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LABORATORY OF PATHOLOGY ONLINE POLICY MANUAL
CATEGORIZATION OF DEPARTMENTAL PROCEDURES FOR UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
LP follows the CC Hospital Epidemiology Service Isolation Guidelines implemented March, 1999 (see http://www.cc.nih.gov/hes/isoguide/index.html).
The following text details the required use of barrier protection and infection control measures for routine laboratory procedures.
Autopsy Service
- Performing or assisting in an autopsy
- Full barrier protection required: mask, gloves, goggles, gown, plastic apron, and shoe covers.
- Particulate respirators are available, and are required for autopsies with a history of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Blocking or photographing fixed autopsy tissues:
- Required barriers: gloves
- Photographing unfixed autopsy specimens:
- Required barriers: gloves, plastic apron
- Extensive dissections on large specimens may require additional barriers.
- Attending a gross autopsy conference:
- No additional barriers are required, unless fixed tissues are handled (see above)
- Histological preparation of fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues:
- No additional barrier protection is required.
Surgical Pathology Service
- Processing or blocking unfixed surgical specimens:
- Required barriers: gloves, plastic apron
- Extensive dissections of large specimens or specimens with potential for sudden release of body fluids (large cystic masses) may require goggles, mask, and gown.
- Preparing and examining frozen sections:
- Required barriers: gloves
- Histological preparation of fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues:
- No additional barrier protection required.
- Examining histologic slides:
- No additional barrier protection required.
Cytopathology Service
- Preparing specimens
- Required barriers: gloves, lab coats, masks, and protective eyewear.
- Performing, or assisting in the performance of fine needle aspirations:
- Must wear gloves, gown, or lab coat. Recapping of needles is not permitted. Needles must be disposed of in biohazard labeled puncture resistant receptacles, e.g., red “SharpSafe” Boxes.
Hematopathology Section
- Preparing cell suspensions from tissues:
- Use gloves while preparing specimens in microbiological hood.
- Wear protective eye cover.
- Dissecting, blocking, and snap-freezing tissues:
- Required barriers: gloves
- Staining or manipulating (counting, etc.) viable cells:
- Required barriers: gloves
Ultrastructural Pathology Service
- Processing fresh tissues or cells for culture and cytogenetics:
- Use gloves while preparing specimens in microbiological hood.
- Processing glutaraldehyde-fixed tissues or cells.
- Additional barrier protection not required.
Miscellaneous
- Activities including review of slides, preparation of reports, clerical functions, etc., do not require additional barrier protection.
- Transportation Policy: See section III of the LP Safety Manual for specimen transportation or shipping policies.
- In cases of known or suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) follow precautions outlined specific Departmental Procedures for the Autopsy Service.
Last Updated 12/28/2009 10:55:45 AM
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