Office Environmental Safety
This agency enforces standards for workplace safety, including in medical offices.
What is OSHA?
Handwashing should last this many seconds to effectively remove pathogens.
What is 20 seconds?
This lab device spins specimens at high speeds to separate components.
What is a centrifuge?
This law regulates laboratory testing and ensures quality standards.
What is CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)?
This type of waste includes blood-soaked bandages and is placed in biohazard bags.
What is infectious waste?
This document provides information on handling, storage, and hazards of chemicals.
What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
These precautions treat all blood and bodily fluids as if they are infectious.
What are Standard Precautions?
This color-coded container is used for the disposal of needles and sharp objects.
What is a sharps container?
These are simple lab tests with low risk of error allowed under a Certificate of Waiver.
What are CLIA-waived tests?
This action is the first step after a needle-stick injury.
What is washing the area with soap and water?
These should be unplugged by pulling on the plug, not the cord, to prevent electrical hazards.
What are electrical devices or cords?
This is the process of destroying all microbial life, including spores.
What is sterilization?
This is the first thing a medical assistant must check before using a reagent.
What is the expiration date?
This federal law protects the privacy and security of patient health information.
What is HIPAA?
This term describes a specimen that appears pink or red due to ruptured red blood cells.
What is hemolyzed?
This is the procedure for staying indoors during emergencies like chemical spills.
What is shelter-in-place?
This type of equipment protects healthcare workers from exposure to infections.
What is personal protective equipment (PPE)?
These values indicate a life-threatening lab result requiring immediate attention.
What are critical values?
This organization provides guidelines and best practices for lab quality and safety.
What is the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)?
These are quality samples with known values run with patient tests to ensure accuracy.
What are control solutions?
These must be clearly marked and accessible during a fire emergency.
What are emergency exits?
This is the order for removing PPE to minimize contamination: gloves, goggles, gown, mask.
What is the proper doffing order?
This legal protocol ensures specimen integrity, especially in forensic testing.
What is chain of custody?
This process ensures lab equipment provides accurate and reliable results.
What is calibration?
This document is completed for accidents or exposure incidents in the office.
What is an incident report?