Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to perform tests and procedures associated with the detection and monitoring of tissue and bodily fluid responses to normal physiological processes and disease through the identification and quantifying of chemical components. It covers tests and procedures that are usually associated with the discipline of clinical biochemistry.
This unit applies to laboratory technicians working in the biomedical industry sector. The unit principally refers to human pathology but many aspects are relevant to veterinary pathology. This unit of competency describes the testing of tissues, blood, bodily fluids (cerebrospinal fluid, peritoneal and wound aspirates, sweat and sputum), calculi, and excreta (urine and faeces) in laboratories. Tests examine and measure compounds that can give information about alterations in individual physiology and pathology, or compounds, such as therapeutic drugs or drugs of abuse, that will alter normal physiology. The tests are performed in a full or partial computerised and automated environment where large numbers of samples must be managed, analysed and their results recorded. This unit of competency assumes that the technical officer would perform tests and procedures under the close supervision of scientific and/or medical staff. Although a supervisor may not always be present, the technical worker will follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) that clearly describe the scope of permitted practice in modifying testing procedures, interpretation of data and for communicating test results to people outside the laboratory.
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 | Process samples and 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 | Perform tests | 2.1 | Select authorised tests indicated for the requested investigations |
2.2 | Conduct individual tests, or batches of tests, according to documented methodologies, applying required quality control procedures | ||
2.3 | Manage tasks and organise work to ensure efficient use of time | ||
2.4 | Flag test results that are outside accepted quality control limits | ||
2.5 | Apply quality control processes to discriminate between significant data and artefact | ||
2.6 | Confirm with supervisor any further testing requirements | ||
2.7 | Record all test data, noting any phenomena that may be relevant to the treatment of data or the interpretation of results | ||
3 | Maintain laboratory records | 3.1 | Record entries on report forms or into a laboratory information management system, accurately calculating, recording or transcribing data as required |
3.2 | Ensure samples and associated paperwork maintain traceability throughout testing | ||
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)
Other foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit.
Competency Field
Testing