Laboratory competencies

Details

Title

Laboratory competencies

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HLS113

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of achieving sufficient knowledge of laboratory analytical toxicology to offer basic advice on the interpretation of results, be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform, adapt and master a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• operation of laboratory instruments
• knowledge of specimen collection, handling, transport and sample storage
• understanding the use of specific preservatives and possible interference in assays
• principles of health and safety
• IT and communication skills
• understanding the data protection act
• principles of audit (vertical audit, horizontal audit, etc.)
• principles of quality control and quality assurance/EQA
• presentation, diagnosis and management.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance, adaptation and mastery of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills:

• the principles of the operation of automated analysers and other laboratory instruments
• interpretation of results generated
• identification of invalid results
• the functions of pathology reception, the phlebotomy service
• the problems associated with 24-hour urine collections and with post-mortem specimen collection
• all aspects of health and safety in the laboratory
• legal obligations
• Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA) standards to obtain and retain full laboratory accreditation
• role of the health and safety executive
• fundamental aspects of computing within the laboratory, databases, spread sheets, internet
• chromatographic integration packages and compound identification databases and their use on a day-to-day basis
• audit through participation in multidisciplinary clinical audit
• quality control and quality assurance
• EQA and NEQAS
• NEQAS and the processing of data by the schemes operated
• EQA data so as to identify the possible cause of aberrant data, including the constraints due to instrumentation, reagents and operations
• biochemical/metabolic features of possible poisoning
• differential diagnosis and initial management of poisoning
• supervised participation in analytical toxicology report authorisation
• the need to consult about results that are not readily interpretable.