Training activity information
Details
Perform a nucleic acid extraction and manual PCR, including interpretation and reporting from standard curves, troubleshooting common faults and issues
Type
Entrustable training activity (ETA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee repeatedly, consistently, and effectively over time, in a range of situations. This may include occasions where the trainee has not successfully achieved the outcome of the activity themselves. For example, because it was not appropriate to undertake the task in the circumstances or the trainees recognised their own limitations and sought help or advice to ensure the activity reached an appropriate conclusion.
Reflection at multiple timepoints on the trainee learning journey for this activity.
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
- Identify what is expected of you when performing a nucleic acid extraction, manual PCR, interpreting results, and troubleshooting.
- What do you need to clarify with your training officer regarding the process, expected output, or potential challenges?
- Think about what you already know about these techniques and processes.
- Have you performed similar steps before, perhaps in a teaching lab or during previous rotations?
- Consider possible challenges you might face during the extraction, PCR setup, interpretation of curves, or troubleshooting steps.
- How might you plan to handle these potential issues? Recognise the scope of your own practice for these techniques. Do you know when you will need to seek advice or help, and from whom?
- Consider the specific skills you want to develop related to nucleic acid extraction, manual PCR execution, result interpretation from standard curves, and troubleshooting.
- Draw upon any previous experiences that highlight areas for development.
- Identify specific insights you hope to gain from performing these steps manually, especially concerning the relationship between technique, results, and potential issues.
- Consult actions identified following any previous experience you have had with similar molecular techniques.
- Identify important information you need to consider before embarking on this activity, such as specific protocols, required reagents, equipment checks, or safety procedures.
In action
- As you are performing the nucleic acid extraction steps (e.g., lysis, binding, washing, elution), does anything surprising happen (e.g., lower than expected yield, difficulty with reagents, issues with equipment like centrifuges)?
- During the manual PCR setup (e.g., master mix preparation, sample addition), do you encounter anything different from what you anticipate (e.g., pipetting difficulties, reagent inconsistencies, issues with reaction plate/tubes)?
- While the PCR is running or immediately after, do you observe anything unexpected (e.g., unusual machine behaviour)?
- As you interpret the results, particularly from the standard curves or controls, does anything seem surprising or different from expected results?
- In that moment, how do you respond when something unexpected happens during the extraction, PCR, interpretation, or troubleshooting?
- Do you stop? Do you immediately try to fix it? Do you feel confident or unsure?
- Do you adapt your actions or change your approach on the spot?
- Do you consider if this unexpected event affects your ability to proceed independently?
- Are you able to address the unexpected situation and continue with or complete the activity (extraction, PCR, interpretation, troubleshooting)?
- What do you learn in that moment about performing these manual techniques and troubleshooting common issues?
- Do you work within your scope of practice when reacting to the unexpected issue?
On action
- Summarise the key points of the experience of performing the nucleic acid extraction, setting up the manual PCR, running the reaction, interpreting the results from standard curves, reporting, and any troubleshooting you undertook.
- Consider specific steps, actions, or interactions during the activity that felt important.
- Identify what learning you can take from this experience regarding performing nucleic acid extraction, manual PCR setup, interpretation of standard curves, reporting, and troubleshooting.
- What strengths did you demonstrate during this activity?
- What skills and/or knowledge gaps were evident to you?
- Compare this experience against previous engagement with similar molecular activities.
- Were any previously identified actions for development achieved? Has your practice improved?
- Identify any challenges you experienced (e.g., unexpected issues during extraction, PCR, interpretation, or troubleshooting) and how you reacted to these. Did this affect your ability to deal with the situation? Were you able to overcome the challenges?
- Identify anything significant about the activity. Did you need to seek advice or clarification? Or did you need to escalate to ensure that you were working within your scope of practice, particularly when troubleshooting or reporting results?
- Identify the actions or ‘next steps’ you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learnt, including from any feedback you received.
- What will you do differently next time you perform a nucleic acid extraction, manual PCR, interpretation, or troubleshooting?
- Has anything changed in terms of what you would do if you were faced with a similar unexpected situation again during these molecular techniques?
- Do you need to practise any aspect of the activity further to improve your proficiency and confidence towards being entrusted?
Beyond action
- Evaluate and re-evaluate your previous experiences of performing nucleic acid extraction, manual PCR, interpretation, reporting, and troubleshooting. What were your initial challenges and successes with these techniques? How has your understanding or approach changed over time with repeated practice?
- What actions did you previously identify you would need to take to improve your practice in nucleic acid extraction, PCR setup, result interpretation, or troubleshooting? Have you completed these actions in subsequent attempts? Are you now ready to demonstrate this new learning and improved practice consistently?
- Engage in professional storytelling with peers, near peers, or colleagues about performing this training activity. For example, discuss challenging troubleshooting scenarios you encountered. Consider if your view of the situation or your approach has changed because of analysing this with others.
- Consider how the learning from repeatedly performing this training activity has supported your development of skills applicable to other training activities or assessments. For instance, how has your improved understanding of molecular principles and troubleshooting from this training activity helped with other molecular techniques mentioned in the module?
- How does your experience and reflection on interpreting standard curves or troubleshooting contribute to preparing for assessments like ‘Interpret the curves from a molecular assay and report’ (an Observed Communication Event title)?
- Consider how your practice in performing nucleic acid extraction, manual PCR, and associated tasks has developed and evolved over time. Do you feel more confident and proficient? How has your ability to recognise when something is beyond your scope of practice, particularly in troubleshooting or complex interpretations, improved?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 1 |
Outcome
Select and perform tests to investigate common infections from a range of sample types following guidance and fulfilling health and safety requirements |
| # 4 |
Outcome
Perform and interpret molecular techniques for the investigation of common infections following guidance and fulfilling health and safety requirements |
| # 6 |
Outcome
Evaluate assay performance according to quality assurance frameworks |