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Scenario · Microbiology and Food Testing

Prepare media and test the Sunfield batch release samples

You are a microbiology technician in Microbiology and Food Testing.

Intermediate5 to 6 hours over two days7 tasks
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Home/Scenarios/Prepare media and test the Sunfield batch release samples
The situation

What has happened

Sunfield Foods has four retail packs of chilled dip in for Listeria, Salmonella and standard plate count under job CJ-26-0418 with a 48 hour turnaround for product release. Biosafety cabinet one is tagged out after airflow alarms, so all work is in cabinet two. Last month a Listeria positive control failed on an overheated media batch, and every media batch is now quality checked with controls before use. The autoclave is approaching its calibration due date and Hamish McLeod wants the cycle chart and biological indicator result recorded. Incubator temperatures must be logged throughout the run because a door seal recently failed on another unit.

Your brief. Prepare and quality check the media, set up the samples and controls using aseptic technique in the certified cabinet, incubate and read the tests on time, record all results and equipment checks, and submit the batch for review within the client's turnaround.
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Tasks

Deliverables

  • Media batch record with control results
  • Aseptic set-up worksheet for the four samples
  • Incubator temperature log for the run
  • Results worksheet with control outcomes
  • Sample register status updates

Documents to use

Systems to use

Sample Register

The laboratory information register of every sample received, its matrix, tests, storage, holding time and progress from receipt to reported.

Equipment and Calibration Register

Lists every item of measuring and testing equipment with its calibration interval, last and next calibration, verification checks and service status.

Nonconformance and Corrective Action Register

Records every nonconformance, out of control result, deviation, complaint and audit finding with its evaluation, root cause, corrective action and closure.

For trainers and assessors

Units of competency

Current on training.gov.au for the Laboratory Operations as at 10 September 2026.

MSL973015Prepare culture media
MSL975062Perform microbiological tests
MSL973027Perform techniques that prevent cross-contamination
MSL974033Perform food tests

Qualifications

MSL40122Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques
Assessor notes

What to look for

Evidence guide

Observe aseptic technique in the cabinet, media prepared and quality checked with controls before use, incubator temperatures logged with calibrated thermometers, and results read at the correct times with confirmations where required. Records must be complete enough for an auditor to reconstruct the run. Biological waste must be decontaminated before disposal.

The student's evidence summary lists every record they created or changed in the systems named above, their notes and the tasks they ticked. Verify it against the deliverables and your own assessment tool.