Risks of Pipetting to Laboratory Workers, Sample, Test, Patient and Final Data

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Risks of Pipetting to Laboratory Workers

Ergonomics of pipetting is important and relates to development of WRULD (Work Related Upper Limb Disorders, CTD (Cumulative Trauma Disorder) or RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury). These include a whole spectrum of diseases, from tendonitis of the hand or wrist to carpal tunnel syndrome. If hands or wrists hurt or go numb or tingle, if your joints ache after repetitive tasks, such as pipetting, it is almost certainly a WRULD. Other symptoms include losing strength or coordination in your hands, perhaps even dropping objects. Not everyone experiences all symptoms, and sometimes your symptoms may not occur until several hours or even days after the activity which causes them. This problem can be caused by a number of elements: Design of the pipette, number of repetitions, seating position, lack of rest intervals or poor bench layout. It can be also accompanied by other ailments such as backaches or headaches. Although this problem is not clearly covered in legislation, cases frequently come to light, employers naturally become very concerned and directives will no doubt follow in due course.  Secondly the action of pipetting can form aerosols. Obvious precautions need taking to avoid inhalation or even skin contact. All laboratories should have sound safety practices and these are governed by established bodies world-wide. Protective coats, gloves, laminar airflow cabinets etc. all assist in this prevention.

Patient Responsibilities When Undergoing a Laboratory Examination

If patients has rights, they also must have responsibilities. These responsibilities must be carried out by the patient strictly to ensure the accuracy of the test. These may include the following:

Patient Rights to Consider

Patients have a right to expect that an agency's or institution's policies and procedures will ensure certain rights and responsibilities for them. At all times, the patient has the right:

Factors that Alter Laboratory Results

If you're collecting a sample for a patient for laboratory testing, make sure to consider some factors that may possibly alter his/her results. Depending on the procedure requested, these factors may include:

Common Factors of Specimen Rejection in the Laboratory

If proper collection of samples is not correctly done in a clinical specimen, this may lead to inaccurate results.Below is a list of possible factors for specimen rejection: