• What should I know when employed in a laboratory?
• What personal protection should I wear?
• What precautions should I follow when working with needles and sharps?
• When should I decontaminate lab materials and surfaces?
• How should I dispose and transport contaminated lab test material?

What should I know when employed in a laboratory?

Consider blood and body fluids from all patients as infective. Refer to Routine Practices for preventing transmission of bloodborne infectious diseases.

Report immediately suspect fluid exposure, or a needlestick or sharp injury to a designated person because if post-exposure chemoprophylaxis is to be implemented, it should begin preferably within 1 to 2 hours after exposure.

What personal protection should I wear?

Wear gloves:

• when processing blood or body fluid specimens
• when handling contaminated articles
• during cleaning and decontamination procedures

Change gloves after processing specimen.

Wear gowns:

• while working with potentially infectious material

Wear masks and protective eye wear:

• if mucous membrane contact is likely

Remove protective clothing before leaving laboratory.

Wash hands:

• after processing specimens
• after completing laboratory activities
• after removing protective clothing
• after a glove tear or suspected glove leak
• before leaving laboratory

Do not pipette by mouth.

What precautions should I follow when working with needles and sharps?

• Use needles only when there is no alternative. Consider needles and sharp instruments as potentially infective.
• Use puncture-resistant containers. Label containers.
• Clean and sterilize reusable syringes before reusing.
• Do not recap, bend, break or remove needles by hand from disposable syringes or otherwise handle after use.

When should I decontaminate lab materials and surfaces?

Laboratory surfaces should be decontaminated:

• After a spill of blood or body fluid. Disinfect with a medical grade disinfectant.
• Before reprocessing contaminated material used in lab tests.
• When work activities have been completed.

How should I dispose and transport contaminated lab test material?

• Place contaminated lab test material in bags and dispose according to policy for infectious waste.
• Put specimen into a sturdy container with secure lid to prevent leaking.
• Avoid contaminating outside of container and accompanying lab form.
• Place container in a clear, impervious plastic bag.

Document last updated on January 13, 2010

Copyright ©1997-2013 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety