Training activity information
Details
Perform the analyses involved in the trisomy screening service including:
- Sample receipt and booking of a screening request, and identifying and understanding patient consent
- Analysis of first and/or second trimester screening samples
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What is the overall aim of the trisomy screening service? How does each step (sample receipt, booking, consent, analysis) contribute to this aim?
- What are the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sample receipt, booking of trisomy screening requests, consent verification, and the analysis of first and/or second trimester screening samples?
- What are the key biochemical markers used in first and second trimester trisomy screening? What are their typical values and how do they change in pregnancies affected by trisomies?
- What are the requirements for valid patient consent for trisomy screening? What information should patients have been provided with?
- How are screening requests typically documented and tracked in the laboratory information management system (LIMS)?
- What are the potential sources of error in the pre-analytical and analytical phases of trisomy screening?
- What specific insights into the practical aspects of performing trisomy screening do you hope to gain?
- How will this activity help you understand the workflow of the trisomy screening service?
- What challenges do you anticipate in understanding patient consent or the analytical procedures?
- Review relevant SOPs, protocols, and educational materials on trisomy screening.
- Familiarise yourself with the laboratory equipment used for these analyses.
- Consider any potential difficulties you might encounter (e.g., complex sample handling, understanding consent forms) and think about how you might address them.
- Reflect on how you currently feel about participating in this activity. Are there any specific areas where you feel less confident?
In action
- Pay attention to each step of the process: sample receipt, booking, consent verification, and the analysis itself. How are you approaching each of these actions? Why are you doing it this specific way?
- What decisions are you making as you proceed through each stage? For example, how are you ensuring correct patient identification and linking it to the request? How are you confirming the completeness of the consent form? What specific steps are you taking during the analysis?
- How effective are your actions in accurately receiving the sample, booking the request, understanding the consent, and performing the initial steps of the analysis?
- What challenges are you encountering during any of these steps? For instance, are there ambiguities in the request form, difficulties in locating patient information, or technical issues with the analysis?
- What can you learn from how the process is unfolding in real-time? Are there any bottlenecks or areas where the workflow could be improved?
- If you encounter an incomplete consent form or an unusual sample, are there alternative approaches you are considering to resolve the issue according to protocols?
- Are you operating within the established standard operating procedures for this activity?
On action
- Describe the process of sample receipt and booking. What steps were involved? What did you observe regarding the patient consent process? What information is crucial? Outline the steps involved in the analysis of first and/or second trimester screening samples.
- What specific aspects of the analysis did you perform or observe? Were there any points in the process that seemed particularly critical or prone to error?
- What did you learn about the importance of accurate sample handling and booking in trisomy screening? How did this activity enhance your understanding of the requirements for patient consent in screening programmes?
- What did you learn about the practical aspects of analysing first and/or second trimester screening samples? Did you encounter any challenges, such as sample issues or difficulties with the process? What did you learn from these?
- How will you ensure accuracy in sample receipt and booking in future? What considerations will you keep in mind regarding patient consent when involved in screening processes? Are there any specific analytical techniques or steps you need to further develop your understanding of? What resources or guidelines might be helpful for future reference?
Beyond action
- Now that you have more experience with laboratory workflows, do you have a different appreciation for the importance of accurate sample handling and booking in the context of potential errors or delays in trisomy screening?
- Reflect on any subsequent experiences you’ve had where patient consent was a factor. How does your understanding of consent in trisomy screening compare to these other situations?
- Have you now observed or performed trisomy screening analyses in different contexts or using different methodologies? How does your initial experience compare?
- Has your initial experience with sample receipt and booking for trisomy screening made you more meticulous in handling other types of samples?
- Has your understanding of patient consent gained during this training activity influenced how you approach interactions involving patient information or samples in other areas of the lab?
- Has this initial exposure to trisomy screening analysis helped you to understand the context of quality control procedures or EQA feedback related to these assays?
- Will the skills you developed in attention to detail and following procedures during this training activity be beneficial if you are involved in developing or reviewing laboratory protocols in the future?
- How might your understanding of the entire trisomy screening process, gained from this training activity, help you if you were to train new staff in this area?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 6 |
Outcome
Analyse samples for trisomy screening and apply the appropriate methodology to calculate trisomy screening risks. |