Guidelines for Safe Work Practices in Diagnostic Labs

Este reporte ofrece una guía y recomendaciones de las prácticas de bioseguridad, específicamente para laboratorios de diagnóstico clínico humano y animal, y su intención es suplementar la 5ta edición del BMBL (Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories) desarrollado por el CDC y los Institutos Nacionales de Salud de USA. Este documento no reemplaza las guías existentes pero para, 1) mejorar la seguridad de las actividades de los laboratorios de diagnóstico clínico, 2) fomentar a los trabajadores de laboratorios a pensar en temas de bioseguridad que no habían sido considerados, y 3) fomentar a los laboratoristas a crear y adoptar una cultura de seguridad en sus laboratorios. El trabajo de los laboratorios de diagnóstico van mas allá de un componente biológico, por eso esta guía provee de algunos temas importantes  que afectan a los laboratoristas para el trabajo diario, y en donde la bioseguridad es un tema primordial.
Guidelines for Safe Work Practices in Human and Animal Medical Diagnostic Laboratories
MMWR 2011;60(Suppl)


Prevention of injuries and occupational infections in U.S. laboratories has been a concern for many years. CDC and the National Institutes of Health addressed the topic in their publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, now in its 5th edition (BMBL-5). BMBL-5, however, was not designed to address the day-to-day operations of diagnostic laboratories in human and animal medicine. In 2008, CDC convened a Blue Ribbon Panel of laboratory representatives from a variety of agencies, laboratory organizations, and facilities to review laboratory biosafety in diagnostic laboratories. The members of this panel recommended that biosafety guidelines be developed to address the unique operational needs of the diagnostic laboratory community and that they be science based and made available broadly. These guidelines promote a culture of safety and include recommendations that supplement BMBL-5 by addressing the unique needs of the diagnostic laboratory. They are not requirements but recommendations that represent current science and sound judgment that can foster a safe working environment for all laboratorians. Throughout these guidelines, quality laboratory science is reinforced by a common-sense approach to biosafety in day-to-day activities. Because many of the same diagnostic techniques are used in human and animal diagnostic laboratories, the text is presented with this in mind. All functions of the human and animal diagnostic laboratory — microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and pathology with autopsy and necropsy guidance — are addressed. A specific section for veterinary diagnostic laboratories addresses the veterinary issues not shared by other human laboratory departments. Recommendations for all laboratories include use of Class IIA2 biological safety cabinets that are inspected annually; frequent hand washing; use of appropriate disinfectants, including 1:10 dilutions of household bleach; dependence on risk assessments for many activities; development of written safety
protocols that address the risks of chemicals in the laboratory; the need for negative airflow into the laboratory; areas of the laboratory in which use of gloves is optional or is recommended; and the national need for a central site for surveillance and nonpunitive reporting of laboratory incidents/exposures, injuries, and infection.