Lab workers can look to CDC guidelines too
You have probably already seen many of the CDC guidelines, but in case they’ve been lost in the shuffle of your inbox, here’s a review of safety guidelines specific for lab workers dealing with influenza A (H1N1).
The most recent guidelines, released today, are for lab workers performing diagnostic testing on clinical specimens from patients who are suspected of infection. This testing should be conducted in a BSL2 laboratory, according to the CDC, and manipulations should be performed inside a biosafety cabinet (BSC).
Viral isolation on these specimens should be performed in a BSL2 laboratory with BSL3 practices.
Other precautions should include:
- fit tested N95 respirators
- shoe covers
- closed-front gowns
- double gloves
- face shields or goggles
Employees should also monitor their health and watch for symptoms of H1N1 such as cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, runny nose, muscle aches, and fever. For an employee who has experienced a known breach in PPE, an antiviral should be considered for the seven days prior to exposure.
On a side note, the CDC also recommends that clinical specimens should be shipped to labs in dry ice and appropriate packaging, labeled clearly with pertinent information requested by the state public health laboratory.
« Ask the expert: OSHA and in-person training | Home | Notes from the field: What’s the difference, mask vs. N95 respirator? »
-
Categories
- Ask the Expert—Bloodborne Pathogens
- Ask the expert—General OSHA
- Ask the Expert—Hazard Communication
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Emergency Action Plans
- Featured
- First Aid
- General Safety and Health
- Hazardous Waste
- Infection Control
- Lab Safety
- Needlesticks & Sharps Injuries
- Notes from the field
- OSHA – Citations & Fines
- OSHA – General
- Pandemic Influenza
- Popular
- Uncategorized
- Waste Management
- Weekly Poll Questions
-
Archives
-
Feeds
Terry Jo Gile
Terry Jo Gile, MT(ASCP), MA Ed.,The Safety Lady® has more than 40 years experience as a certified medical technologist. As president of her own consulting firm, Safety Lady LLC, she is a world renowned speaker and consultant who helps organizations create safety savvy laboratories. Click the links to visit her Web site and her blog.
Terry Jo has written 49 posts.
Leave a Comment