MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

HCE152  2003 Fall – 2011 Summer II

Laboratory Assisting: Principles and Procedures

1.

Practice the principles of infection control and laboratory safety. (I)

2.

Apply quality assurance and quality control to specimen processing, testing, and results. (II)

3.

Perform pre-analytical processes and specimen processing for various laboratory departments. (III)

4.

Perform initial testing phases on laboratory specimens using laboratory instrumentation and supplies. (IV)

5.

Perform point-of-care testing. (V)

6.

Document laboratory actions and clerical functions using medico-legal guidelines. (VI)

7.

Apply computer functions of laboratory information systems and laboratory instrumentation. (VII)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

HCE152  2003 Fall – 2011 Summer II

Laboratory Assisting: Principles and Procedures

I. Infection Control and Laboratory Safety

A. Infection control

1. Isolation techniques

2. Aseptic techniques

3. Methods for disease prevention

B. Laboratory safety

1. Standard precautions

2. Personal protective equipment

3. Biohazard waste disposal

4. Chemical hazards and material safety data sheets

II. Specimen Processing and Testing Accuracy

A. Quality assurance

1. Specimen labeling

2. Specimen identification

3. Specimen transport

4. Specimen requirements

B. Quality control

1. Testing techniques

a. Reagent evaluation

(1) Storage

(2) Contamination

(3) Deterioration

b. Preparation of reagents

(1) Reconstruction

(2) Temperature equilibration

(3) Use pipetting and measuring equipment

2. Testing procedure

a. Validation of control

b. Recognition of abnormal values for specific tests

c. Report results not meeting pre-determined criteria

III. Laboratory Departments

A. Hematology

1. Pre-analytical processes

a. Inventory management

b. Laboratory supplies and reagents

c. Instrument maintenance

2. Specimen processing

a. Specimen integrity

b. Testing preparation

B. Coagulation

1. Pre-analytical processes

a. Inventory management

b. Laboratory supplies and reagents

c. Instrument maintenance

2. Specimen processing

a. Specimen integrity

b. Testing preparation

C. Urinalysis

1. Pre-analytical processes

a. Inventory management

b. Laboratory supplies and reagents

c. Instrument maintenance

2. Specimen processing

a. Specimen integrity

b. Testing preparation

D. Chemistry

1. Pre-analytical processes

a. Inventory management

b. Laboratory supplies and reagents

c. Instrument maintenance

2. Specimen processing

a. Specimen integrity

b. Testing preparation

E. Microbiology

1. Pre-analytical processes

a. Inventory management

b. Laboratory supplies and reagents

c. Instrument maintenance

2. Specimen processing

a. Specimen integrity

b. Testing preparation

F. Blood bank

1. Pre-analytical processes

a. Inventory management

b. Laboratory supplies and reagents

c. Instrument maintenance

2. Specimen processing

a. Specimen integrity

b. Testing preparation

G. Point of Care

1. Pre-analytical processes

a. Inventory management

b. Laboratory supplies and reagents

c. Instrument maintenance

2. Specimen processing

a. Specimen integrity

b. Testing preparation

IV. Initial Testing Phases on Laboratory Specimens

A. Hematology

1. Complete blood counts

a. Quality control verification

b. Instrument loading with specimens

c. Instrument initiation for testing

d. Slide preparation and staining

2. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

a. Automated instrument

(1) Quality Control verification

(2) Specimen insertion in special tube into instrument

(3) Instrument initiation for testing

b. Wintrobe

(1) Specimen pipetting into Wintrobe tube

(2) Specimen insertion into reader

(3) Results calculation

B. Coagulation

1. Quality control verification

2. Instrument loading with specimens

3. Instrument initiation for testing

C. Urinalysis

1. Quality control verification

2. Urine dipstick performance

3. Results reading and recording

4. Error sources

5. Slide preparation

D. Chemistry

1. Quality control verification

2. Instrument loading with specimens

3. Instrument initiation for testing

E. Microbiology

1. Quality control and temperature verification

2. Slide preparation and staining

3. Media inoculation with specimen

4. Media incubation

F. Blood bank

1. Quality control verification

2. Reagent inventories verification

V. Point-of-Care Testing

A. Hematology

1. Hemoglobin

2. Prothrombin

B. Chemistry

1. Whole blood glucose

2. Rapid chemistry instrument

3. Other

VI. Documentation

A. Laboratory actions

1. Protocols

2. Medico-legal guidelines

3. Correcting entries

B. Clerical functions

1. Protocols

2. Medico-legal guidelines

3. Correcting entries

VII. Computer Functions

A. Laboratory information systems

B. Laboratory instrumentation