CAP Pro Course - Safety - Bloodborne Pathogens

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Author: Cheryl Bentley, MLS(ASCP)CM
Reviewer: Daniel J. Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ)

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Define bloodborne pathogens (BBP) and the precautions used to prevent the transmission of potentially infectious material.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the procedures included in the laboratory's exposure control plan.
  • Identify appropriate engineering controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), and work practice controls that are used to minimize or eliminate employee's risk of exposure to BBP.
  • Select the proper precautions necessary for the transport and waste disposal of potentially infectious material, including sharps waste.
  • Recognize appropriate decontamination procedures used following a spill of potentially infectious material.

Course Outline

  • Define bloodborne pathogens (BBP) and the precautions used to prevent the transmission of potentially infectious material.
      • Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
      • Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) of Primary Concern
      • Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Standard
      • Universal Versus Standard Precautions
      • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of Standard Precautions (SP), which utilizes the major features of Universal P...
      • It is critical that laboratory workers always adhere to infection control and safety guidelines in order to remain prepared for pathogens that may be ...
      • Bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can lead to disease in humans. As you are working and handling specimens...
      • Brad is a medical laboratory scientist at a local hospital. Standard Precautions are in place in Brad's laboratory. Which of the following is a true s...
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the procedures included in the laboratory's exposure control plan.
      • Laboratory Exposure Control Plan (ECP)
      • Defining an Exposure Incident
      • Reporting an Exposure
      • Evaluating the Circumstances of Exposure
      • Communication Hazards: Labels and Signs
      • Safety Training and Responsibility to Control Exposure
      • Following an exposure incident, the employee will have an immediate, confidential medical evaluation and follow-up. As part of this, the source indivi...
      • The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that sufficient warning is provided when potentially infectious material is present....
      • Training for bloodborne pathogen (BBP) exposure is part of your laboratory's mandatory meeting this quarter, which includes your facility's updated pr...
      • Jessica is working in hematology and has several sedimentation rate tests to perform. As she removes the cap from one of the patient specimens, she dr...
      • Jessica removes the cap from a patient specimen and drops the EDTA tube on the counter top. This causes blood to splash everywhere, including into her...
  • Identify appropriate engineering controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), and work practice controls that are used to minimize or eliminate employee's risk of exposure to BBP.
      • Sharps Safety
      • Work Practice Controls
      • Handwashing
      • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
      • Engineering Controls
      • Aseptic Removal of Gloves
      • Most needlestick injuries result from unsafe needle devices rather than carelessness by health care workers. Safe needle devices have built-in safety ...
      • Work practice controls are work practices and procedures that eliminate or reduce the risk of bloodborne pathogen (BBP) exposure by altering the way i...
      • Personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn to minimize employee exposure to various hazards, including bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) in the laboratory....
      • Hand hygiene is one of the most important activities used to prevent the spread of bacteria. As your laboratory's safety coach, you monitor your cowor...
  • Select the proper precautions necessary for the transport and waste disposal of potentially infectious material, including sharps waste.
      • Sharps Disposal
      • Infectious Waste Disposal
      • Transportation of Potentially Infectious Material
      • Your laboratory collects blood samples for employee health screenings. Each sample is individually packaged for shipping to an outside laboratory in a...
      • The replacement of sharps containers is very important to prevent any injuries from contaminated sharps. What is a good practice to use with regard to...
      • Contaminated sharps should be disposed of properly to avoid injury and exposure to laboratory workers, as well as other hospital employees, such as en...
      • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) generally defines four categories of infectious waste that apply to the clinical laboratory. Which of the fo...
  • Recognize appropriate decontamination procedures used following a spill of potentially infectious material.
      • Procedures for Spill Cleanup of Biohazardous Materials
      • Decontamination Methods
      • If available, a universal spill kit should be used for spill cleanup. Spill kits must be handled according to manufacturer instructions. If no expirat...
      • What is the recommended disinfectant for blood and other possible infectious material (OPIM)?
      • Decontamination is the process that eliminates or reduces microorganisms to a level that is safe enough to prevent infection. When choosing the decont...
      • Should a breakage occur in your laboratory's centrifuge, possibly causing droplet formation, how long should the equipment remain closed before decont...
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for MLS, MT, and MLT personnel, medical laboratory science students and interns, pathology residents, and practicing pathologists.
Author: Cheryl Bentley, MLS(ASCP)CM received her degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia. Cheryl began her career as a generalist at Henry Medical Center in Stockbridge, Georgia and is currently the Clinical Laboratory Supervisor at Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth, Georgia. 
Reviewer Information: Daniel J. Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) has over 25 years of experience as a certified Medical Technologist. He has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in Amherst and Buffalo, New York. Dan worked as a laboratory generalist in hospitals ranging in size from 75 to 800 beds before becoming a laboratory manager. After 10 years of lab management, he became the Laboratory Safety Officer for a system of more than 10 hospitals and over 20 laboratories and draw sites in the Tidewater area of Virginia.