Histopathology Techniques

Question 1

What are some precautionary measures to be taken in the lab

Answer 1

Hand hygiene
The use of personal protective clothing and equipment
The safe use and disposal of sharps

Question 2

What are the three trainings everyone involved in collecting, handling and transporting specimens from the surgeon all the way through to the histotechnologist should have

Answer 2

Hand hygiene
The use of personal protective clothing equipment
The safe use and disposal of sharps

Question 3

What are the essentials if clinical specimen are to be stored in a refrigerator

Answer 3

The refrigerator should be for the purpose of specimen storage only, which should be labelled with an external biohazard sign
The temperature in the refrigerator should be kept between 4°-8°C (minimum and maximum temperatures should be checked and recorded daily)
The specimen refrigerator must not be accessible to the public
The specimen refrigerator should be cleaned on a weekly basis, defrosted regularly, and cleaned and disinfected after any spillage or leakage

Question 4

All specimen containers, which are to be transported to the laboratory, must be sealed in the plastic bag which is attached to the request forms
True or false

Answer 4

True

Question 5

What are some exceptions for which specimen could be carried by hand

Answer 5

24-hour urine bottles: these bottles must be placed in large self-sealing plastic sacks provided by the pathology department. The request form must be placed within the second pocket situated on the side of the specimen bag
Blood gases: when blood samples are obtained for blood gas analysis, the needle must be removed (using the needle removing device on a sharps container) and a sterile red cap fitted to the end of the syringe prior to transportation to the point of analysis

Question 6

All specimens must routinely be carried in the ………………. boxes.

Answer 6

Transport

Question 7

All spillages should be removed and cleaned in accordance with the Guidelines for the ………………………

Answer 7

Decontamination of Medical Devices

Question 8

To minimize the risk of specimen of high risk patients, ensure that specimen are packaged as follows

Answer 8

Attach a “Danger of Infection” label on the specimen container
Place the specimen in a sealable plastic bag and close the seal
Attach a “Danger of Infection” label to the request form and the appropriate section of the pathology form should be circled “Yes - Danger of Infection Risk Present”
Specify on the request form the nature of the risk eg typhoid, etc