Advanced Clinical Chemistry Practicum Performance Objectives
  1. The student should perform the following clerical and sample preparation procedures for arterial blood gases:
    1. Identify name, time and date and correlate these with specimen request.
    2. Process samples in an appropriate manner (centrifugation, refrigeration, send out, etc.)
    3. Organize workload.
      1. Construct daily work sheets for workstation.
      2. Prepare work reagents and solutions.
      3. Prepare and organize samples, QC reagents, and supplies for a test run.
    4. Determine suitability of sample for analysis.
    5. Use appropriate safety precautions in handling specimens.
  2. Student should perform chemistry analyte testing during their rotation using instrumentation including the following instruments: Immunochemistry instrument(s) and blood gas instrumentation. For any automated or semi-automated analyzers used in teaching including blood gas analyzers, oximeters and immunochemistry analyzers, the student should be able to:
    1. Perform start-up and shutdown procedures and daily maintenance.
    2. Proper calibration for each instrument if done.
    3. Perform and record correct quality control measures.
    4. Conduct specimen assays following appropriate procedures in Objective 2.
    5. Demonstrate adequate knowledge of principles of operation.
    6. Recognize an instrumentation malfunction problem.
  3. Troubleshoot with supervision at least one instrument malfunction problem that requires using the instrument manual troubleshooting guide and/or a phone call to the technical service department.
  4. For Quality Control experience, the student should be able to do the following:
    1. Follow protocol for recording QC results and takes the proper steps is results are out of control.
    2. Prepare reagents and perform and record appropriate lot number quality control checks on the reagents for at least two different procedures or instruments (may include evaluating new lot numbers of reagents).
    3. Perform preventative maintenance on at least one piece of automated equipment other than daily start-up or shutdown procedures.
  5. Student must perform and complete a Quality Assurance/Quality Control project.
  6. Student must complete a written theory exam.
  7. Student must demonstrate computer literacy by successfully performing the following:
    1. Enter patient results and release (if applicable).
    2. Inquire for patient results on demand.
    3. Perform delta checks on patient results under tech supervision.