure of treatment

test for biological activity eg assessment of enzyme activity indicative of organtissue damage

monitor humoral immune system components

apply DNA techniques

test for evidence of prior exposure to infective agents as in the case of identifying plasma changes that are consequent to or associated with immune responses

discriminate between significant data and artefact

use the enterprise information system efficiently eg networks or ordering for consumable materials

critically analyse information or documents and respond appropriately to an abnormal result

prepare documentation that is accurate concise and in accordance with enterprise requirements

use samples reagents and materials correctly and economically

dispose of wastes safely

communicate appropriately with a diverse range of internal andor external customers

reportequipment malfunction or liaise with contracted service technician to ensure equipment downtime is minimised

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 Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes

MSL9314002A Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes.

Resources may include

enterprise documents standard chemical pathology laboratory with relevant equipment samples and reagents

enterprise procedures test methods and equipment manuals

Under duty of care requirements offthejob training providers should ensure that blood samples are known to be antibody free for hepatitis B and C syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus HIV but this does not preclude the use of universal precaution in the use of blood samples

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of resultsdatarecords generated by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisors to confirm that enterprise procedures are consistently followed and that results meet enterprise requirements

oral andor written questions associated with laboratory determinations and record keeping

integrated assessment with a case focus such as the measurement of single or multiple chemical substances and metabolites in serum or other bodily fluids

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

Biomedical

A patients blood sample and request form have been brought to the laboratory The sample has been recorded in the laboratorys log as urgent cardiac enzymes The specimen has been processed ahead of the other routine samples The technical officer selects the panel of tests in the cluster designated cardiac enzymes on the automated analyser The technical officer also ensures that the instrument has adequate reagents quality control sera and reference sera loaded before placing the sample for analysis At the end of the analysis cycle the quality control is validated and the result report generated An elevated troponin is noted The technical officer alerts the supervisor and confirms that this result can be phoned through to the requesting physician The rest of the sample is refrigerated awaiting immediate followup tests Within hours it will be frozen for a week in case more tests are requested At the end of the day the technical officer sets the analyser on standby stows sensitive reagents in the refrigerator cleans his her work area and safely disposes of biological and nonbiological wastes

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Equipment, materials and systems

Communication

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements