Biomedical Laboratory Science
New for 2021 – 2022
Skill step point values have been updated.
Equipment provided by competitor has been updated.
Event Summary
Biomedical Laboratory Science provides members with the opportunity to gain knowledge and
skills required for a medical laboratory setting. This competitive event consists of 2 rounds.
Round One is a written, multiple-choice test and the top scoring competitors will advance to
Round Two for the skills assessment. This event aims to inspire members to learn more about
biotechnology careers.
Sponsorship This competitive event is sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb and Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Dress Code Competitors shall wear proper business attire or official HOSA uniform, or attire appropriate to
the occupational area, during both rounds. Bonus points will be awarded for proper dress.
General Rules
1. Competitors in this event must be active members of HOSA and in good standing.
2. Secondary and Postsecondary/Collegiate divisions are eligible to compete in this event.
3. Competitors must be familiar with and adhere to the “General Rules and Regulations of
the HOSA Competitive Events Program (GRR)."
4. All competitors shall report to the site of the event at the time designated for each
round of competition. At ILC, competitor’s photo ID must be presented prior to ALL
competition rounds.
Official References
5. All official references, including websites, are used in the development of the written
test and skill rating sheets.
• Estridge and Reynolds. Basic Clinical Laboratory Techniques. Cengage
Learning. Latest edition.
• Daugherty, Ellyn. Biotechnology: Science for the New Millennium, Carnegie
Learning. Latest edition.
(From this link you will click ‘view your materials’ and then
‘proceed to checkout’.)
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 1 of 16
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization http://www.bio.org/ as posted as of
September 1, 2021
• Additional NEW resource, as of November 17, 2021: Biotechnology A
Laboratory Skills Course by J. Kirk Brown. Test question content is not taken
from this book; however, competitors and advisors interested in
Biotechnology will find the book and other Bio-Rad products extremely
beneficial and relevant to their education and classroom.
Round One Test
6. Test Instructions: The written test will consist of 50 multiple choice items in a maximum
of 60 minutes.
.
7. Time Remaining Announcements: There will be a verbal announcement when there
are 30 minutes, 15 minutes, 5 minutes, and 1 minute remaining to complete the test.
8. Written Test Plan
Biotechnology industry, equipment and products ................... 10%
Raw materials of biotechnology ................................................ 8%
Lab safety and infection control .............................................. 10%
DNA structure and function ....................................................... 8%
Proteins and enzymes............................................................. 10%
Genetic engineering .................................................................. 8%
Biotechnology in Health .......................................................... 10%
DNA synthesis, sequencing and genomics .............................. 8%
Clinical Chemistry ..................................................................... 8%
Hematology and Hemostasis .................................................. 10%
Careers in medical lab and biotechnology .............................. 10%
NOTE: Chartered associations may use a different process for testing, to
include but not limited to pre-conference testing, online testing, and testing at
a computer. Check with your Chartered Association for the process you will
be using.
9. The test score from Round One will be used to qualify the competitor for the Round Two.
10. Sample Round One Test Questions
1. Which step in the scientific method involves the researcher predicting the
results of experimentation based on past research or experience?
A. Conducting an experiment.
B. Developing a hypothesis.
C. Formulating the question.
D. Planning the experiment.
Daugherty pp 7
2. For the highest possible magnification, the 100x oil immersion lens is used
with an ocular strength of 10x. This allows a researcher to see an object how
many times its actual size?
A. 10
B. 100
C. 1,000
D. 10,000
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 2 of 16
Estridge Page 145
3. Which biotechnology discipline designs mathematical models and uses
computers for analyzing and relating sequential data?
A. Analytic science
B. Industrialist science
C. Research analysis
D. Bioinformatics
Daugherty Page 441
Round Two Skills
11. Round Two is the performance of a selected skill(s). The Round Two skills approved for
this event are:
Skill I: Identifying Laboratory Instruments/Equipment (Including name of
instrument/equipment and purpose or use.) (15 minutes)
15 instruments or photos from the following list:
24-hr Urine Specimen Container Clinical Centrifuge N95 Respirator Single-Use Lancet
Acetest Coagulation Instrument Needleless Transfer Device Slide Staining Rack
Agar Plate Culture Swabs & Transport Perianal Paddle Kit Sterile Vacuum Tube for
Tubes Urine
Agar Shield Disposable Needle Holder with pH Indicator Strips Stool Specimen Container
Safety Guard
Analytical Balance Electric Incinerator pH Meter Tabletop Autoclave
Automatic Slide Stainer Emergency Eye Wash Station Pipet Aids Test Tubes
Bacteriological Incubator Eflenmeyer Flask Plastic Vacuum Tubes Top-Loading Balance
Beakers Fume Hood Platelet Aggregation Profiler Tourniquet
Beral (Transfer) Pipet Glucose Meter Point-of-Care Coagulation Transmission Electronic
Analyzer Microscope
Binocular Bright-Field Microscope Graduated Cylinders Rapid-Latex Agglutination Test for Urine Particle Analyzer
D-Dimer
Blood Collection Tubes Hemacytometer Refractometer Urine Reagent Strip
Blood Bank Refrigerator Inoculating Loop Saf-T Wing Blood Collection Set Urine Sterile Collecting
Straw
Candle Jar Manual Differential Cell Counter Safety Shower Urine Strip Reader
Capillary Collection Vials Microhematocrit Centrifuge Safety Syringes Urinometer
Chromatographic Immunoassay Microhematocrit Tubes with Scanning Electron Microscope Volumetric Flask
for Urine hCG Sealant Pad
Clean-Catch Urine Collection Kit Micropippettes Serological Centrifuge
Skill II: Infection control and transmission-based precautions (5 minutes)
Skill III: Inoculate and streak an agar plate (5 minutes)
Skill IV: Using a microscope (10 minutes)
Skill V: ABO Grouping (6 minutes)
Skill VI: Gram Stain (7 minutes)
Skill VII: Preparing a Laboratory Solution (7 minutes)
(FOR ALL SKILLS, BODY FLUIDS WILL BE A SIMULATED PRODUCT)
12. The selected skill(s) will be presented to competitors as a written scenario at the
beginning of the round. The scenario will be the same for each competitor and will
include a challenging component that will require the competitor to apply critical
thinking skills. A sample scenario can be found here.
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 3 of 16
13. Timing will begin when the scenario is presented to the competitor and will be stopped
at the end of the time allowed.
14. The scenario is a secret topic. Competitors MAY NOT discuss or reveal the secret topic
until after the event has concluded or will face penalties per the GRRs.
15. Judges will provide information to competitors as directed by the rating
sheets. Competitors may ask questions of the judges while performing skills if the
questions relate to patient physiology and will be included in the scenario.
Final Scoring
16. The competitor must earn a score of 70% or higher on the combined skill(s) of
the event (excluding the test and ID lab equipment) in order to be recognized
as an award winner at the ILC.
17. Final rank is determined by adding the round one test score plus round two
skills score. In case of a tie, the highest test score will be used to determine
the rank.
Competitors must provide:
☐ Two #2 pencil with eraser ☐ Safety glasses or goggles shield
☐ Sterile non-latex surgical gloves ☐ Disposable gown
☐ Disposable masks with ties or loops ☐ Disposable non-latex gloves
☐ Watch with second hand (optional-Round Two only)
Full Face Shield
A photo ID
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 4 of 16
Biomedical Laboratory Science
SKILL I: IDENTIFYING LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS (Time: 15 minutes)
Competitor #: ____________ Judge's Initials:________ Total Points (45 poss.) _________
15
14
13
12
11
10
TOTAL: ID & Spelling (30 poss)
Name of Instrument
spelling)
for name &
Points (1 each
Purpose or Use
TOTAL: Purpose (15 poss.)
purpose/use)
for correct
Points (1 point
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 5 of 16
Biomedical Laboratory Science
Competitor #: Judge's Signature: ____________________________
Skill II: Infection Control and Transmission-Based Possible Awarded
Precautions (Time: 5 minutes)
1. Assembled equipment and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment - 1 0
including gloves, mask and gown).
2. Washed hands using antiseptic soap
a. Turned on warm water using a paper towel to turn the faucet 2 0
handle, then discarded the towel
b. Dispensed soap into hands, then rubbed fronts and backs of 2 0
hands and between fingers vigorously for 15 – 30 seconds.
c. Rinsed hands, fingertips downward, under warm running 2 0
water.
d. Used clean towel to dry hands and turn off faucet. 2 0
e. Disposed of towel, touching only the clean side. 2 0
3. Used waterless antiseptic handrub. 2 0
a. Applied handrub to palm of hand and rubbed hands together
vigorously for at least 15 seconds, covering all surfaces of
hands and fingers.
b. Continued skill until all alcohol has evaporated and hands are
completely dry. 2 0
* Steps for donning PPE must be performed in the order listed below. 2 0
4. Slipped arms into the sleeves of a gown, being careful to touch
only the inside of the gown.
5. Secured gown at neck and back of waist, covering clothing 2 0
completely.
6. Donned mask
a. Picked up mask and place it over the mouth and nose, being 2 0
careful not to touch the face with the fingers.
b. Secured the mask by tying or looping over the ears. 2 0
7. Donned sterile gloves
a. Opened the package of gloves, avoiding touching the outside 2 0
of the gloves.
b. Picked up the right glove by the cuff and inserted the right 2 0
hand.
c. Picked up and held the left glove by inserting the fingertips of 2 0
the gloved right hand under the cuff of the left glove.
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 6 of 16
Items Evaluated Possible Awarded
d. Inserted the left hand into the glove. 2 0
e. Positioned glove cuffs over the wrists by using gloved 2 0
fingertips to push cuffs toward the elbow.
* Judge instructs competitor to remove PPE.
8. Removed the gloves by folding them down and turning them inside 2 0
out, avoiding touching the outside of the gloves.
9. Discarded gloves in biohazard receptacle. 2 0
10. Untied gown ties at neck and waist. 2 0
11. Removed gown by pulling down from the neck and slipping hands 2 0
back into gown sleeve, touching only the inside of the gown.
12. Folded the gown down over the arms inside-out and discarded in 2 0
biohazard receptacle.
13. Removed mask, touching only the ties. 2 0
14. Held the mask by the ties and discarded in biohazard receptacle. 2 0
15. Used antiseptic handrub for hand hygiene 2 0
TOTAL POINTS - SKILL II 49
70% Mastery for Skill II = 34.3
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 7 of 16
Biomedical Laboratory Science
Competitor #: Judge's Signature: ___________________________
Skill III: Inoculate and streak agar plate (Time: 5 minutes)
Possible Awarded
1. Assembled materials and equipment. 1 0
2. Used alcohol-based handrub and put on gloves and face protection. 2 0
3. Selected an agar plate to be inoculated and labeled the bottom with a 1 0
marker.
4. Selected an inoculated swab. 1 0
5. Placed package of sterile disposable loops within reach. 1 0
6. Removed pre-inoculated swab from package. 1 0
7. Opened the lid of the agar plate just enough to insert the swab. 1 0
8. Spread the inoculum over the surface of one quadrant of the agar plate. 1 0
9. Replaced the lid on the agar plate. 1 0
10. Disposed of swab in biohazard receptacle. 1 0
11. Picked up a sterile disposable loop and lifted the lid of the agar plate just 1 0
enough to be able to insert the inoculating loop.
12. a. Streaked the second quadrant of the plate by touching the loop
into the first quadrant and streaking all the way across the
second quadrant, and 1 0
b. Made six to eight strokes. 1 0
13. Disposed of loop in biohazard receptacle. 2 0
14. Picked up a sterile disposable loop and lifted the lid of the agar plate just 1 0
enough to be able to insert the inoculating loop.
15. a. Streaked the third quadrant by touching the loop into the second
quadrant and streaking into the third quadrant, and 1 0
b. Made six to eight strokes.
1 0
16. Disposed of loop in biohazard receptacle. 2 0
17. Picked up a sterile disposable loop and lifted the lid of the agar plate just 1 0
enough to be able to insert the inoculating loop.
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 8 of 16
Items Evaluated Possible Awarded
18. a. Streaked the fourth quadrant in a manner to produce isolated
colonies: Touched the loop to the third quadrant and spread 1 0
the organism into the fourth quadrant using a continuous streak
in a “tornado” pattern.
b. Decreased the width of the streaks horizontally and increased 1 0
the distance between the streaks vertically.
19. Replaced the lid on the plate. 1 0
20. Disposed of loop in biohazard receptacle. 1 0
21. Placed the agar plate upside down in the 35-37°C incubator. 1 0
22. Cleaned reusable equipment and returned to proper storage; put
2 0
disposables in biohazard containers.
23. Cleaned work area with surface disinfectant. 2 0
24. Removed gloves and face protection. 2 0
25. Used alcohol-based handrub for hand hygiene. 2 0
TOTAL POINTS - SKILL III 35
70% Mastery for Skill III = 24.5
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 9 of 16
Biomedical Laboratory Science
Competitor #: Judge's Signature: _____________________________
Skill IV: Using a Microscope (Time:10 minutes) Possible Awarded
1. Used alcohol-based handrub for hand hygiene. 2 0
2. Assembled equipment and materials. 1 0
3. Used lens paper to clean the eyepiece and the objectives. 1 0
4. Used the coarse adjustment to raise the nosepiece unit. 1 0
5. Raised the condenser as far as possible by adjusting the condenser knob. 1 0
6. Rotated the low power (10x) objective into position, so it is directly over the 1 0
condenser.
7. Turned on the microscope light. 1 0
8. Opened the iris diaphragm until maximum light comes up through the 1 0
condenser.
9. Placed and secured the prepared slide on the stage (specimen side up). 1 0
10. Positioned the condenser so it is almost touching the bottom of the slide. 1 0
11. Located the coarse adjustment and looked directly at the stage and low power
objective and turned the coarse adjustment until the objective is as close to the 1 0
slide as it will go.
12. Looked into the ocular(s) and slowly turned the coarse adjustment in the 1 0
opposite direction to raise the objective (or lower the stage) until the object on
the slide comes into focus.
13. Changed to the fine adjustment and turned the knob until the object came into 1 0
finest focus.
14. JUDGE looked in the objective and confirmed the fine focus. 4 0
15. a. Rotated the high-power objective (40X) into position while observing
the objective and the slide to see that the objective does not strike the 1 0
slide.
b. Looked through the ocular(s) to view the object on the slide.
1 0
c. Located the fine adjustment and turned it until the object is in fine
focus WITHOUT using the coarse adjustment. 1 0
16. Rotated the oil-immersion objective slightly to the side. 1 0
17. Placed one drop of immersion oil on the portion of the slide that will be directly 1 0
over the condenser.
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 10 of 16
Items Evaluated Possible Awarded
18. a. Rotated the oil-immersion objective into position, being careful not to rotate 1 0
the high-power objective through the oil.
b. Looked to see that the oil-immersion objective is touching the drop of oil. 1 0
19. Looked through the ocular(s) and slowly turned the fine adjustment until the 1 0
image is in fine focus.
20. JUDGE looked in the objective and confirmed the fine focus. 4 0
21. Rotated the low power (10X) objective into position, making sure no other 1 0
objective comes in contact with the oil on the slide.
22. Removed the slide from the microscope stage, gently blotted the oil from the 1 0
slide, and returned the slide to the slidebox.
23. Cleaned the oculars and low and high-power objectives with clean lens paper 1 0
and lens cleaner.
24. Cleaned the oil-immersion objective with lens paper and lens cleaner to remove 1 0
all oil.
25. Cleaned all oil from the microscope stage and condenser. 1 0
26. Positioned the nosepiece in the lowest position using the coarse adjustment. 1 0
27. Turned off the microscope light and disconnected the microscope from power 1 0
source.
28. Centered the stage so it does not project from either side of the microscope 1 0
and covered the microscope.
29. Cleaned the work area with disinfectant. 2 0
30. Used alcohol-based handrub. 2 0
TOTAL POINTS - SKILL IV 42
70% Mastery for Skill IV = 29.4
NOTE: For the purpose of this skill performance, a monocular microscope is recommended. If a binocular
microscope is used, the normal step of adjusting the oculars to fit the interpupillary distance of the user is omitted
because of the need for the judge to see the image as well and to save the time the frequent adjustments would
cause.
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 11 of 16
Biomedical Laboratory Science
Competitor #: Judge's Signature: ________________________
Skill V: ABO Grouping (Time: 6 minutes) Possible Awarded
1. Assembled equipment and materials. 1 0
2. Used alcohol-based handrub for hand hygiene and put on gloves. 2 0
3. Performed slide grouping as follows:
a. Obtained a slide with two wells and labeled the slide with the 1 0
patient’s name.
b. Placed three drops of the patient’s blood in each of the A and B 1 0
wells. Did not allow dropper to touch the slide.
c. Placed three drops of the anti-A serum in the A well. 1 0
d. Placed three drops of the anti-B serum in the B well. 1 0
e. Obtained two toothpicks (or disposable stirrers). Stirred each well 1 0
with a separate clean stirrer for 30 seconds.
f. Stirring motion was effective. Avoided splattering the simulated 1 0
blood.
g. Recorded agglutination results on ABO worksheet. 1 0
h. Accurately determined the agglutination, blood type, and transfusion 4 0
responses on the Laboratory Report form.
4. Discarded disposable labware into appropriate biohazard receptacle. 2 0
5. Returned simulated blood, reagents and unused equipment to proper 2 0
storage.
6. Cleaned work area with surface disinfectant. 2 0
7. Removed gloves and discarded into biohazard receptacle. 2 0
8. Used alcohol-based handrub for hand hygiene. 2 0
TOTAL POINTS - SKILL V 24
70% Mastery for Skill V = 16.8
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 12 of 16
COMPETITOR # _________________________________
*Each competitor will receive a copy of this form to complete during the skill demonstration.
ABO LABORATORY REPORT
SKILL V: ABO Typing
Patient Identification DATE _____________
Blood Type Analysis
_____________________________________________________________________
Agglutination Reaction
Patient Anti-A Serum Anti-B Serum Blood Type
1. If the patient needed a transfusion, what blood type(s) could this patient safely receive?
______________________
2. What blood type(s) could safely receive this patient’s blood?
______________________
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 13 of 16
Biomedical Laboratory Science
Competitor #: Judge's Signature: _____________________________
Skill VI: Gram Stain (Time: 7 minutes) Possible Awarded
1. Assembled equipment and materials. 1 0
2. Used alcohol-based handrub for hand hygiene and put on gloves and face 2 0
shield (or equivalent PPE).
3. Obtained prepared smear and placed on staining rack. 1 0
4. Flooded the slide with crystal violet for one minute. 1 0
5. Rinsed slide with gentle stream of water from a beaker, faucet, or plastic
squeeze bottle and tilted the slides to remove excess water. 1 0
6. Flooded the slides with Gram’s iodine for the recommended time. 1 0
7. Rinsed slide with gentle stream of water from a beaker, faucet, or plastic 1 0
squeeze bottle and tilted the slides to remove excess water.
8. Held the slide by the short edge using forceps or clothespin. Added the
decolorizer by squeeze bottle or Pasteur pipette until no more purple color ran
off the slide. (Note: Important not to decolorize more than a few seconds to
prevent over-decolorization) 1 0
9. Rinsed the slides immediately to remove the decolorizer; tilted the slides to 1 0
remove excess water.
10. Counterstain the smears by flooding the slides with safranin for 30-60 seconds. 1 0
11. Rinsed the slides, tilted to remove excess water; wiped the back of the slide
with paper towel to remove stain; stood slides on end or blotted between 1 0
bibulous paper to dry.
12. Judge verified properly stained smear. 4 0
13. Returned slides to storage or discarded into proper biohazard containers for 2 0
disposal.
14. Cleaned work surfaces with disinfectant. 2 0
15. Removed and discarded gloves into biohazard container and used alcohol- 2 0
based handrub for hand hygiene.
TOTAL POINTS - SKILL VI 22
70% Mastery for Skill VI = 15.4
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 14 of 16
Biomedical Laboratory Science
Competitor #: Judge's Signature: ________________________
Skill VII: Preparing a Laboratory Solution (Time: 7 minutes) Possible Awarded
1. Worked the math problem in the scenario to determine the percent
solution. 1 0
Judge: Award a point here if the competitor does the math. The points for
accuracy are awarded in step #9.
2. Washed hands with antiseptic. (may verbalize) 2 0
3. Put on gloves and face protection. 2 0
4. Obtained the correct equipment and solutions as directed by the scenario
– solute, solvent, beaker, graduated cylinder, a TD pipet or volumetric
pipet and a pipet-aid or pipet filler-dispenser. 2 0
Judge: The setting should include a “storage” area with different
types/sizes of lab equipment. Award points if the competitor selects the
correct equipment for preparing the solution.
a. Measured the water (solvent) in a graduated cylinder and poured it 1 0
into a beaker.
b. Fit the pipet-aid securely to the top of a pipet. 1 0
c. Kept the pipet vertical and inserted the pipet tip well below the 1 0
surface of the fluid in the beaker containing the solute.
d. Drew up fluid slowly into the pipet using the pipet-aid, filling the pipet 1 0
slightly above the desired volume marking or fill line.
e. Removed the pipet from the solute, kept in the vertical position, and
wiped the outside of the pipet tip quickly with tissue to remove the 1 0
excess fluid, being careful not to allow the tissue to touch the
opening of the pipet tip.
f. Confirmed the correct solute by checking the label name three times
(prior to drawing up the solute, while removing the solute and then 1 0
when finished with the solute).
g. Touched the pipet tip to the inner wall of the beaker and slowly 1 0
lowered the fluid level using the pipet-aid, until the lower point of the
meniscus touched the desired volume marking, OR, if using a
volumetric pipet, until the lower point of the meniscus touched the
etched line on the pipet.
h. Judge verified the correct measure. 4 0
i. Moved the pipet and held it vertically over the beaker containing the 1 0
solvent.
j. Placed the pipet tip against the inner wall of the beaker. 1 0
k. Released the suction on the pipet-aid and allowed the liquid to drain 1 0
from the pipet by gravity drainage.
l. Left the pipet tip in contact with the inner wall of the container 1 to 3 1 0
seconds to allow the correct volume to be delivered.
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 15 of 16
Items Evaluated Possible Awarded
m. TD pipet (nonblowout) OR volumetric pipet - Examined the pipet tip
– a small drop of fluid should remain in the tip, OR
1 0
TD pipet (blowout) - Used the pipet-aid to force out the last drop of
solution from the pipet tip into the beaker.
5. Placed used glassware in appropriate cleaning solution as directed by the
scenario and returned unused equipment to storage.
Judge: A labeled cleaning solution should be available in the “storage”
2 0
area. Any equipment the competitor takes to his/her station and does not
use should be returned to the storage area as noted in this step.
6. Cleaned work surface with disinfectant. 2 0
7. Removed gloves and discarded them into biohazard receptacle. 2 0
8. Washed hands with antiseptic. (may verbalize) 2 0
9. Correctly calculated and measured the solution. 4 0
TOTAL POINTS – SKILL VII
35
70% Mastery for Skill VII = 24.5
HOSA Biomedical Laboratory Science Event Guidelines (December 2021) Page 16 of 16
