Modification History
Not applicable.
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor |
This unit of competency covers the ability to prepare primary tissue cultures for applications, such as maintenance of animal cell lines and propagation of plants by tissue culture and basic subculture procedures. Personnel are required to manipulate equipment and materials and samples to prevent contamination at all preparation stages. They will have ready access to enterprise procedures and will work under direct supervision. |
Application of the Unit
Application of the unit |
This unit of competency is applicable to technical assistants working in laboratories in the biomedical, environmental, biotechnology and education industry sectors. Industry representatives have provided case studies to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting. These are found at the end of this unit of competency under the section 'This competency in practice'. |
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Not applicable.
Pre-Requisites
Prerequisite units |
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MSL973004A |
Perform aseptic techniques |
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Employability Skills Information
Employability skills |
This unit contains employability skills. |
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. |
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Work safely according to the legal and regulatory framework |
1.1. Ensure work practices and personal actions conform to regulations, codes, guidelines and enterprise quality assurance procedures 1.2. Identify hazards and enterprise controls associated with the sample, preparation methods, reagents and equipment 1.3. Select, fit and use personal protective clothing and safety equipment 1.4. Address hazards and incidents as they arise 1.5. Maintain a chain of custody, traceable to the worker, for all cells and tissues |
2. Prepare and test cell and tissue culture media |
2.1. Select and confirm media specifications and processes/methods 2.2. Prepare culture media to suit the application 2.3. Sterilise culture media and check for sterility 2.4. Perform quality control checks to ensure that culture media is fit for purpose 2.5. Store culture media in accordance with specifications |
3. Prepare tissue or cell cultures |
3.1. Select tissue/cell sample to optimise growth and prepare it for culture 3.2. Add specified growth agents and/or nutrients 3.3. Inoculate culture medium using aseptic techniques |
4. Monitor tissue or cell culture |
4.1. Incubate culture in specified conditions 4.2. Monitor growth of culture and record appearance and characteristics 4.3. Report presence or absence of contamination 4.4. Subculture the culture to continue the cell line 4.5. Dispose of biohazardous and other laboratory waste safely |
5. Maintain records |
5.1. Maintain records of batches of media and test data 5.2. Ensure records of tissue cultures are retrievable, legible and accurate 5.3. Ensure records conform to information management, records, quality system and legal requirements |
Required Skills and Knowledge
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE |
This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit. |
Required skills |
Required skills include:
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Required knowledge |
Required knowledge includes:
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Evidence Guide
EVIDENCE GUIDE |
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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. |
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Overview of assessment |
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Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit |
Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
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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:
Resources may include:
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Method of assessment |
The following assessment methods are suggested:
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 to show its relevance in a workplace setting. Biotechnology A laboratory assistant maintains a leucocyte cell line which is used to routinely produce monoclonal antibodies which have been ordered by researchers. The assistant's job is to ensure that the cell line's growth is optimised to ensure a regular supply of high quality product. Every day, she/he checks for growth and contamination by aseptically removing a sample for microscopic examination. She/he also checks the colour of the pH indicator in the media and records cell line characteristics, such as its appearance, number of cells and any evidence of contamination in her/his laboratory notebook. She/he also checks the incubator temperature and atmosphere together with the labelling and possible leakage of flasks. Education A laboratory assistant at a regional university is instructed to prepare 95 flasks of Vero (African green monkey kidney) cells for a practical class in three weeks time. She/he routinely passages the cells once per week and usually splits the flasks into six. She/he has three flasks routinely subcultured from last week and calculates that these can be subcultured to produce the required number of flasks while holding back some flasks from each subculture as a back up in case of contamination and for routine passaging after the practical class. She/he prepares the 95 flasks in the third week and checks them for obvious bacterial or fungal contamination and for Mycoplasma contamination. She/he labels all the flasks with the required information, records all the steps in the laboratory cell culture log and puts the flasks out in the teaching laboratory just prior to the class. |
Range Statement
RANGE STATEMENT |
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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. |
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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:
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Applications of plant tissue /cell culture |
Applications of plant tissue/cell culture may include:
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Applications of animal tissue /cell culture |
Applications of animal tissue/cell culture may include:
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Hazards |
Hazards may include:
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Hazard control measures and safety procedures |
Hazard control measures and safety procedures may include:
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Tissue culture equipment and facilities |
Tissue culture equipment and facilities may include:
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Pre-use checks |
Pre-use checks include:
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Sterilisation and disposal of biohazardous wastes |
Sterilisation and disposal of biohazardous wastes may include:
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Plant tissues and cells |
Plant tissues and cells may include:
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Animal tissues and cells |
Animal tissues and cells may include:
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Preparing a primary culture |
Preparing a primary culture may involve:
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Suitable culture conditions |
Suitable culture conditions may include:
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Monitoring growth of tissue and cell lines |
Monitoring growth of tissue and cell lines may include:
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Subculture |
Subculture may include:
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Occupational health and safety (OHS ) and environmental management requirements |
OHS and environmental management requirements:
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Unit Sector(s)
Unit sector |
Testing |
Competency field
Competency field |
Co-requisite units
Co-requisite units |
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