Inadvertent exposure to Coccidioides species by laboratory staff and others as a result of a mishap is not an uncommon cause of infection in clinical microbiology laboratories. These types of infection may occur in laboratories outside the endemic areas, because the etiologic agent is unexpected in the submitted specimens and because personnel may be unfamiliar with the hazards of dealing with ...

Three new direct-service staff participated in a program that used a video model to train target skills needed to conduct a discrete-trial session. Percentage accuracy in completing a discrete-trial teaching session was evaluated using a multiple baseline design across participants. During baseline, performances ranged from a mean of 12% to 63% accuracy. During video modeling, there was an imme...

The aim of this study was to develop a competency based training programme to support multidisciplinary working in a combined biochemistry and haematology laboratory. The training programme was developed to document that staff were trained in the full range of laboratory tests that they were expected to perform. This programme subsequently formed the basis for the annual performance review of a...

BACKGROUND The interface between clinicians and laboratory staff is where the two meet and work together to provide quality care to their clients (patients). Effectiveness of the interface depends on the way the two groups of professionals relate to and communicate with each other. The number and type of tests requested and the use of the test results for clinical decision making can be influen...

In 1979, British laboratories participating in the American of Clinical Pathologists' survey reported five cases of tuberculosis, four of chickenpox, four of salmonellosis or shigellosis, one malaria, and one hepatitis A infection. Microbiology workers were most affected, but at least six infections were not attributable to work. All cases recovered.

The use of mercuric chloride as an histological fixative was associated with high environmental atmospheric concentrations of mercury vapour (up to 0-5 nmol/l) as well as mercury compounds (total Hg to 1-0 nmol/l). Technicians exposed to this environment showed increased urinary mercury (median value 265 nmol/24h) and protein outputs (median value 117 mg protein/24h). Routine control measures, ...

background & objectives: blood-borne viral diseases represent one of the most potentially serious threats to healthcare workers & laboratory staff and since they can be asymptomatic for many years their true prevalence in medical staff have not been clearly determined. this study was carried out to determine the rate of seropositivity for hepatitis b & c viruses & hiv in the laboratory staff of...