Google links for PMLTEST402B - Prepare, standardise and use solutions

Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Evidence Required

The Evidence Guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard In particular the assessor should look to see that the candidate can

use balances and volumetric glassware appropriately

select and use primary and secondary standards appropriately

select and use indicators appropriately

select and care for electrodes appropriately

perform QA checks for solution performance for example enzyme activity ferric chloride for phenolic solutions isotonicity for saline

perform titrations using laboratory procedures with required accuracy and precision and within required timelines

calculate the concentration of the solution given the chemical reaction for the titration

recognise control results that are not within acceptable range

record results to enterprise standards

label and store solutions in accordance with enterprise procedures

interpret and follow enterprise standard operating procedures SOPs

interpret and use safety information such as that provided by material safety data sheets MSDSs and follow relevant safety procedures

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain

solution terminology chemistry of acids bases buffers redox reactions and complexometric reactions

grades of glassware reagents and their use

reactions used for standardisation and desirable characteristics

determination of equivalence points using indicators and graphical methods

calculation methods including appropriate units uncertainties and balancing equations

enterprise communication and reporting procedures

OHS procedures including those for using corrosive materials

relevant health safety and environment requirements

Assessment context and methods

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment

The following assessment methods are suggested

inspection andor testing of solutions prepared by the candidate

review of records and workplace documentation completed by candidate

review of work outputs by the candidate over time to ensure accuracy consistency and timeliness

feedback from peers and supervisors

observation of the candidate preparing standardising and using a range of solutions

oral or written questioning

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 Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate

Interdependent assessment of unit

This unit of competency may be assessed with

PMLTEST and PMLTEST series units dealing with sampling tests and measurements

Resource implications

Resources may include

standard laboratory equipped with appropriate volumetric equipment

laboratory reagents and equipment

standard operating procedures SOPs and testing methods

This competency in practice

Manufacturing

A standard solution is used to determine the concentration of unknown solutions The quality of these analyses is critically related to the accuracy with which the concentration of the standard solution is known Therefore laboratory technicians spend considerable effort to ensure that the materials and methods used for the preparation and standardisation will lead to a solution of accurately known concentration For example anhydrous sodium carbonate is often used to prepare solutions to determine the concentrations of acids The sodium carbonate is heated at a suitable temperature to remove any trace of moisture and cooled in a dessicator An appropriate quantity is dissolved in distilled water and made up to volume in a volumetric flask This solution of known concentration is then titrated with acids of unknown concentration and the concentration of the acids determined

Biotechnology

A technical officer arrived at work on Monday morning and discovered that the freezer had been turned off over the weekend and the restriction nucleases had thawed These enzymes were to be used that morning The technician needed to check the enzyme activity to determine whether the enzymes had been denatured by the rise in temperature The technician quickly set up a digestion mix of affected enzyme with some viral DNA of known sequence The digest produced DNA fragments of expected length showing the enzyme still had activity The technician reported the incident along with the results to the supervisor who decided that the enzymes could be used for that day

Environmental

A laboratory technician was required to determine the total acidity of a water sample as part of a quality control program The total acidity was measured by titrating the water sample with sodium hydroxide of known concentration using an appropriate indicator The concentration of the sodium hydroxide was determined via a volumetric titration against a primary standard of potassium hydrogen phthalate

The value of the total acidity was determined by multiplying the volume of sodium hydroxide used with a numerical factor which had been determined by the laboratory supervisor in order to save time The value of the factor was displayed on the titration equipment However a new technical assistant did the full calculation and found that hisher result differed slightly from that obtained using the factor After discussion with the laboratory supervisor it was agreed that the error was in the factor and the assumption that each new batch of sodium hydroxide prepared was exactly the same concentration as all previous batches This was incorrect as the concentration of each batch differed slightly and its actual concentration was determined accurate using the primary standard The procedure was changed so that the full calculation was required for all tests

Key Competencies

The seven key competencies represent generic skills considered for effective work participation The bracketed numbering against each of the key competencies indicates the performance level required in this unit These are standalone levels and do not correspond to the Australian Qualifications Framework AQF

Level represents the competence to undertake tasks effectively

Level represents the competence to manage tasks

Level represents the competence to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks

Collecting analysing and organising information

Communicating ideas and information

Planning and organising activities

Working with others and in teams

Using mathematical ideas and techniques

Solving problems

Using technology

Level

Range Statement

The range of variables relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.

Where reference is made to industry Codes of Practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used.

This unit of competency describes the work conducted by laboratory technicians who prepare, standardise and use solutions and monitor the quality of the prepared solutions.

All operations must comply with relevant standards, appropriate procedures and/or enterprise requirements. These procedures may include or have been prepared from:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

ISO 9000 series Quality management and quality assurance standards

AS 2243 Safety in laboratories

AS 2830 Good laboratory practice

Codes of Practice, such as GLP and GMP

material safety data sheets (MSDSs)

National Measurement Act

standard operating procedures (SOPs)

quality manuals, equipment and procedure manuals

enterprise and reporting procedures

production and laboratory schedules

material, production, product and solution specifications

waste minimisation and safe disposal procedures.

Solutions may include but are not limited to:

solutions of strong/weak acids and bases

oxidising/reducing agents

solutions used for complexometric or precipitation titrations

stains for cells and tissues, enzymes, buffers and antibodies

diluents for maintaining isotonicity

organic solutions and histological fixatives.

Apparatus and reagents which may be used to prepare standard solutions include:

balances

pipettes, burettes, volumetric glassware, weighing bottles

dessicators, filtering media

ovens, muffle furnaces

solutions, indicators, primary and secondary standards

auto titrators, pH meters and other related meters and electrodes for determining equivalence points, top pan and analytical balances

magnetic stirrers and heaters, water baths.

Checking useability of solutions could include:

examining stained samples for correct staining reactions

performing pH checks

confirming enzyme activity

checking red cell suspensions for haemolysis.

Hazards may include:

chemicals, such as strong acids and bases, stains

sharps, broken glassware

burners, hot plates, ovens, furnaces.

Safe work practices may include:

use of material safety data sheets (MSDSs)

use of personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety glasses, goggles, faceguards, coveralls, gown

use of biohazard containers, laminar flow cabinets, fumehoods

correct labelling of reagents and hazardous materials

handling and storing hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, enterprise procedures and regulations

regular cleaning and/or decontaminating of equipment and work areas.

Health, safety and environment

All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environmental (HSE) requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.

All operations assume the potential hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied. Users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and State and Territory Departments of Health. All operations are performed in accordance with standard operating procedures.

NTIS this!

PMLTEST402B - Prepare, standardise and use solutions

Google Links

Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Evidence Required

Range Statement