The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends several disease-specific precautionary policies for patients known to be or suspected of being infected with certain pathogens. With strict following of standard precautions, all sources of specimens (patients) are considered to be potentially pathogenic or infectious.
Standard precautions refer to a system of infectious disease controls that assume that every direct contact with body fluid is infectious. The essential element of standard precaution is to avoid direct contact with patient specimens, and when contact is anticipated appropriate barrier precautions should be used to prevent cross-transmission and exposure of the skin and mucous membranes to infectious microbes.
Every phlebotomist should exercise certain consistent precautions on a routine basis. These standard precautions recognize the infectious potential of any patient specimen and prevent cross-transmission of infectious disease to patients and the protect laboratory personnel from infected patients.
To protect against potential exposure to HBV, a licensed inactivated vaccine (HB) is recommended. The CDCs advisory committee on Immunization practices recommends the use of his vaccine as a precautionary step for persons who are at a greater risk for Hepatitis B infection " clinical laboratory workers, phlebotomists, and pathologists.
Other safe work practices to eliminate the risk of transmitting infectious pathogens for phlebotomists working with blood specimens include:
- To prevent transmission of pathogens, practice hand washing every time after the handling of specimens. - Laboratory or clinics should be isolated from eating, drinking, or smoking areas. - Gloves, lab coats/gowns, masks, safety glasses are the required personal protective equipments. - In case of spills, cleaning up should be done as per protocol of the lab and blood spills should be cleaned immediately, aerosolization should be minimized. - Waste disposal should be done as per the OSHA and NCCLS guidelines. Sharp resistant container should be used for disposal of lancets, needles, scalpel blades and other contaminated waste should be disposed in biohazard marked containers. - Sharp needles and lancets, should not be handled by hand or bent, or broken. - Pre exposure and post exposure prophylactic guidelines for handling potential occupational transmission of certain pathogens should be followed by the phlebotomist.
The knowledge of general safety regulations governing the clinical laboratory, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) mandated plans for chemical hygiene and for occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens, the importance of safety manual, and general emergency procedures is mandatory for a professional phlebotomist.
Allied health professionals always face the risk during the disposal of sharps which is a hazardous procedure. The risks involved in venipuncture should be known by the phlebotomist. Proper training in the use of closed vacutainer system, which minimizes the possibility of injuries, should be a must for all healthcare professionals.
Case of a needle stick injury should be handled by following:
- In the event of an injury, bleeding is encouraged from the affected site - Washing with water or normal saline - Appropriate bandaging is used for covering the site - Record should be kept for patients name, identification - It is also recommended that all needle stick injuries should be reported to immediate supervisor - Occupational Health, GP or Accident and Emergency Department should be consulted as appropriate
All the necessary techniques and procedures needed to be a competent and skilled phlebotomist are taught by accredited phlebotomist technician programs. Phlebotomy programs cover the subjects like: Anatomy and physiology, Blood and cell composition, Blood sampling procedures, and laboratory safety, and CPR procedures. Professional behavior, Quality control, Legal issues, Computer training are other courses which may be included in phlebotomy training program. Depending on the regulations and training for work settings each phlebotomy training school offers something different.
Standard precautions refer to a system of infectious disease controls that assume that every direct contact with body fluid is infectious. The essential element of standard precaution is to avoid direct contact with patient specimens, and when contact is anticipated appropriate barrier precautions should be used to prevent cross-transmission and exposure of the skin and mucous membranes to infectious microbes.
Every phlebotomist should exercise certain consistent precautions on a routine basis. These standard precautions recognize the infectious potential of any patient specimen and prevent cross-transmission of infectious disease to patients and the protect laboratory personnel from infected patients.
To protect against potential exposure to HBV, a licensed inactivated vaccine (HB) is recommended. The CDCs advisory committee on Immunization practices recommends the use of his vaccine as a precautionary step for persons who are at a greater risk for Hepatitis B infection " clinical laboratory workers, phlebotomists, and pathologists.
Other safe work practices to eliminate the risk of transmitting infectious pathogens for phlebotomists working with blood specimens include:
- To prevent transmission of pathogens, practice hand washing every time after the handling of specimens. - Laboratory or clinics should be isolated from eating, drinking, or smoking areas. - Gloves, lab coats/gowns, masks, safety glasses are the required personal protective equipments. - In case of spills, cleaning up should be done as per protocol of the lab and blood spills should be cleaned immediately, aerosolization should be minimized. - Waste disposal should be done as per the OSHA and NCCLS guidelines. Sharp resistant container should be used for disposal of lancets, needles, scalpel blades and other contaminated waste should be disposed in biohazard marked containers. - Sharp needles and lancets, should not be handled by hand or bent, or broken. - Pre exposure and post exposure prophylactic guidelines for handling potential occupational transmission of certain pathogens should be followed by the phlebotomist.
The knowledge of general safety regulations governing the clinical laboratory, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) mandated plans for chemical hygiene and for occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens, the importance of safety manual, and general emergency procedures is mandatory for a professional phlebotomist.
Allied health professionals always face the risk during the disposal of sharps which is a hazardous procedure. The risks involved in venipuncture should be known by the phlebotomist. Proper training in the use of closed vacutainer system, which minimizes the possibility of injuries, should be a must for all healthcare professionals.
Case of a needle stick injury should be handled by following:
- In the event of an injury, bleeding is encouraged from the affected site - Washing with water or normal saline - Appropriate bandaging is used for covering the site - Record should be kept for patients name, identification - It is also recommended that all needle stick injuries should be reported to immediate supervisor - Occupational Health, GP or Accident and Emergency Department should be consulted as appropriate
All the necessary techniques and procedures needed to be a competent and skilled phlebotomist are taught by accredited phlebotomist technician programs. Phlebotomy programs cover the subjects like: Anatomy and physiology, Blood and cell composition, Blood sampling procedures, and laboratory safety, and CPR procedures. Professional behavior, Quality control, Legal issues, Computer training are other courses which may be included in phlebotomy training program. Depending on the regulations and training for work settings each phlebotomy training school offers something different.
About the Author:
London, UK: Maxis Healthcare Limited run professional 1 Day Fasttrack Phlebotomy Training Courses. Learn How to become a phlebotomist And Get Phlebotomy Certification From Phlebotomy Trainers With Over 30 Years Practical Experience and a FREE 10 Day Phelebotomy Taster Course.
