Manual of basic techniques for a health laboratory - libdoc.who.int

96 Manual of basic techniques for a health laboratoryPreparationIt is essential to act quickly on receipt of a biopsy specimen. Never leave it untillater. First pour the fixative into the bottle. Then pick up the biopsy specimen on apiece of stiff paper (do not use forceps, which may damage the tissue).Drop the specimen into the bottle.LabellingCut out a small rectangle (about 3cm ¥ 1cm) of stiff paper. Using a lead pencil,write on it the name of the patient, the nature of the specimen and the date ofcollection. Place the slip of paper in the bottle with the fixative.Fixation timeThis will vary according to the fixative used. With the two fixatives mentioned above,the specimen can be left in the liquid for at least a week before it is cut and stained.Fixed material should be dispatched to the pathology laboratory without delay, buta long transit period will not result in the deterioration of specimens.Dispatch of biopsy specimensSecure the cap or stopper of the bottle with adhesive plaster. Place the bottle in analuminium tube with a screw cap, together with the request form (see section 3.7.1).Then place the tube and the request form in a small wooden or cardboard box anddispatch immediately.3.8 Safety in the laboratory● Each laboratory should have a written manual of safe laboratory practices whichshould be followed at all times.● The laboratory should have a first-aid box (see section 3.8.2) and at least onestaff member trained in first aid.●●●●●●●●●●●●The laboratory should be a work area only; visitors should be restricted.No food or drink should be consumed in the laboratory.Wear protective clothing and remove it before leaving the laboratory.Always consider any laboratory specimen as potentially infectious and handle itcarefully; wear protective gloves.Place all specimens safely on a bench or in a rack to prevent spillage or breakage.Take great care when collecting and processing blood samples as they may harbourinfective agents (e.g. hepatitis B virus, parasites, etc.).Do not contaminate yourself or the work areas with any specimen.Do not pipette blood or other body fluids or any reagents by mouth.Cover all cuts with an impervious dressing (plaster).Dispose of used needles and lancets safely in a “sharps” container. (Sharps containerscan be made from plastic bottles with a screw top in which a hole ismade.) Once filled, containers should be autoclaved or soaked in disinfectantbefore burning or burying in a deep pit (see sections 3.6.2 and 3.6.3).Cover any spilled material or broken culture tubes with a cloth soaked in disinfectant(see section 3.5.4) and leave for 30min. Then use a stiff brush or sheet ofcardboard to sweep it into a disposable specimen container.At the end of the day swab the benches with a cloth soaked in disinfectant (seesection 3.5.4).