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:

collect relevant information from manuals, specification sheets, diagnostic equipment and software

construct and correctly route interconnections

implement successful data transfer

manage data transfer

document operational procedures and implementation details

troubleshoot exiting data collection and communication between laboratory processes and computer systems

capture data from non-automated laboratory processes

interconnect laboratory and/or field equipment with computers using both serial and parallel digital communication

integrate laboratory workstations into networked laboratory computer systems

program and interrogate stand alone monitoring equipment.

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:

MSL977004A Develop or adapt analyses and procedures.

Resources may include:

workplace documents, such as manuals, specification sheets, laboratory notebooks and SOPs

relevant equipment and components, including computer network, suitable instruments and equipment, specimens and samples

equipment generated data.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

integrated assessment based on a real or stimulated case study, for example:

establish successful data acquisition (sensor selection, acquisition module installation and configuration, suitable signal conditioning and representative analog to digital conversion)

troubleshooting defective data capture (covering problems, such as resolution and noise)

establish successful two-way communication between laboratory or field equipment and a laboratory computer network

troubleshoot defective digital communications (incorrect protocol parameters, incorrect hardware configuration)

oral and written questions associated with electronic data capture, digital communications and associated documentation and standards

feedback from peers and/or supervisors to confirm that workplace practices and procedures are consistently followed and that the results meet workplace requirements.

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 and/or 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

A manufacturing plant was monitoring wastewater before discharging it from its treatment plant. A multi-probe capable of monitoring up to fifteen parameters, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity and redox potential was purchased to streamline the monitoring process. The technical specialist checked the documentation accompanying the probe. The documentation indicated that it was compatible with a variety of RS-232, RS-485, RS-422 and SDI-12 data-handling devices. After attaching the probe to the computer system using HyperTerminal in Windows, the 'Connect' and 'Direct to COM port' commands were selected to connect the multi-probe to the computer. The test data was received by the computer and saved and analysed using appropriate data analysis programs.

Biomedical

A senior technical officer works for a pathology laboratory that has just installed a new laboratory information management system (LIMS). As part of the purchase contract the LIMS vendor interfaced all currently operational automated equipment. The laboratory has an older electrolyte analyser, which it uses as a back-up unit. It has had frequent use lately. Because of the unit's age, the technical manuals have been misplaced. The officer has been asked to see if the old unit can be interfaced to the new LIMS to save on manual transcription. The analyser uses a serial interface, which appears to comply with RS-232. By inspection of the connectors and from knowledge of the RS-232 standard, the officer determines the analyser should be configured as for data terminal equipment (DTE). The officer then constructs a suitable cable and physically connects the analyser to a PC workstation. Using a simple terminal emulation program, the officer determines the correct communication parameters and basic commands to upload the results to the PC. Using the LIMS open database connectivity capability and a graphical programming language, such as Labview, the officer semi-automates data transfer from the analyser to the PC then to the LIMS. The report on the success of the interconnect prompts management to contract a professional programmer to fully automate the interface in liaison with the officer.

Required skills

Required skills include:

implementing and troubleshooting the interconnection of laboratory and field equipment

collecting relevant information from manuals, specification sheets, diagnostic equipment and software

constructing and correctly routing interconnections

implementing successful data transfer

managing data transfer

documenting operational procedures and implementation details

troubleshooting exiting data collection and communication between laboratory processes and computer systems

capturing data from non-automated laboratory processes

interconnecting laboratory and/or field equipment with computers using both serial and parallel digital communication

integrating laboratory workstations into networked laboratory computer systems

programming and interrogating stand alone monitoring equipment

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

appropriate technical terminology to communicate effectively with others

relevant numbering systems (binary, decimal and hexadecimal)

basic computer hardware and software concepts

integration of enterprise wide information systems

data types used in laboratory and field sciences

scientific concepts relevant to the application

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Codes of practice

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

Information sources

Information sources may include:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS/NZS ISO 9000 Set:2008 Quality management systems set

data format and management standards (e.g. National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council's Laboratory Assessment Checklist: Computer Services Section and Analytical Data Interchange Protocols)

environment, safety and emergency procedures

hardware interface standards (e.g. EIA RS232, IEEE 488 or IEEE 1394)

maintenance agreements with suppliers

national and international standards covering hardware and software

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) Accreditation programs requirements

operation manuals for computer ware, laboratory instruments and field equipment

safe operation requirements for computers and equipment used

specifications of laboratory instruments and field equipment

specifications of laboratory instruments and field equipment

Equipment, materials and systems

Equipment, materials and systems may include:

suitable scientific equipment and instruments

array of sensors and transducers

data acquisition and digital communication interfacing modules

simple troubleshooting equipment (multimeter and breakout boxes)

protocol analysis tools (software or hardware)

turnkey and programmable data acquisition and control software

temperature, pressure, light displacement and stress sensors

representative laboratory and field equipment (e.g. pH meters, balances, spectrometers or data loggers)

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health