QUALIFIED MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN                

MICROBIOLOGY SYLLABUS 2014                                           

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Microbiology QMLT Syllabus 2014

NZIMLS

Definition of a Medical Laboratory Technician

A Qualified Medical Laboratory Technician (QMLT) is a person employed to perform routine tasks by following established protocols under the supervision or direction and control of a Registered Medical Laboratory Scientist. A QMLT may only practise within their area of competence, in a health service that forms part of the medical laboratory science profession. During training, supervision would be direct but after suitable assessment of competency, it may be replaced with direction* by a Registered Medical Laboratory Scientist or another registered health practitioner with an appropriate scope of practice, other than a Medical Laboratory Technician. The QMLT candidate has two syllabi to study:  

The Common Syllabus which is common to all NZIMLS technician qualifications The Discipline Specific Syllabus which is common only to the discipline in which the candidate is sitting the QMLT exam.

The Common Syllabus and Discipline Specific Syllabus are assessed by one examination only.

Logbook - Microbiology

The Microbiology Special Interest Group (MSIG) has prepared both a syllabus and logbook for use by Trainee Medical Laboratory Technicians preparing for the NZIMLS QMLT examinations. The logbook found in the following section is compulsory and has been included to aid candidates preparing for the QMLT examinations and to be a record of training or practical competency, accomplished by mastery assessment. NOTE - The logbook is required to be presented as part of the examination process. The MSIG has taken a significant step in the review to limit the theoretical knowledge required, sufficient to perform bench procedures and understand the importance of recognising abnormal or anomalous results for referral to a supervisor. The request for specific numbers of points and the reduction in the number of tests to be performed in the logbook, is an endeavour to limit the quantity of information to learn and examine.

This does not preclude employers training their laboratory assistants for their own needs

 

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Microbiology SIG March 2011

Date of Next Review:

2014 Page 2 of 2

Microbiology QMLT Syllabus 2014

1.

Role of the Microbiology Medical Laboratory Technician

Learning outcome: 

NZIMLS

The candidate will describe the scope and function of a Microbiology Medical Laboratory Technician.

Refer to Common syllabus

2.

Basic Equipment - Microbiology

2.1

Outline the use of and routine maintenance of the following equipment:    

2.2

Anaerobic Jar Biological class II hazard cabinet Refrigerator / freezer Incubator

Microscopes 2.2.1

Outline the basic components of the standard light microscope.

2.2.2

Outline how to set up a microscope for Kohler illumination.

2.2.3

Outline the use of and routine daily maintenance of the standard light microscope.

3.

Sterilisation

3.1

Outline the principles of sterilisation by the following mechanisms:   

3.2

For each of the mechanisms listed above: 3.2.1

List the materials used in a clinical microbiology laboratory that can be satisfactorily sterilised by them.

3.2.2

Describe how to operate the equipment to achieve sterilisation.

3.2.3

Outline suitable biological and /or chemical controls.

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Moist heat (autoclave) Dry heat (hot air oven) Filtration (cellulose membrane filter)

Microbiology SIG March 2011

Date of Next Review:

2014 Page 3 of 3

Microbiology QMLT Syllabus 2014

NZIMLS

4.

Bacterial Anatomy and Physiology

4.1

List the basic components of bacteria.

4.2

Outline the functions of these components.

4.3

Describe the morphology and arrangements of bacteria i.e. rods, cocci etc.

4.4

Define the following:    

Aerobe Anaerobe Microaerophile Capnophile

5.

Stains

5.1

List the main ingredients of the following stains:   

5.2

Describe how to perform:  

5.3

Gram Acid fast Lactopheno cotton blue / lacto fuchsin red

A gram stain An acid fast stain

Outline the use of the stains listed in 5.1.

 

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Microbiology SIG March 2011

Date of Next Review:

2014 Page 4 of 4

Microbiology QMLT Syllabus 2014

NZIMLS

6.

Media

6.1

Define the following:   

6.2

Enrichment media Selective media Differential media

For the following media: 6.2.1

Outline the use in a clinical microbiology laboratory.

6.2.2

List organisms suitable for the quality control of each media.                   

Blood agar Chocolate agar MacConkey agar Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient agar (CLED) One of Sylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD), Hektoen agar, Salmonella shigella agar or Deoxycholate agar A selective media suitable for the isolation of Campylobacter jejuni A selective media suitable for the isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica Selenite F broth or GN broth A selective media suitable for the isolation of N.meningitides and N.gonorrhoeae Charcoal agar for the isolation of Bordetella pertussis Sabourauds Dextrose agar A medium suitable for the primary isolation of dermatophytes A medium suitable for the primary isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis A medium suitable for the primary isolation of anaerobes Cooked meat broth or Thioglycollate broth A medium suitable for a disc diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility test A medium suitable for blood cultures An enrichment / selective medium for Group B Streptococcus A chromogenic agar

 

Revised by: Date Revised:

 

Microbiology SIG March 2011

Date of Next Review:

2014 Page 5 of 5

Microbiology QMLT Syllabus 2014

NZIMLS

7.

Identification Tests

7.1

For the following tests: 7.1.1

Outline the principle.

7.1.2

Describe the test including key media, reagents, technique and controls:                    

Catalase Oxidase Coagulase Amino acid decarboxylase and deaminase Butyrate esterase Carbohydrate fermentation including TSI Oxidation / fermentation test (OF) ONPG test Motility Nitrate reduction Indole production Citrate utilisation Urease Germ tube Requirement for X and V factors and/or porphyrin / ALA Sensitivity to optochin Sensitivity to bacitracin Staphylococcal latex agglutination Streptococcal latex grouping PYR test

7.2

Describe the use of a miniaturised system to identify Enterobacteriaceae.

7.3

Outline the process of Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of antigens.

7.4

Outline the use of Chromogenic agars.

 

Revised by: Date Revised:

 

Microbiology SIG March 2011

Date of Next Review:

2014 Page 6 of 6

Microbiology QMLT Syllabus 2014

NZIMLS

8.

Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing

8.1

Define:   

Susceptible Resistant Intermediate

8.2

Describe a rapid test to detect beta lactamase.

8.3

Outline a detection method for Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase Projection (ESBL).

8.4

Describe a disc diffusion susceptibility method under the following headings:       

8.5

Storage of discs Media Inoculum Procedure Incubation Controls Reading and interpretation of results

Outline the factors that can influence the results of disc diffusion methods.

 

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Microbiology SIG March 2011

Date of Next Review:

2014 Page 7 of 7

Microbiology QMLT Syllabus 2014

9.

Processing of Specimens

9.1

Outline the collection, transportation and storage of these specimens:       

9.2

Pathogens. Commonsals most commonly encountered in each of the above specimens in New Zealand.

Describe the processing of specimens for the most commonly encountered pathogens to include:   

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Faeces Swabs including throat, nasal, ear, eye, wound and genital Urine Blood Sputum Fluids and exudates including CSF, aspirates and tissues Skin scrapings, nail clippings, hair (for examination of fungi)

List: i. ii.

9.3

NZIMLS

Preparation of smear for direct examination Cell count (where applicable) Culture methods including media, incubation atmosphere and temperature

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Date of Next Review:

2014 Page 8 of 8

Microbiology QMLT Syllabus 2014

NZIMLS

10.

Identification of Micro-Organisms

10.1

For the following organisms: 10.1.1 Outline their growth requirements. 10.1.2 Outline their microscopic and cultural morphology. 10.1.3 List the tests useful in their identification and the expected results, especially those listed in 9.1 10.1.4 Outline their clinical significance. Bacteria                 

    

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Staphylococcus aureus Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A) Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B) Streptococcus pneumoniae Haemophilus influenzae Moraxella catarrhalis Neisseria meningitides Neisseria gonorrhoeae Gardnerella vaginalis Chlamydia trachomatis Campylobacter jejuni Salmonella species Yersinia species Shilgella species Escherichia coli 0157 Enterobacteriaceae  E.coli  Proteus  Citrobacter  Enterobacter  Klebsiella Enteroccus faecalis including (VRE) Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clostridium perfringens Bacteroides fragilis Mycobacterium tuberculosis

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Date of Next Review:

2014 Page 9 of 9

Microbiology QMLT Syllabus 2014

NZIMLS

  11.

Parasitology

11.1

Describe a method for concentrating faeces for ova and cysts.

11.2

Outline the use of the trichrome stain or other permanent stain in Parasitology.

11.3

Describe a method for examining specimens for:   

Trichomonas vaginalis Enterobius vermicularis Cryptosporidium sp

11.4

Outline the advantages and disadvantages of using a faecal immunoassay / immunochromatographic technique for the detection of Giardia Specific Antigen and Cryptosporidium Specific Antigen.

11.5

Describe the morphology of the forms which are of diagnostic value for the following parasites:          

Giardia lamblia Trichomonas vaginalis Enterobius vermicularis Ascaris lumbricoides Tichuris trichiura Hookworm Cryptocsporidium sp Entamoeba histolytica/dispar Dientamoeba fragilis Blastocystis hominis

    12.

Mycology

    12.1

Describe the colonial appearance and microscopic characteristics which are of diagnostic value for the following fungi:   

Aspergillus fumigatus Microsporum canis Trichophyton rubrum

 

Revised by: Date Revised:

 

Microbiology SIG March 2011

Date of Next Review:

2014 Page 10 of 10

Microbiology QMLT Syllabus 2014

13.

NZIMLS

Reference Texts

Murray PR; Baron EJ; Pfaller MA; Tenover FC; Yolken YH Manual of Clinical Microbiology 8th Edition 2003 American Society of Microbiology, Washington D.C Isenberg H.D. Chief Editor Clinical Microbiology Handbook 2nd Edition 2004 American Society of Microbiology, Washington D.C Koneman ED; Allen SD; Janda WM; Schrekenberg PC; Winn WC Jr Colour Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology Lipincott, Philadelphia 1997 Larone David H Medically Important Fungi 4th Edition 2002 American Society of Microbiology, Washington D.C McFadden JF Biochemical Tests for Identification of Medical Bacteria Third Edition 2000 Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore and London Media manuals such as Oxoid and BBL

Revised by: Date Revised:

 

Microbiology SIG March 2011

Date of Next Review:

2014 Page 11 of 11