Topic 1. Good Microbiological Practices and Procedures
Is the following statement a risk or a hazard?
"Something that has a potential to cause adverse effects (i.e. biological agents)"
Hazard
True or False. Sterilization is the elimination of viable biological agents
False, it is Disinfection
The EHS phone number is:
02-312-3999
TRUE OR FALSE: "To ensure clear labeling, patient name should be written clearly on tube and tracked in the laboratory during the process"
FALSE, A unique identifier is essential on the tube itself, but meta data to be included in the accompanying sheets/documents for patient confidentiality
When is the risk reduced to zero in laboratory?
Never
True or False. After washing your hands in the lab, hands should be dried with multi-use cloth towels, and the towels should go to laundry at the end of every workday.
False. Hands should be dried with single-use paper towels and the towels should properly discarded after use in a designated waste bin
First thing when you notice a large spill in the laboratory....?
Cease activity - alert others and leave room until aerosols settles down
When transporting specimen from one campus to another campus, what package strategy should be in place?
Triple packaging with appropriate labelling and required documents and forms
A laboratory working on medium risk group activity means that personnel are at low/medium risk?
No, it depends on the risk assessment, as the lab user may be facing lower or higher risk depending on many factors
What is the process by which biological agents are unintentionally transferred from one substance or object to another, with potentially harmful effect
Cross contamination
What is the PPE doffing steps in the laboratory (gown, gloves, mask)
Remove gloves -> remove gown -> wash hands -> remove mask -> wash hands
What’s the difference between laminar flow box and BSC II?
Laminar flow boxes protect the product during the manipulation, but not an operator due to the airflow; BSC II protects both
Name three procedures used in the laboratory that may lead to aerosol formation.
Vortexing, shaking, centrifuging, sonication, homogenization, pipetting, opening a cap of a vial (in case of difference in pressure)
List three categories of waste generated in the laboratory
What's your response in case of a needlestick?
Expose wound
Encourage bleeding - let the wound bleed gently (do not squeeze hard)
Wash with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes
TRUE OR FALSE " Transporting sample from one laboratory to another in the same campus, requires triple packaging under UN2814 regulations"
FALSE, this applies to international shipping of category B agents "such as clinical specimens of respiratory pathogens"
TRUE OR FALSE: For class 2 Biosafety Cabinets, some cabinets may purify and recirculate air while other may use only fresh air depending on the type.
TRUE
List the three main factors in order to have a successful disinfection
To have proper disinfection, we need to:
1- use of proper disinfectant
2- allow proper contact time
3- use the proper procedure
If there's a spill inside a Biosafety Cabinet and you use bleach as disinfectant, mention at least 2 aspects to be considered for the process.
To use 1% freshly prepared for the spill
To use appropriate contact time (10 - 15 mins)
To wipe off traces of bleach after finish with water or 70% ethanol
List the hierarchy of risk mitigation measures
double jeopardy: provide example for every type of measures
Eliminate
Substitute
Isolate
Engineering controls
Administrative Controls
PPE