CLINICAL MEDTECH LEC

CHEMISTRY TERM 01

SAFETY IN THE CLINICAL LABORATORY

LABORATORY

HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION vs

OSHA utilized this framework to select STANDARD PRECAUTIONS
ways of dealing with workplace hazards. The Universal Precaution refers to the
hierarchy of controls prioritizes intervention avoiding contact with infectious materials by
strategies based on the premise that the best means of wearing personal protective
way to control a hazard is to systematically equipment and sanitation.
remove it from the workplace, rather than
relying on workers to reduce their exposure. Standard Precaution is the minimum
prevention practices that apply to all patient
• Engineering controls care, regardless of suspected or confirmed
• Administrative controls infection status.
• Work practices
• Personal protective equipment CHEMICAL HAZARDS

ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Are those that involve making changes to
the work environment to reduce work-related
hazards. These types of controls are preferred
over all others because they make permanent
changes that reduce exposure to hazards and
do not rely on worker behavior
Chemicals that present physical or health
threats to workers.
These chemicals include carcinogen,
irritants, corrosives, teratogens, mutagen,
sensitizers,
OSHA rules regulate the exposure to
approximately 400 substances.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS This is a printed material concerning a
Are those that modify workers’ work hazardous chemical. These are usually
schedules and tasks in ways that minimize supplied by manufacturer or distributor.
their exposure to workplace hazards. MSDS must contain Name of Chemical,
Chemical Hygiene Plan Manufacturer’s Information, Hazardous
Standard Operating Procedures Ingredient, Physical/Chemical Characteristics,
Fire Prevention Trainings Fire/explosive hazard data, Reactivity data,
WORK PRACTICES Health hazard data, Precautions for safe
handling and use, and Control Measures.
are procedures for safe and proper work
that are used to reduce the duration, CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN
frequency or intensity of exposure to a hazard.
No mouth pipetting Provides guidelines for the prudent
Acid to water practices and procedures for the use of the
chemicals in the laboratory.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT CHP includes SOP, Criteria for Exposure
is protective gear needed to keep workers Control Measures, Adequacy and Proper
safe while performing their jobs. Functioning of Fume hoods, Information and
Training, Particularly Hazardous Chemicals,
• Gloves etc.
• Masks
• Gowns/Coats
• Goggles

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CHEMISTRY TERM 01

EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS This biohazardous material can be

transmitted through the link called “Chain of
Xylene – can cause irritation of eyes, nose, Infection”
skin, throat. Dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting
Formaldehyde – respiratory irritant,
tearing, wheezing, coughing, dermatitis,
potential carcinogen.
Latex – can cause allergy and life-
threatening reactions.

WAYS TO PREVENT CHEMICAL HAZARDS

Always make sure that every chemical has
a label and precautionary symbols.
When working with chemicals, protective
clothing and gloves should be worn.
To avoid dangerous splatter, ALWAYS
ADD ACID TO WATER!
Toxic materials should be labeled with
special tape when used in compounded WAYS TO PREVENT BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
reagents and stored in separate containers. YOU SHOULD HANDLE ALL PATIENT
These materials should be handled carefully SAMPLES AS POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS
and kept in the hood during preparation. MATERIAL. This means UNIVERSAL
In case of spillage, wash all exposed human PRECAUTIONS should be followed at all times.
tissue (including eyes) generously with water Wear complete personal protective
and notify your supervisor for proper equipment properly.
reporting of the incident.
Avoid spillages and aerosol formation.
All flammable reagents should be kept in
the flammable storage facilities (closet or Hands must be washed immediately and
refrigerator) at all times when not in use. thoroughly if contaminated with blood or
other body fluids.
Flammable substances should be handled
in areas free of ignition sources. All biohazardous material should be
discarded in a biohazard bag and must be
Ventilation is one of the most effective autoclaved.
ways to prevent accumulation of explosive
levels of flammable vapors. An exhaust hood All counter and tabletops must be
should be used whenever appreciable disinfected with disinfecting solutions before
quantities of flammables are handled. starting, if you spill an infectious material and
after the day.
Wear clean gloves for each patient you
BIOLOGICAL HAZARD draw.
Dispose of contaminated needle, syringe
and test tubes in a proper biohazardous
receptacle.
Contaminated needles and other sharps
are never broken, bent, recapped or re-
sheathed by hand.

These hazards are present in various

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
sources throughout the laboratory like blood These includes such as ergonomic
and other body fluids, culture specimen, body hazards, sharps, ionizing radiation, noise
tissues and cadavers, laboratory animals, etc. hazards.

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CHEMISTRY TERM 01
Ergonomic hazards are prevented by Know how to properly operate
becoming familiar with ergonomic-related appropriate fire alarms and fire safety
risks factors. equipment.
There is a set of minimum exposure Know the proper procedure for notifying
levels for ionizing radiation and noise for colleagues and proper personnel of a fire.
workers.
✓ RACE – in case of fire
FIRE HAZARDS • Rescue those in danger
• Alarm
• Contain the fire by closing all doors
and windows
• Extinguish and Evacuate

✓ PASS – how to use the fire extinguisher

• Pull the pin
Employers should ensure that workers are • Aim at the bottom of the fire
trained on what to do during fire. • Squeeze the trigger or lever
Common sources include electrical and • Sweep side to side
chemical source.
Workers at risk for burns, shock and even ELECTRICAL HAZARD
death.

Worker are potentially risked to be

exposed to electrical hazards.
Damaged electrical cords, faulty wirings,
unsafe work practices can lead to
electrocution or shock.

WAYS TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL HAZARD

The use of extension cords is prohibited.
All equipment must be properly
grounded.
Never operate electrical equipment with
fluid spillage in the immediate are or with wet
hands.
Never use plugs with exposed or frayed
wires.
If there are sparks or smoke or any
unusual events occur, shut down the
instrument and notify the manager or safety
WAYS TO PREVENT FIRE HAZARDS officer. Electrical equipment that is not
Know where all fire exits, fire working properly should not be used.
extinguishers and fire alarms are located. If a person is shocked by electricity, shut
off the current or break contact with the live
wire immediately. Do not touch the victim

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CHEMISTRY TERM 01
while he is in contact with the source of GENERAL PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT
current unless you are completely insulated
against shock. Report the incident and request Cracked or chipped glassware should not
assistance. be used.
Centrifuges should not be used without
GENERAL PERSONAL SAFETY
the covers completely closed.
Eating, drinking, smoking, applying
When removing tops from evacuated test
cosmetics and handling contact lenses are
tubes, care must be taken to prevent aerosol
prohibited in areas where specimens are
formation.
handled.
Food and drink are not stored in IN CASE OF ACCIDENTS
refrigerators, freezers, cabinets, or on shelves,
countertops, or bench tops where blood or Be familiar with the location of first aid
other potentially infectious materials are kits, showers, eye wash stations and sinks.
stored or in other areas of possible
In case of accidental needle stick:
contamination.
Long hair, ties, scarves and earrings • Bleed wound.
should be secured.
Appropriate Personal Protective • Wash wounds thoroughly with soap.
Equipment (PPE) will be used where • Notify the supervisor of the incident
indicated:
Lab coats or disposable aprons should be SUMMARY
worn in the lab to protect you and your
clothing from contamination. Lab coats should • Use Common Sense!!
not be worn outside the laboratory. REFERENCES:
Protective eyewear and/or masks may
need to be worn when contact with hazardous • Occupational Safety and Health
aerosols, caustic chemicals and/or reagents is Administration Lab Safety Guidance.
anticipated.
• Centers for Disease Control and
Gloves should be worn for handling blood
Prevention
and body fluid specimens, touching the
mucous membranes or non-intact skin of • Clinical Laboratory Standards
patients, touching items or surfaces soiled Institute: Protection of Lab Workers
with blood or body fluid, and for performing from Occupationally acquired
venipunctures. Cuts and abrasions should be infections.
kept bandaged in addition to wearing gloves
when handling biohazardous materials.

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CHEMISTRY TERM 01

GENERAL AND COMMON LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

GLASSWARE
LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS Readily available and inexpensive,
completely
LABORATORY disposable
Glassware used in clinical laboratory
Common types of plastics include
usually fall into one of the following
polyethylene, polysterene, polypropylene,
categories:
teflon, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, etc.
▪ Borosilicate (Kimax, Borosil, Pyrex,
Vycor) Plasticware Advantages
▪ Aluminosilicate (Corex)
▪ High Silica Polyethylene Highly resistant with
▪ Low actinic corrosive materials and easy
▪ Flint glass to clean

Glassware Advantages Polysterene Can be easily molded, has an

excellent resistance to
Aluminosilicate High strength and scratch certain radiation
resistance, widely used in Polypropylene Good chemical resistance,
most cellular phones and relatively inexpensive
glassware
Polycarbonate High strength capable of
Borosilicate Maintains its strength and resisting 200x of force,
transparency even in moldable, flame resistant
extreme temperatures
(515-550˚F) Teflon Non-stick, highly cold and
heat-resistant, reduces
High Silica Good for optical and friction.
spectral wares such as
cuvettes PVC Lightweight, corrosion
resistant, good insulator.
Low Actinic Recommended for
analytes that are
photosensitive, amber
bottle EXAMPLES OF PLASTICWARE

Flint Glass Very useful for making • Disposable pasteur pipettes

prisms and lenses • Disposable pipette tips
especially for microscopes • Petri dishes
• Cuvets
• Chemical containers

EXAMPLES OF GLASSWARES PIPETTES

Vessels such as flasks, beakers Are designed to transfer liquids. They may
be disposable or reusable.
• Erlenmeyer flask and Beaker – designed
These are classified into
to hold different volumes rather than 1
• Design
exact amount.
• Drainage characteristics
Graduated cylinders – are long cylindrical • Type
that has calibration marks along its length.
Watch glasses, Stirring rods PIPETTES DESIGNS
Cuvets
Petri dishes To Contain (TC)
Pipettes and Burettes • Holds specific volume but does not
dispense that exact volume.
PLASTICWARE • Examples include serological pipette,
Relatively replacing glassware in the mohr pipette, pasteur pipette
laboratory setting.
High resistance to corrosion and To Deliver (TD)
breakage, flexible • Will dispense the volume indicated

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CHEMISTRY TERM 01

• Examples include micropipettes, BALANCES

volumetric pipettes
Beam balance
PIPETTE (DRAINAGE) • Mechanical balances that needs beam
Blowout weights in order to counteract the
• Has continuous etched ring on the top measured weight.
of the pipette.
• Serological pipette Analytical balance
Self-draining • Uses electromagnetic force.
• Allows the contents to be drained by • Single pan balance that is enclosed by
gravity. sliding door which minimizes
• Volumetric pipette environmental influence.
• Highly precise and can be tared.
PIPETTE TYPES
Measuring pipette
• Capable of dispensing several
volumes
• Usually has increments, or further
graduations.
• Serologic, Mohr, micropipette
Transfer pipette
• Dispenses one volume only
• Ostwald-Folin, Pasteur pipettes,
volumetric pipette, automatic
pipettes, micropipette

AUTOMATIC PIPETTE CLASSIFICATION

Positive Displacement
• Operates by moving the piston much
CENTRIFUGE
like a syringe. Does not require tip Centrifugation is the process of in which
changing. centrifugal force is used to separate solid
• Prone to carryover matter from a liquid suspension.

Air Displacement Centrifuge consists of Head or rotor,

• Relies on piston for creating suction carriers or shields that are attached to a
to draw the sample into the vertical shaft.
disposable tip Centrifuges always have lid that
sometimes automatically turns off the
Dispenser machine whenever the lid was open.
• Obtains liquid from a common
reservoir and dispense it repeatedly CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
• Employed by automated equipment.
Depends on three variables: mass, speed
and radius
The speed is expressed in revolutions
per minute (rpm) and centrifugal force
generated is expressed in terms of relative
centrifugal force (RCF) or gravities (g).
RCF = 1.118 x 10-5 x r x (rpm)2

CENTRIFUGE
Classified into several criteria including
benchtop (serofuge), floor model (blood bag
centrifuge), refrigerated, rotor-head (fixed,
angled, swinging bucket, hematocrit) and
maximum attainable speed (ultracentrifuge).

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CHEMISTRY TERM 01

Generally used to separate plasma or

serum from blood cells.

CENTRIFUGE CALIBRATION
Centrifuge are calibrated by tachometer
and strobe light every 6 months or depending
on the usage. (Varies from every month to 6
months)

LAB CLINICAL CHEMISTRY 3