Required skills

Required skills include

establishing client needs for routine and nonroutine samples

interpreting client requests test methods and procedures accurately

selecting adapting and modifying standard test methods for unknown samples including consideration of suitable stationary phase support solvent temperature flow rate column type column length and detection

preparing samples and standards optimising procedures and equipment to suit sampletest requirements

setting up starting up and shutting down equipment

checking the calibrationqualification status of equipment

selecting configuring checking and optimising instrument subsystems

performing routine instrument maintenance and replacement of consumables

obtaining valid and reliable data

calculating analyte concentrations with appropriate accuracy precision uncertainty and units

recognising atypical dataresults and troubleshooting common analytical procedure and equipment problems

recording and reporting dataresults using enterprise procedures

maintaining security integrity and traceability of samples and documentation

assessing risks applying specified control measures and working safely

minimising waste and ensuring safe collection and disposal of waste materials

applying relevantprinciples of good laboratory practice GLP procedures

maintaining technical knowledge by accessing journals technical updates suppliers product notes and test methods

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

scope of samples that can be tested using gas chromatography GC techniques

sample preparation procedures including specialised techniques such as

handling unstablehazardous chemicals and samples and fragilelabile biological material

liquidliquid extraction solidphase microextraction derivatisation and dilutingconcentrating

GC principles for separation of analytes such as

separation modes chemical structure of stationary phase and its interaction with the analyte

order of elution based on analyte volatility and polarity

predicting effect of condition changes

chromatography concepts and calculations involving

retention times peak widths peak asymmetry capacity factor k and resolution

column selectivity column efficiency platesm optimum flow rate minimum theoretical plate height Van Deemter and related equations

limit of detection limit of quantitation and their application to quality control procedures

types of gases and requirements for purity and pretreatment of gases such as drying use of oxygenmoisturehydrocarbon traps and filters

operation construction typical applications troubleshooting and routine maintenance of injectorssuch as

head space sampling

hot direct

splitsplitless

solid phase microextraction SPME

program temperature vaporisation PTV

gas desorption

purge and trap

on column

choice use and maintenance of syringes

operation construction selectivity sensitivity linear range typical applications troubleshooting and routine maintenance of GC systems including details such as

packed columns

capillary columns including megabore

column conditioning and replacement

gas inlets septum septum purge injector insert heater block tubing materials column connection split valve and vent and compatibility of connectors

checking for leaks and system conditioning

operation construction selectivity sensitivity linear range typical applications troubleshooting and routine maintenance of GC detectors such as

thermal conductivity detectors TCD

flame ionisation detectors FID

electron capture detector ECD

flame photometric detector FPD

mass spectrometry GCMS GCMSMS using full scan or selective ion monitoring SIM

routine quality control procedures such as use of manualcomputer calibration charts andor standards

computer control software for operating and optimising instrument peak detection and integration drift parameters baseline correction and instrumentintegrator zero

procedures for optimising instrument performance such as

investigation of elution order

optimising separation by changing injection technique sample size and sample preparation

effects on instrumental outputs and analytical results by fine tuning injection temperature gas flow rate column pressures and changing column type and detector type

use of temperature flow gradient and pressure programming

steps in identifying and quantifying analytes including relative retention data peak area normalisation and response factors internal standards and spiking

calculation steps eg dilution steps to give results in appropriate units and precision

troubleshooting and maintenance procedures recommended by instrument manufacturer

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

interpret client requests test methods and procedures accurately

select operate and maintain a variety of GC injectors columns and detectors

install injectors and columns

safely set up start up and shut down instrument using enterprise procedures

prepare samples and calibration standards in accordance with test method

check calibrationqualification status of equipment

optimise instrument subsystems and procedures and equipment to suit sampletest requirements

operate equipment to obtain valid and reliable data

use software to identify analytes and calculate concentrations with appropriate accuracy precision and units

recognise atypical dataresults

troubleshoot common analytical procedure and equipment problems

record and report dataresults using 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 Evaluate and select appropriate test methods and procedures

MSL976003A Evaluate and select appropriate test methods and procedures

MSLA Contribute to the validation of test methods

MSL977003A Contribute to the validation of test methods

MSLA Develop or adapt analyses and procedures

MSL977004A Develop or adapt analyses and procedures.

Resources may include

laboratory with specialised analytical instruments

laboratory reagents and equipment

SOPs and test methods

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of test dataresultscalibration graphs obtained by the candidate over time to ensure accuracy validity precision and timeliness of results

inspection of results and technical records eg maintenance schedules and quality controllogbooks completed by the candidate

observation of candidate using GC instruments to measure analytes

feedback from clients peers and supervisors

oral or written questioning of relevant gas chromatography concepts chemical principles underpinning sample preparation and separation of speciesinstrument design and optimisation analytical 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

Environmental testing

A laboratory routinely analyses samples of foodstuffs for pesticide residues Traditionally they have used GC combined with ECD and FID detectors to quantify one or two classes at a time Recently the laboratory has commissioned a new GCMS instrument that is capable of quantifying low level pesticides using the SIM mode while simultaneously performing quantification of higher concentrations using fullscan SIFI single ion and full ion acquisition The technician sets up for a typical run of samples Heshe uses the programmable splitsplitless injector to provide L samples The injection port temperature is set at C isothermal and the capillary column uses a phase specifically designed for separation of pesticides The helium carrier gas is programmed with a constant velocity of cms The oven temperature program is initially set to C with no hold and ramped to C at Cmin with a hold of min The total oven program is min with an injection to injection time of less than min The MS method contains multiple SIM functions overlapped by a mz to mz full scan function and the mass spectrometer transfer line and ion source are heated to C

Pharmaceutical testing

A laboratory technician working for a major cosmetics company is given a retail sample of a competitors perfume and asked to determine its composition Heshe has to start somewhere and decides to use one of the laboratorys GCMS instruments to simplify the identification process and to avoid the need for multiple spikes The GCMS is already set up to measure the companys own perfume and so the technician uses standard instrumental parameters as a starting point However heshe finds that many peaks are not resolved and some take a long time to elute The technician realises that heshe should either modify the temperature andor pressure programming or change columns Sensibly the technician chooses to modify the easiest parameter ie temperature before changing the column This overcomes the problem of slow elution but does not resolve all peaks Heshe then varies the pressure programming which provides better resolution but does not completely separate all peaks The technician then uses the instruments spectral matching software to identify as many peaks as possible including the ones that overlap

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

GC instruments and techniques

Testing that uses GC instruments

Sample characteristics that may affect analysis

Sample preparation

Instrumental parameters

Common analytical procedure and equipment problems

Hazards

Addressing hazards

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements