Laboratory: Lab Safety Flashcards
Two Primary Causes of Accidents
Unsafe activities
Unsafe environmental condition
Safety Equipment
Safety showers & eye wash station
Fire extinguisher
Fume hood
Biosafety cabinets
Personal Protective Equipment
Refers to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans.
Biological Hazard
Healthcare facilities developed procedures
to control and monitor infections occurring within the facilities
Infection Control
Blood and body fluid precautions should be consistently used for all patients
CDC → Universal Precautions (1985)
Consist of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses
Infectious Agents
The location of potentially harmful microorganisms, such as a contaminated clinical specimen or an infected patient.
Reservoir
Equipment and other soiled inanimate objects will serve as reservoirs, particularly if they contain blood, urine, or other body fluids
Fomites
This can be through the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and eyes, and in blood or other body fluids
Portal of Exit
Unprotected host touches the patient, specimen, or a contaminated object
Direct Contact
Inhalation of dried aerosol particles circulating on air currents or attached to dust particles
Airborne
The host inhales material from the reservoir
Droplets
Ingestion of a contaminated
substance
Vehicle
From an animal or insect bite
Vector
Can be the same as the portal of exit, which includes the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and eyes, breaks in the skin, and open
wounds
Portal of Entry
Can be another patient during invasive procedures, visitors, and healthcare personnel when exposed to infectious specimens or needlestick injuries
Susceptible Host
Proper hand hygiene, correct disposal of contaminated materials, and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) are of major importance in the laboratory
Chain of Infection
Daily exposure to blood and body fluids
Category I
Regular exposure to blood and body fluids
Category II
No exposure to blood and body fluids
Category III
Employers must offer HBV vaccine to all personnel (Category I and II)
True
Specimens should be “capped” during centrifugation
True