Required skills

Required skills include

interpreting client requests test methods and procedures

setting up and shutting down equipment using enterprise procedures

checking the calibrationqualification status of equipment

preparing standards and samples

installing and maintaining a variety of chromatographic columns

choosing and optimising procedures and equipment settings to suit sampletest requirements

operating equipment to obtain valid and reliable data

making approved adjustments to procedures for nonroutine samples

recognising atypical dataresults

identifying and calculating potential sources of uncertainty

troubleshooting common procedure and equipment problems

applying theoretical knowledge to interpret data and makes relevant conclusions

recording and reporting dataresults in accordance with enterprise procedures

maintaining security integrity and traceability of samples and documentation

followingoccupational health and safety OHS procedures and principles of good laboratory practice GLP

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

chromatographic principles and concepts related to instrumentation operation material preparation and testing

handling of unstable or hazardous chemicals and samples andor the fragilelabile nature of biological material

sample preparation procedures

use of chromatographic techniques for qualitative and quantitative analysis

function of key components of the instrument

use of different chromatographic methods for analysis and preparation of specific samples

effects on outputs and results of modifying instrumental variables eg injection temperature gas flow rate column pressures column type and detector type

procedure for optimising separation through changing operation parameters eg injection technique solvent type sample size and sample preparation

basic procedure and equipment troubleshooting techniques

preparation and use of calibration charts andor standards

calculation steps to give results in appropriate precision and units

enterprise andor legal traceability requirements

basic equipment maintenance procedures

relevant health safety and environment requirements

Specific industry

Additional knowledge requirements may apply for different industry sectors For example

Biomedical and environmental services

techniques that capitalise on biological properties to assist in chromatographic separations

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

interpret client requests test methods and procedures accurately

safely set up and shut down equipment using enterprise procedures

check calibrationqualification status of equipment

prepare standards and samples appropriately

install and maintain a variety of chromatographic columns

choose and optimise procedures and equipment settings to suit sampletest requirements

operate equipment to obtain valid and reliable data

make approved adjustments to procedures for nonroutine samples

recognise atypical dataresults

troubleshoot common procedure and equipment problems

apply theoretical knowledge to interpret data and makes relevant conclusions

record and report dataresults in accordance with enterprise procedures

maintain security integrity and traceability of samples and documentation

follow OHS procedures and principles of GLP

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 Analyse data and report results

MSL925001A Analyse data and report results.

Resources may include

standard laboratory equipped with routine chromatographic equipment laboratory reagents and equipment

SOPs and test methods

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of test dataresults obtained by the candidate over time to ensure accuracy consistency and timeliness of results

inspection of test records and workplace documentation completed by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisors

observation of candidate applying a range of routine chromatographic techniques

oral or written questioning of chemical principles and concepts chromatographic techniques and enterprise procedures

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 to show its relevance in a workplace setting

Manufacturing

Technicians who conduct chemical synthesis frequently use chromatographic methods such as thinlayer chromatography TLC gas chromatography GC high performance liquid chromatography HPLC and other instrumental techniques to check the identity and purity of the material they have produced For example a technician reacted an amine with acetic anhydride to form the acylated amine to prepare a pilot batch of material for a new application After completing the reaction the technician collected the product in a Buchner funnel using vacuum assisted filtration and used chromatographic techniques to purify the material The product was then analysed by HPLC using a number of stationary phases and solvent systems In each case a reference standard was run These tests confirmed the identity and purity of the material

Biotechnology

Technicians in research facilities often prepare a protein by extracting it from tissue This extraction process introduces impurities that must be removed before the purified protein is ready for use or the characterisation of its purity and molecular weight Impurities such as salt detergents and other proteins are sequentially removed by passing the protein extract through gel filtration columns of differing grades of chromatographic gel For antibodies the final column used is an affinity chromatography column Demonstration of the purity of the protein is by the presence of one single band on an SDSPAGE gel The molecular weight of the protein can also be determined from the SDS gel

Environment

An environmental protection authority was required to sample an oil slick off Australias coast and to take oil samples from all ships which docked in Australian ports in the hours after the discovery of the oil slick The samples were analysed by column chromatography and compared with the oil slick finger print of the oil samples from all ships which may have been in the area of the oil slick Given that the analysis involved unknown oil samples and the results would be used in court proceedings the analysts were careful to optimise the chromatographic system for the unknown samples ensure that appropriate quality and control procedures were employed and that the sample and analyses were performed quickly before potentially polluting ships left Australian waters The analysts were careful to ensure that all record keeping procedures would be able to stand up to court scrutiny

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Routine chromatographic techniques

Tests

Sample preparation

Common procedure and equipment problems

Hazards

Addressing hazards

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements