Preparing biological specimens or samples for investigations in life sciences and related industries
Overview
This standard covers the skills you need to prepare microbiological, biopsy or other
scientific specimens/samples for laboratory investigations. You must work to the
relevant standard operating procedures, legislation and organisational policy.
You must carry out all the necessary preparations which will include preparing the
work area so that it is a safe condition to carry out the procedure and ensuring that
materials, equipment and other resources that you need, are available and in a safe
and useable condition. After the procedure you must dispose of any waste
appropriately, leave your work area in an acceptable condition and complete all the
necessary paperwork and documentation.
You underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work including the
approach to preparing specimen/samples in a laboratory environment and dealing
with any problems.
Who this standard is for
The standard is recommended for all staff, but particularly new recruits and
junior employees.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 ensure that your work is carried out in accordance with workplace procedures
P2 receive and label the specimens/samples, handle and store for further
processing according to procedures
P3 prepare and correctly label the prepared specimens/samples according to
procedures
P4 store prepared specimens/samples for analysis/identification in the correct
location
P5 communicate the required information about the work done, to authorised
people, in accordance with departmental and organisational procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 the health and safety requirements of the area in which you are carrying out
the activities
K2 the standard operating procedures, as set down in local laboratory manuals
K3 the limits of your own authority and to whom you should report if you have
problems that you cannot resolve
K4 the types of handling and sorting systems, including the procedures used for
clinical specimens undergoing laboratory investigations
K5 the importance of correct identification, number and labelling systems, and any
unique organisation and laboratory number
K6 why it is important to ensure that specimens/samples are properly labelled and
stored
K7 the minimum size/volume of specimen/sample required for the laboratory
investigation
K8 the types of specimen/sample and specimen/sample container used in your
speciality and for each investigation
K9 the types and range of materials and equipment required for each investigation
K10 the procedures to be followed when specimens/samples do not match up with
the investigation request forms
K11 the procedures to be followed when dealing with routine, urgent,
broken/leaking and high risk specimens/samples
K12 the methods used for packaging and despatching specimens/samples
K13 the factors which may adversely affect the integrity of the specimen/sample
during storage or transport