Task - Example 1
Title
Maintaining bacterial culture collection
Nature of task
Preparing the simple or complex media. Establish the most appropriate conditions
recorded in a laboratory book, culture collection catalogue or SoP. Subculture
bacteria of interest onto fresh medium (usually solid). Incubate (?aerobic/
anaerobic) overnight at the appropriate temperature (depending on the
bacterium) for n hours. Take one colony and put through an identification process
(eg Gram strain/API strips/simple biochemical test, eg Kovac’s, catalase,
oxidase). Confirm identity and purity of sample. Subculture sample onto its
maintenance medium (eg agar slope/ cyrosystem).
Learning outcomes:

Conduct the procedure with an appropriate level of competence

Identify bacteria, for example Gram reaction or a simple biochemical test.

Maintain pure cultures of bacteria

Identify significant learning events and how these contribute to achieving the
desired outcome.
Generic skills:

Communication
Written communication skills
Write reports in a clear and succinct manner which is readily understood.

Information technology
Does not apply.

Application of number
Does not apply.

Working with others
Plan a complex task with others, agreeing objectives, responsibilities and
working arrangements.
Agree realistic objectives for working together, including what needs to be done
to achieve them.
Exchange information and agree responsibilities.
Agree suitable working arrangements with others.

Improving own learning and performance
Agree task targets, plan meeting these targets and use support from
appropriate people.
Seek information on ways to achieve the task, and identify factors that might
affect your plans.
Use this information to agree realistic targets with appropriate people.
Effectively manage your time and use of support to meet targets, including
alternative action for overcoming possible difficulties.
Review progress and establish evidence of achievements, including how
you have used learning from other tasks to meet new demands.
Provide evidence of the quality of your learning and performance, including
factors that have affected the outcome.
Exchange views with appropriate people to agree ways to further improve your
performance.

Problem solving
Does not apply.

Professionalism
Ensure compliance with Safety guidelines
Has a high awareness and is fully compliant with the Organisation’s Health &
Safety recommendations.
Adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Follows instructions and adheres to standard operating procedures.
Preparation of materials
Proficient at preparing solutions, dilutions, media or specimens.
Specific skills
Using incubation appropriately for bacterial culture.
Gram staining.
Microscopy.
Aseptic technique.
Assessment
Evidence for the portfolio:
Use of laboratory notebook, Gram staining reaction.
Notes on any changes to the methods or contaminants.
Purity checks.
Microscopy skills.
Table of results (see example).
Additional help/information sought and at what stage.
NB Keep examples of this evidence as it will need to be uploaded into the website
from October 2003.
Justification of level
Development of Knowledge and Understanding (subject specific).

Knowledge base
Comprehensive/detailed knowledge of microscopy, aseptic techniques, bacterial
cell and colony morphology, growth requirements.
Cognitive/Intellectual skills (generic)

Evaluation:
Can critically evaluate Gram stains and biochemical test to support
conclusions/recommendations, reviewing its reliability, validity and significance.
Can investigate contradictory information/identify reasons for contradictions
Key/transferable skills (generic)

Learning resources:
With minimum guidance can manage own learning using full range of resources
including reference books, SOP’s, previous data and input of more experienced
staff to complete the task.

Self evaluation:
Can seek and make use of feedback during the task and at the completion of the
task.

Autonomy:
Can take responsibility for own work and can criticise it.
Practical skills (subject specific)

Application of skills:
Can operate in complex and unpredictable contexts, requiring selection and
application from a wide range of innovative or standard techniques

Autonomy in skill use:
Able to act autonomously, with minimal supervision or direction, within agreed
guidelines.
Reflection on the task
Main activities

Sub-culture bacterial cells from existing slopes or
plates,
incubate
biochemical tests; catalase and oxidase tests,
stain; Gram stains, spore stains
cryo-preserve: freeze cells and cell supernatant down
in –20 or –80 or liquid N2
resusitate cells.
What I learned
(this is what I now know)

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
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
how to do a Gram stain
how to freeze down cells
that special freeze medium is required
that resuscitating cells can be quite difficult
how important good aseptic techniques are essential.
the complexity of the task
the activities need to be completed sequentially
good record keeping is essential
What I’m still wondering
(what I still don’t know)

Why some cells are kept in liquid N2 vapour phase and
some are immersed in liquid N2
Action points
(what am I going to do about
it)

Talk to the senior technician about cryo-preservation
and why some cells are more viable if kept at –80 0C
whilst others are more viable if stored in liquid N2
Talk to the senior technician about why we need to
keep so many duplicates of the same samples cryopreserved.

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Sign-off
Supervisor signs this off.