Unit: 7 Handling of clinical specimens

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Training Kit for Pandemic Influenza
Unit 7 - Handling of clinical specimens
Prepared by Infectious Disease Control Training
Centre, Hospital Authority Infection Control
Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Department
of Health
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By the end of this unit, you will be familiar
with
Objectives

• knowledge on packaging and handling of specimens
• transport and tracking the specimens
• the spill clean up procedure

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Packaging of specimens

• All specimens shall be collected in
• a primary container
• a secondary container e.g. disposable and
  zip-lock plastic bags
• An outer box with a rack
• The container and specimen rack should be
  thoroughly cleansed and disinfected periodically.

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Specimen form in the carrying pocket of the
biohazard bag
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Handling of specimens

• Staff training knowledge and skills
• Instructions displayed at specimen collection
  points
• Precautions against needle-stick accidents, blood
  and body fluids exposure are particularly
  important

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Transportation of specimens

• Gentle handling of transport box
• Maintain personal hygiene and avoid contamination
• PPE is not necessary in general
• Exercise Standard Precautions

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?
Leakage
?
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Inter-laboratory transport of specimens

• Trained staff for specimen transport
• An emergency-kit
• Adequate cushioning materials in the transport
  box
• Label the transport box
• Correspondence of sending and receiving
  laboratories
• Instructions the box should be opened by
  authorized person/ laboratory
• Instructions and persons to contact when an
  accident / spillage happens
• Instructions to reduce exposure to the public
• Document the number of specimens on Specimen
  Delivery and Reception Note and report any
  discrepancy when receiving

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Emergency-kit
Including disposable gown, gloves, face/ eye
protection, red bags, disposable absorbent
material, disposable cloths/paper towel and
disinfectant
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Specimen leakage and spillage

• Spill or leakage of substances alone do not
  generate aerosols
• Leaking specimens may be rejected or discarded by
  the laboratory
• Inform the ward staff if spillage /leakage occurs

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Specimen leakage and spillage

• When leakage of the fluid content to the outside
  of the outer container occurs during transport
  within hospital / institution, the staff should
• report to laboratory staff and/or hospital
  security immediately
• alert people in vicinity to stay away from the
  affected area
• Decontaminate the spill as soon as possible
  according to the SPILL CLAEN UP PROCEDURE

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SPILL CLEAN UP PROCEDURE

• Staff should receive the appropriate training
• Wear appropriate PPE
• Cover the spill with cloth /paper towels
  containing with freshly prepare solution of
  10,000ppm (1 5) of hypochlorite solution
• Discard all the materials as
• clinical waste in RED bag
• Disinfect the dustpan

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Report of staff injury and sickness

• Report any injury sustained while handling of
  specimen
• Injury staff should seek medical treatment
• Report any episodes of fever and illness

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End of Unit 7