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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. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Confirm collection requirements
   • Greet client courteously and identify self
   • Identify client following organisation and regulatory procedures
   • Confirm that client meets pre-testing criteria for required collection
   • Obtain, interpret and accurately record personal and clinical information in accordance with organisation policies and procedures
   • Explain collection procedure to client
   • Obtain consent for collection procedure from client
3. Prepare for skin puncture blood collection
   • Confirm method and site of collection based on correct interpretation of clinical request and age of client
   • Select equipment to ensure the collection meets test and organisational requirements
   • Provide clear advice about the procedure to client or carer
   • Use appropriate warming device to safely prepare site as required in accordance with documented organisation procedure
   • Position client to ensure comfort and safety of both client and collector, using supportive holding techniques
   • Identify when assistance may be needed and seek help if required
   • Determine minimum volumes of blood required according to testing organisation’s requirements and volume limits based on client age and weight
4. Draw blood
   • Adopt standard and additional infection control guidelines and precautions according to organisation documented procedure
   • Clean site with approved cleansing agent and allow to air dry prior to collection
   • Puncture the skin in the appropriate location, using an approved lancet appropriate to site selected and client age
   • Collect capillary blood sample into appropriate collection containers devices to ensure sample integrity and correct order of draw in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines
   • Mix sample by gentle inversion, maintaining sample integrity as required
   • Following collection, apply pressure to puncture site until site has stopped bleeding
   • Observe client before, during and after collection for potential adverse effects and respond according to procedure
5. Follow post-blood collection procedures
   • Accurately label blood collection tubes in front of client with time and date of collection, client details and other required information following regulatory and organisational guidelines
   • Dispose of waste in accordance with infection control protocols and organisation policies and procedures
   • Confirm information accuracy with client or carer
   • Confirm that site has stopped bleeding after appropriate time lapse and apply wound dressing
   • Complete other collection documentation in accordance with organisation procedures
   • Prepare collected samples for transit or storeaccording to test requirements

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

followed established technical, infection control and safety procedures and collected blood using skin puncture from at least 3 different people of varying ages

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations for capillary blood collection, and how these are applied in organisations:

children in the workplace

duty of care

informed consent

mandatory reporting

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

records management

supportive holding for procedures (limitations)

work role boundaries

boundaries of responsibilities

capillary blood collection role in different contexts, and situations where skin puncture is the most appropriate collection technique

sources of blood sample requests

work health and safety

standard infection control requirements for clinical procedures:

hand hygiene

use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

avoiding contact with bodily fluids

needle stick injury considerations

waste disposal

industry terminology used in skin puncture blood collection:

equipment

procedures

abbreviations

skin puncture sites

clinical history and medication details

key aspects of human anatomy and physiology in relation to the skin, vascular, arterial and nervous system relevant to capillary collections

clinical risks of capillary blood collection procedures and procedures designed to minimise those risks

factors which may affect the chemical analysis of blood and impact on collection:

appropriate times to collect

impact of drugs

timing of last dose

required fasting times

protecting the integrity of the specimen

techniques for blood collection through skin puncture

features, functions and use of skin puncture blood collection equipment:

approved lancets

cleansing solutions and swabs

collection tubes (microtainers)

dressings

blood sample handling, processing, transit and storage methods

requirements for selection and collection into tubes with variable additives:

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)

lithium/sodium heparin

fluoride oxalate

separation gel

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