Appropriate safety measures taken by you will go a long

way in enhancing productivity.

6 Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations As a rule, the place for receiving or withdrawing the

specimens should be separate from the working compartment. To avoid specimen mixing (hazardous), each sample

should be carefully labeled. The label should clearly

mention the alloted specimen number, the date and time

of receipt of specimen, the investigations to be done and

most important the name of the patient.

Both, the clinical and the paraclinical workers are

equally at risk of acquiring transmissible diseases through

the patient or through the test samples. The risk of these

can be lessened by taking appropriate vaccinations. In

addition, one should attend to one’s general hygiene and

prevent fomite transmission of any infectious disease.

Disinfect the working benches and as far as possible

autoclave (or chemically disinfect) various glassware used

in the laboratory. Use a rubber teat for sucking/filling

the pipettes. To avoid strain on the eyes, keep both eyes

open while doing microscopic work. Before leaving the

laboratory, one should thoroughly wash one’s hands with

soap and water, and then rinse them well in a disinfectant

lotion.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEDICAL

LABORATORY PERSONNEL

1. Place the well-being and service of the sick above your

own interests.

2. Be loyal to your medical laboratory profession by

maintaining high standards of work and strive to

improve your professional knowledge.

3. Work scientifically and with complete honesty.

4. Do not misuse your professional skills or knowledge

for personal gain.

5. Never take anything from your place of work that does

not belong to you.

6. Do not disclose to a patient or any unauthorized

person the result of your investigations.

7. Treat with utmost confidentiality and personal

information that you may learn about a patient.

8. Respect and work in harmony with the other members

of your hospital staff or health center team.

9. Be at all times courteous, patient, and considerate to

the sick and their relations.

10. Promote health care and the prevention and control

of disease.

11. Follow safety procedures and know how to apply first

aid.

12. Do not drink alcohol during laboratory working hours

or when on emergency stand-by.

13. Use equipment and laboratory-ware correctly and with

care.

14. Do not waste reagents or other laboratory supplies.

15. Fulfil reliably and completely the terms and conditions

of your employment.

Always remember that you can be a patient tomorrow.

Treat others as you would want them to treat you.

ACCIDENTS

Safety Measures in the Laboratory

You must remain alert and cautious while working in

the laboratory. You must know that careless handling

of reagents, glassware or specimens to be tested in the

laboratory can cause serious injury and is dangerous to

life.

Hazards in the Clinical Laboratory

Clinical laboratory workers may encounter three types of

hazards: