Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to contribute to the culture, isolation and identification of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoans, algae and parasites, in order to investigate the physiology and pathology of plants and animals, monitor the natural environment, and to assist in the production of foods, pharmaceutical goods and other manufactured materials.
This unit applies to laboratory technicians and technical officers working in the biomedical, biotechnology, environmental, manufacturing and food processing industry sectors. The results of work performed by technical personnel would normally be integrated, interpreted and reported on by scientists, medical, veterinary or plant pathologists or other responsible officers in a workplace. Although a supervisor may not always be present, the technician will follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) that will clearly describe the scope of permitted practice in modifying testing procedures, interpreting of data and for communicating test results to people outside the laboratory.
It applies to investigations as well as addressing the broader needs of biotechnology and tissue culture applications.
No licensing or certification requirements exist at the time of publication. However, regulations and/or external accreditation requirements for laboratory operations exist, so local requirements should be checked. Relevant legislation, industry standards and codes of practice within Australia must also be applied.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Receive samples and process associated request forms | 1.1 | Identify specimens and request forms that do not comply with minimum industry requirements for labelling, identification and test requests |
1.2 | Record any discrepancies and indicate what action is required | ||
1.3 | Log samples, recording details that allow accurate tracking and chain of custody | ||
2 | Prepare for safe microbiological work and aseptic applications | 2.1 | Apply principles of aseptic techniques to ensure sample and reagent integrity are maintained |
2.2 | Apply principles of aseptic techniques to ensure personal and environmental safety | ||
2.3 | Minimise the production and release of aerosols, using biological safety cabinets where necessary | ||
2.4 | Safely dispose of biohazardous materials and other laboratory wastes in accordance with workplace procedures | ||
3 | Process samples for direct examination | 3.1 | Prepare thin smears of samples for subsequent staining to enable microscopic identification of cells |
3.2 | Prepare liquid films of specimens for direct observation for motility or cell structure | ||
3.3 | Prepare samples to concentrate material for subsequent staining or microscopy | ||
4 | Prepare pure cultures for microbiological work and aseptic applications | 4.1 | Select culture media to maximise growth and optimise production of pure microbial cultures |
4.2 | Inoculate media aseptically, applying techniques suitable for purpose of culture | ||
4.3 | Incubate inoculated media in conditions to optimise growth of organisms and cells | ||
5 | Perform procedures that can assist in the identification of microorganisms | 5.1 | Select staining techniques to demonstrate required cellular characteristics |
5.2 | Stain prepared films to demonstrate diagnostically useful characteristics | ||
5.3 | Inoculate and incubate media with pure cultures to assist in the biochemical and immunological identification of microorganisms | ||
5.4 | Microscopic differentiation between, red blood cells, white blood cells, micro-organisms and epithelial cells | ||
5.5 | Select and perform tests on pure cultures to determine the biochemical and immunological identification of microorganisms | ||
5.6 | Perform antibiotic sensitivity testing | ||
6 | Estimate the number and/or size of micro-organisms in samples | 6.1 | Count cells in samples |
6.2 | Prepare serial dilutions of samples aseptically for culture and colony counting | ||
6.3 | Indicate the appropriate dilution necessary to reliably count organisms in a serially diluted sample | ||
6.4 | Count colonies for calculating number of viable organisms per unit volume | ||
7 | Maintain records of laboratory work | 7.1 | Record entries on report forms or into a laboratory information management system accurately calculating, recording or transcribing data as required |
7.2 | Ensure traceability of sample from receipt to reporting of results | ||
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Oral communication skills to interact effectively with supervisors and managers (laboratory, quality and customer service), personnel in other laboratories in the workplace or in other workplaces to which work may be referred, customers, patients and clients, external auditors and accreditation agencies, such as National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA)
Problem solving skills to identify artefacts or image aberrations attributable to misalignment or obstruction of light paths or condensers used in microscopy, or with other steps in microscopic examinations.
Other foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit.
Competency Field
Testing