NZQA Expiring unit standard
4311 version 5
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Title
Apply microbiological fundamentals in the New Zealand dairy
industry laboratory
Level
3
Credits
6
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard will be able to describe
fundamental microbiology and conduct microbiological tests as
used within the New Zealand dairy industry laboratory.
Classification
Dairy Manufacturing > Dairy Laboratory Methodology
Available grade
Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and
safety prerequisites
Open.
Explanatory notes
1
Work must be carried out in accordance with organisational requirements.
2
Organisational requirements refers to instructions to staff on policy and procedures
(including the application of legislation to work situations) which are formally
documented or generally accepted at the work site. This may include legislation:
industry standards and methods, national and international standards and methods:
standards and methods published in internationally recognised reputable texts:
customer/organisation developed methods, standard operating procedures,
specifications, manuals, and manufacturer’s information.
3
The legislation and standards relevant to this unit standard may include but are not
limited to – Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Animal Products Act 1999,
Animal Products (Dairy) Regulations 2005, ISO/IEC 17025:1999 General
requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, NZFSA –
Approved Standards and Codes of Practice at
http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/dairy/registers-lists.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
4311 version 5
Page 2 of 4
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Identify the three main types of micro-organisms and their significance to the dairy
industry.
Range
bacteria, fungi, virus.
Evidence requirements
1.1
The three main types of micro-organisms are listed.
1.2
An example of each micro-organism is given.
1.3
The significance of each example in relation to product quality is described.
Outcome 2
Identify the four major sources of microbial contamination of the dairy process.
Range
people, plant, environmental, raw material.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Four major sources of microbial contamination in the dairy process are listed.
2.2
For each source an example is given.
Outcome 3
Explain the factors that affect growth and survival of micro-organisms.
Range
nutrition, moisture, pH, oxygen, temperature, light, osmotic pressure.
Evidence requirements
3.1
The factors that affect growth and survival of micro-organisms are listed.
3.2
The factors that affect growth and survival of micro-organisms are described as
per the Microbiological Fundamentals unit standard resource manual.
Outcome 4
Identify the morphology of bacteria under microscopic examination.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Set-up and use a microscope as per the manufacturers' specifications.
4.2
The morphology of micro-organisms is examined microscopically and
described.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
Range
4311 version 5
Page 3 of 4
size, shape, conformation, spore production, gram +ve, gram -ve.
Outcome 5
Prepare media for microbiological tests.
Range
media, diluents.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Media preparation is carried out in accordance with organisational
requirements.
5.2
Diluents are prepared in accordance with organisational requirements.
Outcome 6
Conduct dairy microbiological tests.
Evidence requirements
6.1
Four tests are conducted in accordance with organisational requirements.
Range
6.2
Product tests are conducted as specified in the Microbiological Fundamentals
unit standard resource manual.
Range
6.3
swabbing, air sampling, streaking, spreading.
raw milk, whole milk powder.
Results of the tests are recorded, and the results calculated to show the mean
results.
Outcome 7
Conduct product testing.
Evidence requirements
7.1
Tests are conducted in accordance with dairy industry test methods,
specifications and site dairy laboratory procedures.
Range
equipment, media, safety and pathogen controls, calculations,
documentation and deadlines.
7.2
Test results are repeatable within test method limits.
7.3
Non-conformance is dealt with or reported in accordance with dairy laboratory
quality systems.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
7.4
4311 version 5
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Results and calculations are recorded in accordance with dairy laboratory
quality systems and organisational requirements.
Replacement information
This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard
28666
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
28 April 1995
31 December 2018
Revision
2
2 July 1999
31 December 2018
Revision
3
13 June 2003
31 December 2018
Rollover and
Revision
4
26 January 2007
Review
5
17 September 2015
31 December 2018
31 December 2018
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0022
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016