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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Examine urine and sputum specimens under the microscope 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
252398  Examine urine and sputum specimens under the microscope 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Phlebotomy Technicians 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services Curative Health 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  10 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A learner assessed as competent against this elective Unit Standard will be able to use the microscope and the centrifuge at this level to perform the competencies outlined below. A learner who acquires this Unit Standard could embark on a learning pathway leading to becoming a medical technologist.

Learners credited with this standard will be able to:
  • Use the light microscope and a centrifuge.
  • Identify the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB) bacillus on a slide made from a sputum specimen.
  • Examine urine under a microscope. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Learners accessing this unit standard will have demonstrated competency in:
  • Communication skills at NQF Level 3.
  • Mathematical literacy at NQF Level 3. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Use the light microscope. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The components of the light microscope and their principles of operation are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Maintenance is performed according to prescribed protocol. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The microscope is used according to prescribed protocol and a clear field of view is obtained on the required slide. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB) bacillus on a slide made from a sputum specimen. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Slides are prepared and stained for TB according to prescribed protocol. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The slides are examined for the presence of acid fast bacilli and the outcome recorded according to prescribed protocol. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The slides are stored according to prescribed protocol. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Operate a centrifuge. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    The centrifuge that the learner will find in their workplace. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The components, principles of operation and limitations of a centrifuge are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The safety requirements for the operation of a centrifuge are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The centrifuge is maintained according to prescribed protocol. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Samples are centrifuged according to prescribed protocol. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Examine urine under a microscope. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The macroscopic appearance of the urine is described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A urine wet prep is made according to prescribed protocol. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The slide is placed under a microscope and the components present are identified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Pus cells, red cells, yeast cells, epithelial cells, crystals, casts and para.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The reading is recorded and if a urine chemistry dipstick was performed, the two readings are correlated according to prescribed protocol. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The principle and methodology of the stain.
  • Safety requirements when processing TB specimens and for flaming slides.
  • Quality control for required procedures and instruments.
  • An understanding of the relevance of the World Health Organisation standards in reporting and documenting results.
  • The relevant prescribed protocols of the institution where the learner is currently employed.
  • Principles of centifugation. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made when operating a centrifuge and a microscope to examine urine and identify the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacillus. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively when using the centrifuge and the microscope to obtain accurate results. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information obtained from performing the tests using the centrifuge and the microscope. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation to record the results. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and the health of others by ensuring that the equipments is maintained and used according to prescribed protocol. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Learners collecting urine and sputum specimens must be registered with a relevant Statutory Health Council. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  59345   Further Education and Training Certificate: Phlebotomy Techniques  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  HPCSA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.