Biochemical Spills Flashcards
What should you do if a spill includes broken glassware or sharps?
Use a brush and pan, and/or forceps
What is the purpose of spill kits?
Provides easy access to proper equipment and disinfectants at all times
List the 6 elements of a proper spill kit. (6)
- Disinfectant → made fresh daily or weekly depending on the type
- Forceps
- Paper towels
- Metal dustpans (autoclavable)
- Heavy duty polyethylene bags
- HEPA filter masks, shoe covers, and full PPE
Name 5 types of common laboratory disinfectants. (5)
- 1% hypochlorite or 1% Haz-Tab solution
- 2% glutaraldehyde
- Formaldehyde
- Iodine
- Chlorhexidine
What does 1% hypochlorite do?
Effectively kills HIV, HBV, HBC, bacteria, and fungi
How often should a 1% hypochlorite solution be made (technically)?
Daily
What is 2% glutaraldehyde and what is it considered? (2)
- High level and very potent disinfectant used on metal surfaces
- Considered a toxic product
Why is 1% hypochlorite not the ideal solution on metal and how should it be used on metal when necessary? (2)
- Corrosive on metal surfaces
2. Metal objects should be soaked for 15min, then rinsed very well with running water for 3-5min
What is formaldehyde and how is it used? (2)
- High level disinfectant and sterilant used in both liquid and gaseous states
- As a vapour, formaldehyde is used to disinfect large areas
What does 10% formalin (formaldehyde) do?
10% formalin liquid kills spores
When formaldehyde is used as a vapour, what safety precautions must be used? (2)
- Full mask must be worn at all times
2. Must have 2 people present at the same time
What do iodine and chlorhexidine do?
Eliminate/remove hepatitis B (HBV)
What are the steps in cleaning up spills on hard surfaces? (5)
- Isolate the area if possible
- Wear gloves
- Remove visible blood with paper towel
- Area should be decontaminated with appropriate germicide; apply based on manufacturer’s directions
- Dispose of all contaminated items in biohazardous waste
What are the steps in cleaning up small spills? (5)
- Cover spilled material with paper towel to avoid splashing
- Pour disinfectant onto paper towel in circular motion from the outside in
- Wait 15-30min
- Remove paper towel
- Repeat if required
What are the steps in cleaning up larger spills? (3)
- Hold breathe and inform others in the area
- Move away from the area for 10-30min to allow aerosols to disperse and settle
- Follow small spill procedure
What are the steps in cleaning up spills within the biological safety cabinets? (4)
- Leave fan on
- Follow small spill procedure
- If spilled material goes through perforated work surfaces and into the catch tray, pour disinfectant to dilute spill tenfold
- Let stand, drain tray, and clean
What are the steps in cleaning up spills and broken glassware within a centrifuge? (7)
- Turn off centrifuge
- If sealed, jump to step 7
If not, inform others and let stand for 30min - Slowly open lid, remove all broken tubes, buckets, rotors, etc to a basin of non-corrosive disinfectants. Let stand for 24hrs (items may be autoclaved as well)
- Place unbroken, capped specimens in disinfectant, rinse well with water, and dry
- Wipe down the bowl 2 times with disinfectant and rinse with water
Plastic → hypochlorite
Metal → glutaraldehyde - Dispose of all cloths used as if infectious
- If only tubes are broken, leave them in there, replace lid loosely, and autoclave all contents or use disinfectant
What typically happens to leaking specimens?
Many workplaces will not accept leaking specimens
Who can decide whether or not to process a leaky specimen?
The technologist
Why might a technologist choose to process a specimen even though it’s leaky?
May not be a recollectable specimen
How do you retrieve information off a contaminated requisition? (2)
- Place it in a clear page holder so information can be read on both sides
- Photocopy both sides and dispose of the soiled requisition
