Clinical laboratory professionals shall promote the image and status of their profession by maintaining high standards in their professional practice. Clinical laboratory professionals shall protect the confidentiality of all patient information. Clinical laboratory professionals shall share their knowledge with colleagues and promote learning.
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When working in the laboratory you must always wear a lab coat (tied up, not flapping open!) and gloves.
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Always minimise contact of chemicals with your skin by wearing rubber gloves (black, heavy duty ones when handling very corrosive chemicals or white latex ones for general work), especially when washing-up contaminated glassware.
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Inform a demonstrator of any spillage. Wash your hands after any spillage and always before you leave the laboratory. Waste solvents or solids should be poured into the appropriate waste solvent or solid bottles.
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Some of the chemicals you will be using have particular hazards associated with them and you should make yourself aware of them before you begin. Hazard warnings about individual compounds are described throughout the experimental instructions. It is your responsibility to read and understand them. If you are unsure about a chemical or procedure in any way, ask a demonstrator before you do anything.
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Wear gloves whenever handling human specimens or potentially infectious materials.Before you leave the laboratory make sure that you have cleaned your glassware, that you have cleared-up your bench space, have replaced any special equipment into the appropriate storage areas and that you have not left anything in the fume cupboards
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Wear goggles and face shields for working with potential splashes.
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Wear closed Lab foot wears.
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Use biological safety cabinet (Class I or II) for any laboratory procedures that may give rise to infectious aerosols. Minimize generation of splashes and aerosols. All aerosol generating procedures involving pathogens shall be performed in a biological safety cabinet.
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Use centrifuge fitted with either sealed rotors or safety cups. Restrict access to laboratory to authorized persons only and keep doors closed.
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No mouth pipetting is allowed.
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Potentially infectious materials must be stored in a secure location and locked with access only by designated staff. Decontaminate all potentially contaminated areas and materials using appropriate methods/disinfectants before disposal or processing for re-use. All potentially infectious wastes must be rendered non-infectious before disposal.
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The laboratory is sealable to permit fumigation.
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An autoclave shall be available within the laboratory suite for sterilization of potentially infectious materials and wastes.
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It is a good practice to keep a separate logbook for each major equipment where details of their use, maintenance schedule, breakdowns and repairs, accessories, supply of consumables, etc., are carefully entered. Such a record will help in properly maintaining the instrument and planning for future.
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All staff is advised to receive hepatitis B vaccination if found to be susceptible by serology tests. Other vaccinations should be considered according to the potential for exposure.
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In case of any accident, immediately informs to the authorized persons of the laboratory.
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Handling and storage of samples should be done carefully.
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No noise should be produced while working in the laboratory.
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In case of any accident, facility of first aid treatment should be available in the laboratory.
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Non-disposable apparatus should be sterilized after use. The preferred method is to autoclave for 1 hour at 121°C; disposables should be autoclaved or incinerated.
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Sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid used for washing glassware are corrosive and should be handled with appropriate care. If they come in contact with the skin or eyes, wash thoroughly with water.
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Spillage of potentially infectious materials should be removed immediately with adsorbent paper tissue and the contaminated area swabbed with, for example 1 % sodium hypochlorite before work is Continued.
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