NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 135 — 10 DECEMBER 2015

Provisional registration is applied when a practitioner has appropriate qualifications but lacks the required relevant New Zealand experience to practise as a Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician. Pre-Analytical Technicians who hold provisional registration are required to complete a period of supervised practice during which time they gain work-based knowledge and experience.

The period of supervised practice for each applicant is determined by the Council and will be no less than three months and no greater than two years.

Supervision of Pre-Analytical Technicians is provided by an approved registered health practitioner who holds a current practising certificate and has relevant expertise and knowledge in the collection and preparation of samples for medical laboratory testing and/or collection of blood and blood product donations.

Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician (Full Registration)

Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technicians practise in the areas of laboratory specimen collection (commonly referred to as phlebotomy), laboratory specimen preparation (commonly referred to as specimen services), and donor technology.

Pre-Analytical Technicians may practise under a number of workplace titles including but not limited to: Phlebotomist, Donor Technician, and Specimen Services Technician. The scope of practice of Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician (Provisional Registration) is inclusive of these workplace titles.

The practice of specimen collection involves pathology laboratory specimen collection by following established procedures. Specimen collection includes collection of blood, non-blood specimens, and some specialised tests and procedures performed at the point of contact with patients.

The practice of laboratory specimen preparation involves the receipt and preparation of samples prior to laboratory testing.

The practice of donor technology involves the collection of blood and blood component donations from blood donors within the New Zealand Blood Service.

Pre-Analytical Technicians can practise within either a single or a combination of all three practices of specimen collection, laboratory specimen preparation and donor technology, following successful completion of on-the-job training.

Pre-Analytical Technicians who hold full registration must work under the direction of a registered Medical Laboratory Scientist, a registered Medical Laboratory Technician, or other appropriately qualified and registered health practitioner who holds a current practising certificate and has relevant expertise and knowledge in the collection and preparation of samples for medical diagnostic testing and/or collection of blood and blood product donations.

Within the parameters of "working under direction", the Pre-Analytical Technician takes full responsibility for his/her practice, with general oversight by the registered health practitioner providing direction who must be available for consultation if the Pre-Analytical Technician needs assistance. The registered health practitioner providing direction must conduct periodic reviews of the Pre-Analytical Technician’s practice.

Prescribed Qualifications

Medical Laboratory Scientist (Provisional Registration)

The Medical Laboratory Scientist must satisfy one of the following:

1. Hold a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) issued by a New Zealand university accredited by the Council;
2. Hold a Graduate Diploma in Science (Medical Laboratory Science) issued by a New Zealand university accredited by the Council;
3. Hold a relevant New Zealand or overseas post-graduate science degree;
4. Have completed a course of training, examinations and post-qualification medical laboratory science experience that has been assessed by the Council as being substantially equivalent to the New Zealand BMLS; or
5. Hold a relevant overseas biological science undergraduate degree that has been assessed by the Council as being substantially equivalent to the New Zealand BMLS.

Medical Laboratory Scientist (Full Registration)

The Medical Laboratory Scientist must satisfy the following:

1. Hold one of the qualifications as stated in clauses 1–5 under Medical Laboratory Scientist (Provisional Registration).