Histopathology Laboratory Safety Quiz

Laboratory Safety, Instrumentation, and Quality Management in Histopathologic Laboratory

• Retention period: Refers to the time specimens are stored (years, months, weeks, days).
• Overdue specimens: Specimens that are past the retention period are disposed of.
• Risk Management: Assessing risks and hazards in a lab setting to maintain personal and environmental safety.
• Risk Management Procedures: Identifying and controlling electrical, mechanical, and biological hazards.
• Chemical Hazards: Chemicals need labels indicating name, characteristics, danger levels, and safety precautions.
• Chemical Waste Disposal: Proper methods for hazardous chemical waste disposal (e.g., sealing absorbed material, incineration of tissues).
• Physical Hazards: Potential slips, falls, and ergonomic issues (heavy lifting). Hazards associated with electricity, machinery, and heat should also be avoided.
• Biological Hazards: Precautions for potential pathogens from specimens.
• Laboratory Safety Equipment: Eyewear, gloves, lab coats, and face shields are crucial PPE.
• Laboratory Environment: Must be clean, organized, well-ventilated, and have appropriate safety equipment (fire extinguishers, emergency showers, eyewash stations).

Histopathology

• Histopathology Definition: Analyzing tissue shapes, patterns, and sizes to diagnose diseases.
• Histopathology Steps: Pre-analytical (specimen collection, accession number), analytical (tissue processing, slide preparation), and post-analytical (report to physician).
• Slide Preparation: Performed inside the lab and reviewed by specialists.
• Specimen Storage: Archiving of specimens depends on type.
• Prohibited Activities: Smoking, eating, drinking, or wearing inappropriate attire in the lab.

Instrumentation

• Microscope Types: Compound, Bright Field, Dark Field, Phase Contrast, Fluorescence, and Electron (Transmission and Scanning) Microscopes have various applications in viewings.
• Compound Microscope Components: Ocular (eyepiece), objective lens, stage, mechanical stage, substage, condenser.
• Magnification: Micrscope magnification in combination determines what is observed; for example, 4x objective with a 10x eyepiece is 40x.
• Other Microscope Considerations: Electrical, mechanical, and thermal hazards need to be considered.
• Microscope use: Objectives and eyepieces are used for magnification, the stage is used for placing the slides, and the mechanical stage facilitates movement of the slide while ensuring the image is in focus.

Quality Management System

• Quality Management: Ensuring a laboratory provides accurate and consistent results.
• Quality Assurance: A system of reviewing processes to prevent problems. Procedures address potential problems.
• Quality Control: Data-driven system for checking accuracy and quality.
• Quality Assessment Programs: Institutions (e.g., CAP) participate in programs.