Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2025

Course Code: ONPS7809C

Course Title: Perform tissue or cell culture techniques

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4433 - Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques

Course Contact: Rauha Quazi

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4277

Course Contact Email: rauha.quazi@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Amber 

amber.mitton@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 100

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

MSL973027 Perform techniques that prevent cross-contamination.

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to prepare, maintain and preserve cells and cell lines for a variety of applications, such as large-scale culture, production of monoclonal antibodies, production of viral vaccines and amniocentesis studies. Personnel are required to optimise equipment set-up, media and growth techniques. They are required to detect and investigate contamination and take preventative and/or corrective actions under supervision.

This unit applies to laboratory technicians and technical officers working in laboratories in the biomedical, environmental, biotechnology and education industry sectors.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	MSL975060 Perform tissue or cell culture techniques
Element:	1. Interpret and schedule production requirements
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Review client request and confirm quantity and nature of cells or tissue 1.2 Select appropriate media, materials, equipment and methods 1.3 Plan parallel work sequences to optimise production 1.4 Maintain a chain of custody, traceable to the worker, for all cells or tissues
Element:	2. Work safely according to the legal and regulatory framework
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Identify hazards and workplace control measures associated with the sample, preparation methods, reagents and equipment 2.2 Select, fit and use personal protective equipment (PPE) 2.3 Address hazards and incidents as they arise in accordance with workplace procedures 2.4 Safely dispose of biohazardous materials and other laboratory waste
Element:	3. Assemble and maintain tissue culture equipment
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Assemble, sterilise or decontaminate equipment according to workplace procedures 3.2 Perform pre-use and safety checks in accordance with relevant workplace and operating procedures 3.3 Identify faulty or unsafe components and equipment and report to appropriate personnel 3.4 Decontaminate area and equipment after use
Element:	4. Prepare and test cell or tissue culture media
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Confirm media specifications and processes/methods 4.2 Prepare culture media to suit client request 4.3 Sterilise culture media and check for sterility 4.4 Perform quality control checks to ensure that culture media is fit for purpose 4.5 Store culture media in accordance with specifications
Element:	5. Obtain, monitor and maintain tissue or cell lines
Performance Criteria:	5.1 Access the cell lines or tissue sample from fresh or preserved sources and prepare a culture 5.2 Select specified culture media and add any necessary growth agents or nutrients 5.3 Incubate cells or tissue in specified conditions 5.4 Inoculate the media with the specified amount of sample 5.5 Monitor growth of tissue or cell lines and products 5.6 Detect contamination/abnormalities and troubleshoot materials, equipment and techniques 5.7 Passage samples by subculturing to preserve or grow the line 5.8 Harvest tissue, cells or cell products to optimise yields
Element:	6. Preserve cells or tissues
Performance Criteria:	6.1 Select the appropriate preservation method 6.2 Preserve the cell lines or tissue in accordance with the method 6.3 Check preserved tissue or cell lines regularly to ensure viability is maintained
Element:	7. Maintain records
Performance Criteria:	7.1 Maintain accurate records of batches of media 7.2 Maintain accurate records of active and stored tissue or cell lines 7.3 Complete records so that they are retrievable, legible and accurate 7.4 Ensure records conform to the information management, records, quality system and legal requirements

Learning Outcomes

Details of Learning Activities

• Teacher directed delivery of lessons
• Class discussion
• Worksheets 
• Laboratory experiments 
• Record keeping of experiments 
• Research activities
• Group work

Teaching Schedule

Perform tissue or cell culture techniques Semester 1 – 2025
Week	Theory 2 hours Monday	Lab 3 hours Thursday	Assessment
1 10 Feb	Class 1 Mammalian Tissue Culture Course overview, assessments and prac discussion	No lab Online safety quiz
2 17 Feb	Class 2 Cell Biology Prac tute – L-929 cells and morphology tables and image annotation How to use your E-logbook	Lab 1 -The Tissue Culture lab & Lab 2 - Aseptic technique in the biohazard cabinet   Skills development – essential for AT1 and AT4
3 24 Feb	Class 3 The biology of cultured cells Class discussion – HeLa and Henrietta Lacks	Lab 3 - Morphology of L-929 cell line. Learning how to take an image of the cells Skills development – essential for AT1 and AT4   Lab 4 - Preparation of tissue culture solutions and sterility testing •            Assessment ,	AT1 – Lab 4 Due week 5
4 3 Mar	Class 4 Culture environment Class discussion – Ethics AT2 Discussion & questions Prac tute – Accessing images Prac tute – filling in and maintaining logs	Lab 5 - Feeding a cell line   Skills development Correct set up and use of biohazard cabinet Correct use of automatic pipette   & Collect Lab 4 results
5 10 Mar (Mon public holiday)	Class 5 Tissue and cell culture types and characteristics Class discussion – Lab grown meat AT3 Discussion & questions Prac tute – Split ratios Prac tute – Maintaining cells in culture	Lab 6a - Passaging cell line L-929   Individual prac Assessment   Split lab – half the class won’t have lab this week	AT1 - Lab 6 Due week 6
6 17 Mar	Class 6 Cell growth Logbook review and check	Lab 6b - Passaging cell line L-929 using a split ratio   Individual prac Assessment   Split lab – half the class won’t have lab this week	AT1 - Lab 6 Due week 7
7 24 Mar	Class 7 Costing exercise Please bring laptops AT2 Discussion & questions	Lab 7 Passaging cell line PC-3 using a split ratio   Working in pairs Assessment   & Collecting results for Lab 6   (Students who did Lab 6 in week 5, your results will have cells after two weeks growth so expect cells to be over confluent and not 100% healthy	AT1 – Lab 7 Due week 8
8 31 Mar	Class 8 Cell preservation, storage and recovery AT2 Discussion & questions Prac tute & feedback	Lab 8a Cell preservation & storage Freezing cells
9 7 Apr	Class 9 Contamination AT2 Discussion & questions	Lab 8b Cell preservation, storage and recovery viability assessment - Thawing and culture   *Cryopreservation demonstration & hazard discussion	AT1 – Lab 8 Due week 9
10 14 Apr (Good Friday holiday)	Class 10 Cell counts Logbook review and check	Lab 8c Cell preservation, storage and recovery viability assessment - Automatic cell count on preserved cells
Mid semester Break: 18 – 25 April
11 28 Apr	Class 11 Substrates Lab 9 results discussion	Lab 9 Passaging cell line MDBK using a split ratio	AT1 – Lab 9
12 5 May	Class 12 Monitoring growth and sustainability Preparation for skills assessment	Skillsassessment - Passaging L-929 cell line using a split ratio – Group 1 *Collect results in week 13	AT4: Practical assessment
13 12 May	Class 13 AT3 – Quiz	Skillsassessment - Passaging L-929 cell line using a split ratio Group 2 *Collect results in week 14	AT4: Practical assessment Upload signed and assessed AT4 Appendix
14 19 May	Class 14 AT2 feedback and resubmissions AT3 feedback E- logbook feedback & review	Skills assessment resultscollection Group 2	AT4: Practical assessment Upload signed and assessed AT4 Appendix
15 26 May	Students will be emailed if they are required to attend this class.   Special consideration for AT3   Teacher review of assessments Check canvas for corrections	Students will be emailed if they are required to attend this lab.   Skills assessment 2nd attempts and any special consideration lab catch ups	Upload signed and assessed logs: Media log Equipment log Tissue Culture log Observational checklist *Records that haven’t been signed will not be accepted
16 2 Jun	No class Review of logs Check canvas for corrections	No lab End of Semester photo comp winner get together
This syllabus is subject to change: The information in the syllabus may be updated or modified throughout the course. Course coordinators can make changes: Course coordinators can change the syllabus at their discretion, and they are responsible for notifying students of any changes.  Students are responsible for staying up to date. Students are responsible for obtaining all announcements, handouts, and schedule changes.

 

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

Assessment may include:

• knowledge tests
• practical skills test
• practical logbooks
• presentations
• group work
• research
• lab reports
• assignments

 

Assessment Tasks

This course features 4 assessments:

• AT1 Lab skills and E-logbook Lab 4
• AT2 Short answer questions
• AT3 Online quiz
• AT4 Practical assessment

For each assessment you will be given up to two (2) attempts, however, to be granted the second attempt at any assessment, your first attempt must be an appropriate attempt to try and gain a satisfactory outcome. For example, you must appropriately attempt each question or aspect of the assessment task.   If your first attempt fails to meet the above standard, you may not be eligible for a second attempt at that task.   A third (3rd) attempt can only be offered after discussions between teacher and the Program Coordinator and is not automatic      

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These mapping documents are available through Program Administration if required.

Other Information

Assessment information:

This course is graded in accordance with competency-based assessment

CA Competency Achieved 

NYC Not Yet Competent

SEC Stopped engagement in course 

 

Submission of Assessment Tasks

It is expected that any work presented for assessment in this course will be your own. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentation. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. It also occurs through enabling plagiarism, which is the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work. Please make sure you consider this carefully in completing all your work and assessments in this course and if you are unsure about whether you might have plagiarised, seek help from your teacher.

Extensions of time for submission of assessable work

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment on time by circumstances outside your control you may apply for an extension of up to seven (7) calendar days by filling in the application form at least one working day BEFORE the due date. The application form should be emailed to your Program Coordinator

Eligibility criteria for application and the form is available from the link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work

If you require an extension of time longer than 7 days, you must apply for Special Consideration.

Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension will not be corrected.

Special consideration

If you are unable to sit a test, exam or lab-based assessments due to unexpected circumstances (e.g., illness), you should apply for Special Consideration for the missed assessment. Information on applying for Special Consideration can be found from the link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration. Applications for Special Consideration should NOT be submitted to the course or program coordinator.

Attendance: 

Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully. If you are sick you should submit a medical certificate to the program coordinator and course coordinator/teacher. If you miss an assessable practical class you need to provide a medical certificate (or other evidence), if you miss a practical class that is a practical report write-up you need to arrange an alternative report with your teacher. Information about your studies: You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc. https://www.rmit.edu.au/students 

  

Course Overview: Access Course Overview