The major sources of contamination when handling potentially infectious agents are:

• Hand - to - mouth contact
• Hand - to - eye contact
• Direct contact with superficial cuts, open wounds, and other skin conditions that may permit absorption into subcutaneous skin layers
• Splashes or aerosol contact with skin and eyes

• Do not accept equipment for servicing that has not been cleaned by the user!
• Wear gloves while servicing parts of an instrument that have contact with body fluids such as whole blood.
• Wash your hands before going from a contaminated area to a non contaminated area, or when gloves are removed or changed.
• Perform procedures carefully to minimise aerosol formation.
• Wear facial protection when splatter or aerosol formation is possible.
• Wear protective clothing such as lab coats or aprons when working with possible biohazards.
• Keep your hands away from your face.
• Cover all superficial cuts and wounds before starting work.
• Keep your work area clean and disinfected.
• Disinfect tools and other items that have been near any part of the instrument sample path or waste area with 10% v/v bleach after washing with warm soapy water.
• Do not eat, smoke, or apply cosmetics whilst in a laboratory or work area.
• Do not mouth pipette any liquid, including water.
• Do not place tools or any other items in your mouth.
• Do not use the biohazard sink for personal cleaning such as rinsing coffee cups or washing hands.

Needle stick

When disinfecting use warm water and detergent. If you can see a blood or body fluid spot, remove it by washing first then use alcohol or bleach as a final disinfection step.

Reference

This is a summary of general information only and is not intended to be an exhaustive list, nor does it replace principles of good laboratory practice or your hospital or company’s biohazard control procedures. This information was sourced from Chiron Blood Gas Analyser Operators Manual and the authors own experience. It is based on guidelines developed by the National Institute of Health and Centres for Disease Control, the guidelines for NCCLS Document M29, Protection of Laboratory Workers from Infectious Disease Transmitted by Blood and Tissue and Document 117, and Protection of Laboratory Workers from Instrument Biohazard.