med 18

 

¾ Whenever possible, avoid using needles and other

sharp instruments. Place used needles, syringes and

other sharp instruments and objects in a puncture

resistant container. Do not recap used needles and do

not reuse needles from syringes for disposal

¾ Never pipette by mouth

¾ Perform all technical procedures in a way that

minimizes the risk of creating aerosols, droplets,

splashes or spills

¾ Use a biosafety cabinet while working on aerosolizing

specimen

¾ Do not eat, drink, smoke, apply cosmetics or store food

or personal items in the laboratory

¾ Make sure that there is an effective insect and rodent

control program

¾ If a laboratory personnel has lesions on hand and feet,

then:

• If superficial, he or she should wear protective

dressing and wear gloves over it

• If wound is deep or raw then the concerned person

should not handle samples till the wound heals.

¾ If there is a pregnant healthcare worker then in view of

the occupational risk to the woman and the developing

fetus, on compassionate grounds, where possible she

should be involved in clerical tasks or stay away from

work for the duration of her pregnancy.

Containing Spills

¾ Cover the spill immediately with absorbent material to

avoid aerosolization

¾ Soak the material by pouring disinfectant on it

¾ Leave the area for 30 minutes

¾ Mop with more adsorbent material after wearing gown,

mask and gloves

Laboratory 17

¾ Place material in appropriate bin for disposal (autoclaving or incineration).

Collection of Specimen

¾ Always keep labeled bottle ready on the bedside

¾ Wear disposable gloves

¾ Keep adequate cotton with spirit at collection site

¾ Keep a bucket full of disinfectant [CIDEX

(glutaraldehyde)], one for at the most 5 beds.

Transport of Specimen

¾ Specimens should be collected in plastic; screw-capped

containers prelabeled with patient identification data,

should be packaged and transported in puncture

resistant containers in upright position with the sign of

biohazard on the container.

MEDICOLEGAL ASPECTS OF CLINICAL PRACTICE

Under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), India, 1986;

any patient, registered consumer organization, state or

central government or patient’s legal heirs can sue the

undermentioned persons for shortcomings in “service”

provided by them.

¾ A technician, microbiologist, biochemist or pathologist

running a laboratory

¾ Any private polyclinic, nursing home or hospital,

registered or otherwise

¾ As government hospitals provide service without

consideration (free of cost), they cannot be held

responsible under CPA 1986

¾ Doctors appointed by the government, however, can be

held accountable under other civil and criminal laws

for proven negligence