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Evidence Guide: MSL973008A - Perform histological procedures

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

MSL973008A - Perform histological procedures

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Assemble equipment and materials

  1. Confirm the number and type of sections required
  2. Collect equipment and arrange the workspace so that equipment can be used safely and efficiently
  3. Perform pre-use and safety checks to ensure equipment is fit for purpose
  4. Report faulty or unsafe equipment to appropriate personnel
  5. Inspect processor reagents for deterioration and adequate volume and report any items requiring replacement
Confirm the number and type of sections required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collect equipment and arrange the workspace so that equipment can be used safely and efficiently

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perform pre-use and safety checks to ensure equipment is fit for purpose

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report faulty or unsafe equipment to appropriate personnel

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspect processor reagents for deterioration and adequate volume and report any items requiring replacement

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Process and embed plant and animal tissue

  1. Select program and reagents for processing
  2. Monitor processor regularly during processing sequence to ensure dehydration, clearing and infiltration are complete
  3. Check that temperature of wax is suitable for embedding process
  4. Check that volume of wax is sufficient for uninterrupted embedding of processor load
  5. Embed tissue in correct orientation
  6. Allow block to solidify evenly according to wax requirements
Select program and reagents for processing

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monitor processor regularly during processing sequence to ensure dehydration, clearing and infiltration are complete

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check that temperature of wax is suitable for embedding process

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check that volume of wax is sufficient for uninterrupted embedding of processor load

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Embed tissue in correct orientation

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allow block to solidify evenly according to wax requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cut sections of plant and animal tissue

  1. Place and secure block and knife in microtome strictly in accordance with safety directions
  2. Label required number of microscope slides in accordance with enterprise traceability requirements
  3. Cut ribbons of representative sections at the required thickness observing prescribed safety measures
  4. Float sections onto water bath to flatten tissues
  5. Pick up sections onto microscope slides ensuring identification on slides matches that on block
  6. Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between samples
  7. Cut free hand sections of plant tissue as required
  8. Inspect sections and reject items that do not meet specifications
Place and secure block and knife in microtome strictly in accordance with safety directions

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Label required number of microscope slides in accordance with enterprise traceability requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cut ribbons of representative sections at the required thickness observing prescribed safety measures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Float sections onto water bath to flatten tissues

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pick up sections onto microscope slides ensuring identification on slides matches that on block

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between samples

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cut free hand sections of plant tissue as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspect sections and reject items that do not meet specifications

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stain sections

  1. Select reagents specified in the method
  2. Stain sections according to the method
  3. Examine sections microscopically to ensure expected staining outcomes have been achieved
  4. Mount sections to ensure long term preservation
  5. Attach permanent labels giving specimen details according to enterprise traceability requirements
Select reagents specified in the method

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stain sections according to the method

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Examine sections microscopically to ensure expected staining outcomes have been achieved

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mount sections to ensure long term preservation

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attach permanent labels giving specimen details according to enterprise traceability requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain a safe work environment

  1. Ensure personal safety and minimise cross-contamination through the use of personal protective equipment
  2. Handle all specimens and equipment in accordance with enterprise safety protocols/procedures
  3. Clean up spills using appropriate techniques to protect personnel, work area and environment
  4. Minimise generation of waste and environmental impacts
  5. Collect and dispose of all wastes safely
  6. Report hazards and incidents to designated personnel using enterprise procedures
Ensure personal safety and minimise cross-contamination through the use of personal protective equipment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handle all specimens and equipment in accordance with enterprise safety protocols/procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clean up spills using appropriate techniques to protect personnel, work area and environment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimise generation of waste and environmental impacts

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collect and dispose of all wastes safely

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report hazards and incidents to designated personnel using enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

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:

process, embed and cut tissue safely to enterprise procedures

stain sections according to enterprise procedures

manage tasks and organise work to ensure the timely completion of tasks

use specimens, reagents and materials economically and dispose of wastes safely

maintain equipment, recording and reporting malfunctions appropriately

minimise cross-contamination between specimens

maintain traceability through all steps from receiving a specimen through to completion of a procedure

work safely.

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:

MSL973007A Perform microscopic examination.

Resources may include:

standard laboratory equipped with appropriate equipment and materials, such as microtomes, stains, animal and plant tissues

processing system for paraffin blocks

associated OHS equipment, such as extractor systems

enterprise procedures and standard methods.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

observation of the candidate performing tissue processing, embedding, cutting, pickup and mounting

inspection of sections and slides prepared by the candidate

review of quality control records for sections and slides prepared by the candidate

feedback from supervisors and peers on adherence to enterprise/technical procedures

questioning to assess underpinning knowledge.

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 show its relevance in a workplace setting.

Biomedical

A laboratory assistant is asked to prepare a series of 5 (m or less, sections of rats' livers as part of a team's work to investigate a new treatment for Hepatitis C. She/he retrieves the liver samples from the cut-up bench for processing. The assistant checks that the processor is warmed up and that all the reagents are topped up. She/he chooses a program to suit the 1cm square liver samples and loads the cassettes into the processor. As processing continues, the assistant regularly checks that the system is working correctly. The next day, the assistant embeds the tissue into paraffin wax and cuts sections from each block using a rotary microtome. She/he checks that each section is smooth, flat and free of artefacts, taking care to ensure that there is no contamination between specimens and that traceability of all specimens and documentation is maintained. The assistant stains the tissue with a routine Haematoxylin and Eosin stain and passes the tray of prepared slides to the researcher for further analysis.

Education

A laboratory assistant in a high school was asked to prepare sections of plant tissue using a hand microtome in preparation for a practical class where the students will stain and examine the slides in order to consolidate their knowledge about plant tissue structure and function. He/she was also asked by the supervising teacher to prepare a brief written outline for the students of the procedures used to prepare the plant tissue sections and to demonstrate the procedures to the student group under the control of the teacher. The laboratory assistant emphasised the importance of setup, pre-use checks of the equipment and appropriate disposal of the sections at the end of the practical class.

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills

Required skills include:

processing and embedding of plant and animal tissue

cutting of sections free of wrinkles, scores and folds and at the specified thickness to demonstrate tissue and cellular structures, granules, inclusions and organelles

regressive haematoxylin and eosin staining

cover slipping slides, ensuring that no air bubbles are formed and material is preserved for the life of the slide

labelling slides clearly with case number, specimen and stain details

maintaining equipment and recording and reporting malfunctions appropriately

maintaining traceability through all steps from receiving a specimen through to completion of a procedure

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

functions of the components of a rotary microtome

safety precautions relevant to tissue processing, embedding and microtomy

importance and appropriate use of certified reference materials

relationship of the anatomy and morphology of tissue types and the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of stained sections

correlation between poorly maintained processing reagents and resultant tissue blocks being difficult to cut or unsuitable for cutting

relationship between correct orientation of the tissue during embedding and ability to cut sections from surface required for subsequent microscopic examination

occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures related to micrometry and handling irritating, volatile, flammable and potentially carcinogenic substances, such as formaldehyde, xylene, histoclear, ethanol and chloroform

safe and environmentally responsible disposal of wastes

enterprise and/or legal traceability requirements

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

Range Statement

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

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

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

AS/NZS 2243 Set:2006 Safety in laboratories set

principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

Australian code of good manufacturing practice for medicinal products (GMP)

safety manuals

quality manuals and equipment and procedure manuals

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

production and laboratory schedules

material, production and product specifications

standard operating procedures (SOPs) describing personal protective equipment requirements, indications for use of biohazard and laminar flow cabinets, containment and cleanup of spillages and disposal of wastes

instructions to comply with legislation, standards, guidelines and codes

stock records and inventory

waste minimisation and disposal protocols

Equipment, reagents, specimens and systems

Equipment, reagents, specimens and systems may include:

tissue processors

microtomes and microtome knives (non-disposable or disposable)

embedding centres

flotation baths and drying ovens

microtome knife sharpeners

reagents, such as formaldehyde, ethanol, xylene, paraffin and stains

reference material for automated and manual quality control and quality assurance systems

fresh and fixed specimens

computer information systems, databases, record and filing systems, including specimen accessioning

Histological procedures

Histological procedures may include:

cutting paraffin sections of organs, such as kidney, liver, small intestine, stomach and tongue

cutting paraffin sections of dicotyledon and monocotyledon stems

staining tissue sections with Haematoxylin and Eosin (human and animal tissue) and Safranine and Fast Green (plant tissue)

Pre-use checks

Pre-use checks may include:

safety/serviceability

cleanliness

routine maintenance

Hazards

Hazards may include:

micro-organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, and human or animal tissue and fluids

chemicals and stains

aerosols

sharps and broken glassware

Safety protocols/practices

Safety protocols/practices may include:

use of MSDS

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

use of biohazard containers and laminar flow cabinets

correct labelling of reagents and hazardous materials

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

regular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipment and work areas

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