About Course
HLTPAT010 – Collect Specimens for Drugs of Abuse Testing
HLTPAT010 – Collect Specimens for Drugs of Abuse Testing is a nationally recognised unit of competency from the HLT Health Training Package. This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to confirm collection requirements, prepare the individual and equipment, and collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing using urine, oral fluid, and breath testing procedures.
This unit is suitable for individuals working in collection centres, hospitals, health care environments, workplaces, and other settings where drugs of abuse testing may be required.
Mapping Information
HLTPAT010 – Collect Specimens for Drugs of Abuse Testing supersedes and is equivalent to:
✔ HLTPAT005 – Collect Specimens for Drugs of Abuse Testing
Minor changes have been made to the performance criteria and knowledge evidence, with clarifications to performance evidence and assessment conditions. Foundation skills have also been made explicit.
This mapping information reflects the official unit update from HLTPAT005 to HLTPAT010.
Course Overview
This course provides practical knowledge and skills for collecting specimens in accordance with workplace procedures, applicable Australian/New Zealand standards, industry codes of practice, and current Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation.
Students will learn how to follow correct pre-collection, collection, and post-collection procedures while maintaining privacy, informed consent, infection control, specimen integrity, accurate documentation, and chain of custody requirements.
Important Unit Information
Unit Code: HLTPAT010
Unit Title: Collect Specimens for Drugs of Abuse Testing
Training Package: HLT Health
Competency Field: N/A
Unit Sector: Pathology
Pre-requisite Unit: No pre-requisite units are listed.
Licensing / Regulatory Information: No licensing, legislative, or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Mapping: HLTPAT010 supersedes and is equivalent to HLTPAT005 – Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Confirm Collection Requirements
✔ Greet the individual courteously and identify self
✔ Identify the individual according to organisational procedures
✔ Confirm that the individual meets pre-testing criteria for the required specimen collection
✔ Obtain, interpret, and record personal and clinical information according to organisational procedures
✔ Explain the collection procedure to the individual
✔ Obtain informed consent for the collection procedure
2. Prepare for Collection Procedure
✔ Ensure the collection environment is prepared according to standards
✔ Confirm the method of collection based on correct interpretation of the clinical request
✔ Select equipment and ask the individual to select the collection kit according to standard and organisational procedures
✔ Prepare the individual for the procedure by removing excess clothing and other possessions, and storing these securely
✔ Provide accurate advice to the individual about the procedure
3. Collect Specimen
✔ Collect the specimen according to standard and organisational procedures
✔ Adopt infection control procedures according to organisational procedures
✔ Observe the individual during and after collection for potential tampering and respond according to organisational procedures
✔ Assure specimen integrity by testing and securing the specimen immediately following collection and while it remains the collector’s responsibility
4. Follow Post Collection Procedures
✔ Label specimens according to standard and organisational procedures
✔ Dispose of waste according to waste management and organisational procedures
✔ Confirm information accuracy and specimen security with the individual
✔ Complete collection documentation according to standard and organisational procedures
✔ Prepare and secure collected specimens for transit or storage, ensuring chain of custody is maintained
Assessment Requirements
Students must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. Assessment must reflect the job role and include the ability to manage tasks and respond to workplace contingencies.
Performance evidence includes:
✔ Collecting 3 different types of specimens for drugs of abuse testing from at least 2 different individuals
✔ Urine specimen collection
✔ Oral fluid specimen collection
✔ Breath specimen collection
✔ Selecting, preparing, and using compliant equipment and collection kits
Knowledge Evidence
Students must demonstrate knowledge of key requirements connected to drugs of abuse testing, including:
✔ The context for drugs of abuse testing, including industry, social services, prisons, medical, and legal purposes
✔ Legal and ethical considerations, including duty of care, informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, disclosure, and records management
✔ Work role boundaries, work health and safety, and waste management
✔ Pre-collection, during collection, and post-collection procedures required to meet chain of custody requirements
✔ Suitable environments for specimen collection
✔ Individual privacy and staff safety requirements
✔ Environmental and specimen requirements designed to reduce tampering risk
✔ Documentation, specimen integrity testing, storage, and transportation procedures
✔ Drugs of abuse, including types of drugs, chemistry, effects on the body, types of collection, and methods of analysis
Foundation Skills
Students undertaking this unit will apply foundation skills in a workplace-style collection environment.
✔ Oral communication: Interact with individuals, assess pre-test criteria, and report findings using relevant terminology
✔ Writing: Complete familiar and unfamiliar documentation accurately
✔ Reading: Interpret request information, individual records, technical documents, infection control policies, and chain of custody documents
✔ Numeracy: Measure specimen volumes, interpret reference ranges, and check expiry dates
✔ Observation: Routinely monitor chain of custody and specimen integrity
Assessment Conditions
All aspects of the performance evidence must be demonstrated using simulation before demonstration in a clinical workplace setting or an environment that reflects a real workplace.
The following conditions must be met for this unit:
✔ Use of suitable facilities, equipment, and resources required by the relevant standard
✔ Modelling of industry operating conditions
✔ Interaction with non-compliant individuals
✔ Presence of situations requiring problem solving
✔ Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations requirements for assessors
✔ Assessors must hold this unit or demonstrate equivalent skills and knowledge
Mandatory Workplace Requirements
Where a clinical workplace is used, all activities must be supervised by a person currently working in a collection role for at least 18 hours per fortnight for at least 12 months. This requirement supports patient safety and appropriate workplace supervision.
Materials Included
✔ Course learning resources relevant to HLTPAT010
✔ Specimen collection procedure information
✔ Workplace-style forms and documentation examples
✔ Chain of custody guidance
✔ Information on privacy, consent, and confidentiality requirements
✔ Infection control and safe work practice guidance
✔ Access to suitable collection equipment and resources for practical assessment
✔ Assessment materials to demonstrate knowledge and practical skills
Requirements / Instructions
✔ No pre-requisite unit is listed for HLTPAT010
✔ Students must be able to read and follow workplace procedures
✔ Students must be able to communicate clearly and professionally with individuals
✔ Students must complete collection-related documentation accurately
✔ Students must follow infection control, privacy, and safety requirements
✔ Students must participate in practical collection activities and simulated workplace scenarios
✔ Assessment includes urine, oral fluid, and breath specimen collection requirements
✔ Students must maintain specimen integrity and follow chain of custody procedures
✔ Training and assessment must align with applicable standards, workplace procedures, and RTO requirements
Recognition and Pathway Information
HLTPAT010 may be relevant to individuals working in pathology collection, workplace testing, health care, compliance, safety, and drug and alcohol screening environments.
This unit is also listed as an elective within HLT37525 – Certificate III in Pathology.
Discuss HLTPAT010 Training with NSTA™
NSTA Pty Ltd RTO 32292 delivers nationally recognised training to support practical workplace capability in specimen collection, drug and alcohol testing procedures, documentation, and chain of custody requirements.