1. Apply professional practice in accordance with established protocols, safety guidelines, and existing legislation.
2. Produce individual results under minimal supervision through preparation for each session and following established protocols as defined in policy, process, procedure manuals and additional available instructional material.
3. Verify that relevant information is provided for test requests including confirmation of the identity of the patient and identification of potentially inappropriate test requests
4. Verify that pertinent data on the specimens and requisition correspond, accession specimens into the laboratory information system, and deliver specimens as per priority and stability.
5. Adhere to established protocols for labeling and traceability of specimens.
6. Prepare samples for analysis including the assessment of suitability of specimens for testing, identification, documentation, and initiation of corrective actions for noted pre-analytical errors.
7. Provide instruction to simulated patients (or guardian) and other healthcare professionals regarding specimen collection, transportation and storage by providing relevant documentation and verbal instructions.
8. Operate standard laboratory equipment/instruments including the performance and documentation of required preventative maintenance procedures according to established protocols.
9. Organize work to accommodate priorities and to maximize efficient use of resources.
10. Recognize relationships between analyses, diagnoses, clinical information and treatment by assessing multi-disciplinary test results based on specimen integrity, reference values, critical values, method limitations, clinical conditions and other laboratory findings.
11. Recognize critical values and act appropriately through the documentation and reporting of critical results that meet established quality control criteria.
12. Account for the completion of all tests requested, using appropriate tracking mechanisms such as the LIS reports, worksheets, etc.
13. Participate in internal and external quality assurance and continuous quality improvement activities.
14. Engage in reflective practice by consciously analyzing decision making, stopping and thinking about practice to date, and drawing conclusions from available evidence to improve future practice.
15. Contribute to implementation strategies that integrate timelines, resource management and communication as related to assigned projects.
16. Demonstrate effective problem-solving and trouble-shooting strategies including the initiation of applicable follow up or corrective action before reporting results.
17. Demonstrate effective communication and teamwork skills through engagement in peer evaluation, communication of critical results, and working collaboratively across multiple benches as required.
18. Adhere to given guidelines for specimen retention, storage, transportation, and disposal.
19. Recognize equipment/instrument malfunctions and initiate and document corrective action.
20. Perform analysis on various clinical specimens including the identification of sources of interferences and unexpected or implausible results.
21. Revise judgment as new information becomes available to make decisions while working within a dynamic environment.
22. Demonstrate professionalism through compliance with the expectation to produce individual results, taking responsibility for actions, recognizing limitations, and being accountable for professional actions including scope of practice, accountability and professional development.
23. Perform estimates of bacterial load in original specimens through direct colony count of inoculated plates via a calibrated loop
24. Analyzes test results to detect the presence of target nucleic acid sequences or variants using various molecular techniques, including allelic discrimination and sequencing.
25. Process microbiology and other specimens for molecular testing by extracting, quantitating, evaluating (i.e., characterization/analysis), setting up, and visualizing nucleic acids.
26. Perform appropriate antimicrobial testing according to CLSI guidelines including evaluation of results for antimicrobial susceptibility or resistance
27. Inform simulated public health authorities about significant epidemiological findings following regulatory requirements to prevent and control infection.
28. Analyze specimens to identify organisms using techniques such as staining, culture, biochemical tests, MALDI-TOF, and molecular methods including PCR.
29. Prepare nucleic acid specimens for analysis to detect genetic variations or mutations using PCR, nucleic acid sequencing techniques, commercial kits, and other laboratory developed tests.
30. Prepare bodily fluids for karyotyping, partial karyotyping, or FISH by separating, culture, and synchronizing cells.
31. Measure the absorbance/fluorescence of nucleic acids to identify the suitability and concentration of nucleic acid extracts for molecular testing using spectrophotometer and fluorometer.
