Biosafety Practices in Different Clinical Laboratories in Karachi, Pakistan
Introduction: In Pakistan the number of diagnostic and research laboratories is increasing in both public andprivate sectors but there is still a lack of awareness regarding biosafety practices among the lab employees.These employees can be technicians, technologists, researchers or even keeping s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dow University of Health Sciences
2014-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jduhs.com/index.php/jduhs/article/view/124 |
| Summary: | Introduction:
In Pakistan the number of diagnostic and research laboratories is increasing in both public andprivate sectors but there is still a lack of awareness regarding biosafety practices among the lab employees.These employees can be technicians, technologists, researchers or even keeping staff who gets exposed directlyor indirectly to a plethora of pathogens daily. The need is to spread awareness regarding the importance offundamental biosafety practices.
Objective:
To determine and compare the level of awareness and implementation regarding biosafety practicesamong different laboratories and their workers in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methodology:
A survey was conducted from 10 different diagnostic laboratories of Karachi, participants wereinterviewed and made to fill out a questionnare.
Result:
In the category of general safety 60% confirmed that they receive a formal biosafety training. 20%of the participants received a safety handbook. Usage of personal protective equipments were 80%.however10% labs provide eye station and emergency shower facilitiy and 60% of the participants confirmed that firestation was not available in their lab. In the category of equipments, 80% of the participants agreed that theirequipments were in working order, 60%of the participants confirmed that the PPM of their equipments werecarried out on regular basis and Back up cold storage was available in only 20% of the laboratories.40% of the participants said that the maintenance of biosafety cabinets was carried out regularly in theirlaboratories and only 40% were unaware regarding the certification of their biosafety cabinets. Whereas Properdisinfection and decontamination of biosafety cabinets was carried out in 70% of the cases.
Conclusion:
The outcome of our survey confirms a lack of practice and implementation of good biosafetypractices in the clinical laboratories. |
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| ISSN: | 1995-2198 2410-2180 |