NZQA registered unit standard
12367 version 4
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Title
Demonstrate knowledge of minimising contamination risk in a
microbiological laboratory
Level
4
Credits
3
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe the
necessity for cleaning and sanitising a microbiological
laboratory; explain the critical factors for cleaning and
sanitising; and describe cleaning agents and sanitisers and
their mode of action.
Classification
Science > Microbiology
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
All work must be carried out in accordance with the quality management system,
documented protocol system or Standard Operating Procedures acceptable in a
commercial or research laboratory.
2
Health and Safety practices must conform to Australian/New Zealand Standard
AS/NZS 2243:2006 Set – Safety in Laboratories Parts 1, 2, 3, 7 and 10 available at
http://www.standards.co.nz and http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store.
3
Legislation applicable to this unit standard includes:
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.
4
Glossary
Soil refers to contaminants or a mixture of contaminants.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe the necessity for cleaning and sanitising a microbiological laboratory.
Evidence requirements
1.1
The importance of cleaning is explained in terms of public health and product
quality.
1.2
Potential sources of soil that may promote microbiological growth are described
in terms of public health and product quality.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1.3
12367 version 4
Page 2 of 3
Links between microbial contaminants, environment, and type of soil are
described in terms of public health and product quality.
Outcome 2
Explain the critical factors for cleaning and sanitising.
Range
critical factors include – soil type, surface type to be cleaned, exposure time,
use for surface, environmental factors.
Evidence requirements
2.1
The critical factors are considered in selecting the cleaning and sanitising
regime.
2.2
The importance of the critical factors is explained in terms of the selecting a
cleaning and sanitising regime.
Outcome 3
Describe cleaning agents and sanitisers and their mode of action.
Evidence requirements
3.1
The purposes of sanitisers are described in terms of their action on
microorganisms.
Range
3.2
Modes of action and activity of cleaning agents are described in relation to
microorganisms.
Range
3.3
sanitisers – microbiocidal, microbiostatic, disinfectants, cleaners.
cleaning agents include – acidic and alkaline cleaners; non-ionic,
anionic and cationic surfactants; oxidising agents.
Negative effects are described in terms of the interactions between different
cleaning agents.
Range
Planned review date
cleaning agents include – acidic and alkaline cleaners; non-ionic,
anionic and cationic surfactants; oxidising agents.
31 December 2018
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
12367 version 4
Page 3 of 3
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
17 February 1998
31 December 2014
Review
2
23 November 1999
31 December 2014
Review
3
21 May 2010
N/A
Rollover
4
27 January 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0152
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.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA National Qualifications Services nqs@nzqa.govt.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016