#06-5558 Accrd Manual V7 - COLA

CYTOLOGYLaboratory Safety and EnvironmentThe laboratory shall be designed for efficient operation and for the comfort, protection and safety of the staff.716. EAre the cytology workspaces located and arranged to prevent distraction and to allow due concentration?The cytology laboratory work space should be arranged so that cytotechnologists have adequate space forspecimen preparation, slide staining and slide cover slipping without crowding, interfering traffic, or distractingnoise or activity. Spaces should be arranged for free, uncongested flow of traffic. Areas where slidepreparations are examined must be free of distractions and noise.717. EAre xylene and formaldehyde vapor concentrations maintained within acceptable limits?Levels of formaldehyde and xylene in the cytology laboratory must be monitored (generally by an industrialhygienist) when the laboratory begins operation and any time changes are made in personnel, equipment,procedures or facility engineering which could change the levels. Acceptable limits for formaldehyde are0.74 ppm for an 8 hour. Time-Weighted Average. and 2.0 ppm for a 15 minute. Short-Term Average.Acceptable limits for xylene are 100 ppm for an 8 hour. Time-Weighted Average. and 150 ppm for a 15 minute.Short-Term Average. Periodic monitoring of formaldehyde is required if acceptable levels are exceeded.Periodic monitoring of xylene is not required.The laboratory shall have sufficient and environmentally suitable storage space.718. EIs there adequate storage with proper environmental conditions for the storage of case slides and blocks?Gross specimens, tissue blocks and slides must be stored in a manner that allows easy retrieval while preventingspillage or dehydration of gross specimens or melting or sticking together of blocks and slides.719. EDoes the cytology laboratory meet the general laboratory safety and environment requirements for COLAaccreditation?The laboratory should be in compliance with all criteria within this subsection, as well as COLA general safetycriteria FAC 1 – FAC 9 and FAC 14 – FAC 20.Laboratory EquipmentThe laboratory shall have and must follow policies and procedures for the use of automated and semi-automatedinstruments used in cytology screening.720. EDoes the cytology laboratory follow manufacturer’s instructions for pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analyticphases of testing when using automated or semi-automated screening devices?Manufacturer’s instructions may not fully address the requirements in all phases of testing. COLA definesspecific elements to be included in all test procedures within its general laboratory requirements. To theextent that the manufacturer’s instructions do not address any of these items, the laboratory must definetheir own requirements as part of the written procedures.82. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT COLA PHONE 800.981.9883 | FAX 410.381.8611 | ON-LINE www.cola.org