Required skills

Required skills include

following the laboratorys validated and authorised procedures

selecting and applying testing procedures in terms of the suspected or known nature of the antibody and its possible range of testing behaviours

detecting and recording accurate evidence of blood group antigen and antibody reactions

selecting testing and issuing blood cleared for transfusion

selecting and applying confirmatory tests as required

selecting and issuing blood products for therapeutic or prophylactic use

critically analysing informationdocuments and recognising problems in systems and documentation

using enterprise information systems efficiently

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

managing tasks and organising work to ensure the timely release of blood and blood products

using samples reagents and materials economically and disposing of wastes safely

using equipment safely

maintaining equipment recording and report malfunctions appropriately

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

scientific medical clinical technical and workplace terminology relevant to normal and abnormal anatomy physiology biochemistry immunology and immunohaematology

antigen antibody reactions

testing procedures for the determination of blood groups and the detection of antibodies

types of blood products and their use

validated and authorised procedures as described in the laboratorys manual of procedures

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

perform tests accurately and organise work so that the needs of all relevant patients and clients are met in a timely fashion

detect and record accurate evidence of blood group antigen and antibody reactions

recognise problems in systems and documentation

use enterprise information systems efficiently

critically analyse informationdocuments

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

manage tasks and organise work to ensure the timely release of blood and blood products as they complete routine tasks

use samples reagents and materials economically and dispose of wastes safely

use equipment safely

maintain equipment recording and report malfunctions appropriately

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

MSL934002A Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes

MSLA Perform haematological tests

MSL975002A Perform haematological tests.

Resources may include

standard transfusionimmunohaematology 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 precautions 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 that enterprise procedures were followed and that work is consistently performed in line with enterprise requirements

oral andor written tests and paper problems associated with ABO group determination antibody identification and record keeping

integrated assessment with a case focus such as the routine pretransfusion crossmatch an antenatal antibody detection and preliminary identification batch of routine ABO and RhD groups to be completed at the same time as completion of a pretransfusion battery of tests

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 patient is to undergo elective surgery the next afternoon The technical officer has been asked by the supervisor to determine the patients ABO and RhD blood groups to screen the sample for irregular blood group antibodies and to crossmatch two units of packed red cells in readiness for possible use during or after surgery The technical officer checks the records for information on the patient Finding none they prepare the required data in the laboratory databases and then perform the required tests They do not detect any irregular antibody and have had no difficulty in choosing suitable units for crossmatching They complete the required documentation and labels and then store the compatible blood units for possible later use

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Equipment, materials and systems

Communication

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements