By LABORATORY SAFETY MEASURES Dr. Emad AbdElhameed Morad Lecturer of Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Why are laboratory safety measures important? 12/14/2015 Dr. Emad AbdElhameed MoradLaboratory safety measures2

In microbiology laboratory, many procedures involve handling of living pathogenic microorganisms. These may cause infection of the attending personnel by contact, aerosol inhalation, ingestion, inoculation into eyes or injection through the skin by needle stick or broken glass. So, it is important to apply certain safety measures to protect yourself and the surrounding environment. 12/14/2015 Dr. Emad AbdElhameed MoradLaboratory safety measures3

What are the laboratory safety measures? 12/14/2015 Dr. Emad AbdElhameed MoradLaboratory safety measures4

1. Wear a laboratory coat and any other protective clothes if necessary such as gloves and masks. 2. Avoid unnecessary talking and moving in the laboratory. 3.Eating, drinking, smoking, mouth pipetting are prohibited. 4. Disinfect the laboratory benches at the beginning and end of daily work by wiping with 70% alcohol or 1% hypochlorite. 12/14/2015 Dr. Emad AbdElhameed MoradLaboratory safety measures5

5.All specimens should be regarded as potentially infectious and should be placed in containers that prevent leakage during collection, transport and processing. 6.Sterilize the bacteriological loop in the Bunsen flame or electric incinerator immediately before and after use. 7.Wash your hands with soap and water especially before leaving the laboratory. 12/14/2015 Dr. Emad AbdElhameed MoradLaboratory safety measures6

8.Work should be conducted in the laboratory safety cabinet when working with highly infectious material such as those likely to contain tubercle bacilli, HIV. 9.Laboratory personnel should be vaccinated against infectious agents such as tubercle bacilli, hepatitis B virus, rubella for females in the child bearing age. 10. A biosafety manual should be available for all laboratory personnel. 12/14/2015 Dr. Emad AbdElhameed MoradLaboratory safety measures7

11. Disposal of used material:  All used syringes, needles and other sharps and broken glass should be placed in puncture proof containers until incinerated.  Used slides, covers and pipetting tips should be placed in discard jar containing 2.5 % Na hypochlorite before disposal.  Used glassware such as culture plates and tubes are autoclaved before cleaning. 12/14/2015 Dr. Emad AbdElhameed MoradLaboratory safety measures8

12. In case of laboratory accident: call the instructor  If any culture material is broken, spilled on the floor or bench, flood the area immediately with a disinfectant (5-10% Na hypochlorite solution).  Leave the material undisturbed for minutes.  Wipe it up and discard the waste. 12/14/2015 Dr. Emad AbdElhameed MoradLaboratory safety measures9

Thank you 12/14/2015 Dr. Emad AbdElhameed MoradLaboratory safety measures10