RISK MANAGEMENT

RISK MANAGEMENT

Safety and risk management are priorities in the labora - tory . The use of warning labels helps to reduce the risk of contamination by transmissible infection, e.g. hepatitis B virus or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is especially important when submitting and handling fresh (unfixed) tissue . Formalin kills many microorganisms, but a risk of transmissible infection still requires notification. Also, formalin itself is toxic to the eyes and skin. Accordingly , laboratory sta ff and indeed any sta ff should discard leaking or faulty specimen containers and deal immediately with formalin spillages. Patient details should be present on all specimen containers so as to avoid errors of identity ( Figure 11.1 ). Rigorous systems are in place to avoid interchange of specimens or confusion between di ff er - - ent patients’ samples. - his - -

Figure 11.1 Sections on glass slides stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Each slide has a unique specimen identifying number (06S022081), a letter corresponding to the biopsy site (A–F) and a site label (e.g. DUOBX for duodenal biopsy).

RISK MANAGEMENT

Safety and risk management are priorities in the labora - tory . The use of warning labels helps to reduce the risk of contamination by transmissible infection, e.g. hepatitis B virus or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is especially important when submitting and handling fresh (unfixed) tissue . Formalin kills many microorganisms, but a risk of transmissible infection still requires notification. Also, formalin itself is toxic to the eyes and skin. Accordingly , laboratory sta ff and indeed any sta ff should discard leaking or faulty specimen containers and deal immediately with formalin spillages. Patient details should be present on all specimen containers so as to avoid errors of identity ( Figure 11.1 ). Rigorous systems are in place to avoid interchange of specimens or confusion between di ff er - - ent patients’ samples. - his - -

Figure 11.1 Sections on glass slides stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Each slide has a unique specimen identifying number (06S022081), a letter corresponding to the biopsy site (A–F) and a site label (e.g. DUOBX for duodenal biopsy).

RISK MANAGEMENT

Safety and risk management are priorities in the labora - tory . The use of warning labels helps to reduce the risk of contamination by transmissible infection, e.g. hepatitis B virus or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is especially important when submitting and handling fresh (unfixed) tissue . Formalin kills many microorganisms, but a risk of transmissible infection still requires notification. Also, formalin itself is toxic to the eyes and skin. Accordingly , laboratory sta ff and indeed any sta ff should discard leaking or faulty specimen containers and deal immediately with formalin spillages. Patient details should be present on all specimen containers so as to avoid errors of identity ( Figure 11.1 ). Rigorous systems are in place to avoid interchange of specimens or confusion between di ff er - - ent patients’ samples. - his - -

Figure 11.1 Sections on glass slides stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Each slide has a unique specimen identifying number (06S022081), a letter corresponding to the biopsy site (A–F) and a site label (e.g. DUOBX for duodenal biopsy).