Lab Safety

Question 1

Why are blood samples taken?

Answer 1

Gets a representative sample of circulating blood in a form that best suited to the laboratory investigation

Question 2

Where can blood samples be taken from?

Answer 2

~Capillaries by skin puncture
~Venous sample by venipuncture
~Arteries by arterial sampling

Question 3

Important point to consider for blood samples?

Answer 3

Safe phlebotomy, collection tube & anticoagulants, handling & storage blood sample, lab safety

Question 4

Who takes blood?

Answer 4

Doctors, nurses, phlebotomist, medical scientists

Question 5

Phlebotomy Procedures

Answer 5

1. Check patients identity, ensure all information matches request form
2. Sample labelled bedside - name and hospital number checked
3. Ensure phlebotomy tray requires all specimen bottles
4. skin cleaned (70% alcohol), tourniquet/blood pressure cuff, keep patients arm warm.
5. Place sterile cotton dressing on puncture site

Question 6

Post-phlebotomy procedure

Answer 6

1. Double check patient identifiers match request form
2. Specimen correctly labelled
3. Biohazard warning if relevant
4. Beware of needle stick injury
5. Needle should be placed in sharps bin

Question 7

Phlebotomy Tray

Answer 7

Syringes, needles, tourniquet, specimen containers (anticoagulants), request form, 70% alcohol swabs, adhesive dressing, self-sealing bags, rack to hold specimen

Question 8

What pathogens can be encountered in blood in medical labs?

Answer 8

HIV, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus

Question 9

Safety procedures when handling blood

Answer 9

~Personal hygiene - avoid contact with broken skin, wash hands after lab, disposal of gloves
~PPEs - White coat(Howie - not to be worn outside lab), gloves, goggles, masks
~Avoid unnecessary aerosol production
~Centrifuged in sealed containers
~no mouth pipetting
~Disposable plastics instead of glassware
~Highly infectious samples - experienced staff, microbiological safety cabinets

Question 10

Waste disposal

Answer 10

~Use biohazard bag
~Discard materials & sharps in correct bins
~Contaminated glassware immersed in sodium hypochlorite
~Clear blood spillage with hypochlorite immediately

Question 11

Pre-test safety measures

Answer 11

~sent in biohazard bag
~request from should be separate from blood sample
~High risk samples labelled
~Vacutainer collection sample
~Postal samples comply with regulations & licensed couriers