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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Process tissue
   • Select processor program for routine and non-routine samples
   • Perform equipment pre-use checks on the tissue processor to ensure sample integrity is maintained
2. Embed tissue
   • Perform equipment pre-use check on embedding centre to ensure samples integrity and uninterrupted embedding of processor load
   • Embed tissue types in correct orientation and characteristics that minimise tissue loss and artefacts during microtomy
   • Check tissue for complete processing prior to embedding
   • Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between tissues
   • Inspect blocks, reject and re-embed items that do not meet quality control standards
3. Cut tissue sections
   • Check the flotation bath is ready and satisfactory for use
   • Prepare and adjust all external parts of a microtome and associated equipment to accommodate requirements of tissue batch
   • Secure block in microtome following specified safety directions
   • Orientate the block correctly for each specific tissue in order to maintain sample integrity and minimise artefacts
   • Cut thin tissue sections according to needs of subsequent procedures, maintaining sample integrity, minimising artefacts and conserving tissue for further testing
   • Float sections onto water bath to flatten tissues
   • Pick up sections onto microscope slides ensuring patient identification on slides matches that on the block
   • Compare the blocks and sections ensuring the tissue on slides matches that in the blocks
   • Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between patient tissues
   • Identify, troubleshoot and resolve common section quality control issues
   • Inspect sections and reject any that do not meet quality control standards
4. Stain tissue sections
   • Prepare labile reagents for immediate use
   • Select reagents for specified technique, ensuring reagent sequence matches standard procedure
   • Stain sections according to method using the required quality control section and accommodating any authorised variations
   • Mount slides using medium compatible with staining technique ensuring no bubbles
   • Examine control sections microscopically to ensure expected staining outcomes are achieved and procedural artefacts are detected
   • Collate and cross-check slides, blocks and test request forms to ensure requirements have been met
   • Attach permanent label with case, specimen and stain details as required by workplace
   • Confirm microscopically that the type/disease is appropriate and still present in the control sections for each stain
   • Approve slides and release to pathologist
5. Process specimens and associated request forms
   • Identify specimens and request forms that do not comply with minimum industry requirements for labelling, identification and test requests
6. Record any discrepancies and indicate what action is required
7. Log acceptable specimens into a laboratory information management system (LIMS) accurately and efficiently, applying required document tracking mechanisms
   • Select processor program for routine and non-routine samples
8. Perform equipment pre-use checks on the tissue processor to ensure sample integrity is maintained
   • Perform equipment pre-use check on embedding centre to ensure samples integrity and uninterrupted embedding of processor load
9. Embed tissue types in correct orientation and characteristics that minimise tissue loss and artefacts during microtomy
10. Check tissue for complete processing prior to embedding
11. Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between tissues
12. Inspect blocks, reject and re-embed items that do not meet quality control standards
    • Check the flotation bath is ready and satisfactory for use
13. Prepare and adjust all external parts of a microtome and associated equipment to accommodate requirements of tissue batch
14. Secure block in microtome following specified safety directions
15. Orientate the block correctly for each specific tissue in order to maintain sample integrity and minimise artefacts
16. Cut thin tissue sections according to needs of subsequent procedures, maintaining sample integrity, minimising artefacts and conserving tissue for further testing
17. Float sections onto water bath to flatten tissues
18. Pick up sections onto microscope slides ensuring patient identification on slides matches that on the block
19. Compare the blocks and sections ensuring the tissue on slides matches that in the blocks
20. Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between patient tissues
21. Identify, troubleshoot and resolve common section quality control issues
22. Inspect sections and reject any that do not meet quality control standards
    • Prepare labile reagents for immediate use
23. Select reagents for specified technique, ensuring reagent sequence matches standard procedure
24. Stain sections according to method using the required quality control section and accommodating any authorised variations
25. Mount slides using medium compatible with staining technique ensuring no bubbles
26. Examine control sections microscopically to ensure expected staining outcomes are achieved and procedural artefacts are detected
27. Collate and cross-check slides, blocks and test request forms to ensure requirements have been met
28. Attach permanent label with case, specimen and stain details as required by workplace
29. Confirm microscopically that the type/disease is appropriate and still present in the control sections for each stain
30. Approve slides and release to pathologist
31. Maintain laboratory records
    • Complete control stain quality assessment forms to report quality control outcomes
32. File and store samples to facilitate efficient retrieval as required
33. Maintain instrument logs as required by accreditation checks