A large spill has occurred in a laboratory involving venous blood. Which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take?
Cover the spill until maintenance arrives.
Pour bleach on the spill and let it soak for 60 seconds.
Evacuate the laboratory.
Apply a liquid thickening agent on top of the spill.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A Reason:
Covering the spill until maintenance arrives is not an appropriate response to a blood spill. This action does not neutralize any potential pathogens present in the blood, which could pose a risk of infection to others. Immediate cleanup is necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and simply covering the spill does not meet the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines for bloodborne pathogens, which require the spill to be cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant.
Choice B Reason:
Pouring bleach on the spill and allowing it to soak for 60 seconds is the recommended action because bleach is a powerful disinfectant that can kill a wide range of pathogens, including those that might be present in venous blood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a 1:10 dilution of household bleach for effectively disinfecting blood spills. After pouring the bleach, it is important to let it soak for an adequate amount of time, usually around 10 minutes, to ensure that all pathogens are killed.
Choice C Reason:
Evacuating the laboratory is not a necessary action for a blood spill unless the spill is extensive and poses additional risks that cannot be mitigated by standard cleanup procedures. In most cases, following the proper spill cleanup protocol, which includes wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and using an EPA-registered disinfectant, is sufficient to handle the situation without needing to evacuate the area.
Choice D Reason:
Applying a liquid thickening agent on top of the spill is not a standard practice for blood spill cleanup. While a thickening agent might contain the spill, it does not disinfect the area. The priority in such situations is to disinfect and remove any potential infectious agents. Therefore, the use of a thickening agent would not be in compliance with the recommended procedures for blood spill cleanup by OSHA and the CDC.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Pernicious anemia is a type of anemia caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12, which is not directly related to the volume of blood drawn. It is typically associated with the inability to absorb vitamin B12 from the gastrointestinal tract and is not a consequence of drawing blood.
Choice B Reason:
Iatrogenic anemia is the correct answer. It is a condition that can occur when too much blood is drawn from an infant, leading to anemia caused by medical intervention. Infants have a limited blood volume, and removing more than the recommended amount can significantly decrease their red blood cell count, resulting in anemia.
Choice C Reason:
Hyperthermia refers to an abnormally high body temperature, which is not a direct result of drawing blood. It is more commonly associated with environmental factors, infections, or other medical conditions that cause the body's temperature regulation to fail.
Choice D Reason:
Hypothermia is a condition where the body temperature drops below the normal range, which is also not a direct consequence of drawing blood. It is typically caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures and is unrelated to the volume of blood drawn from an infant.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
The timeline of the individual prior to specimen collection is important for context but is not typically part of the chain of custody documentation. The chain of custody focuses on the handling of the specimen rather than the activities of the individual before the collection.
Choice B Reason:
The identity of each person who handles the specimen is a critical element of the chain of custody. This information ensures that the specimen can be tracked at every stage from collection to analysis, and any potential tampering can be identified and addressed.
Choice C Reason:
While the physical and mental status of the individual may be noted in medical records or police reports, it is not a standard part of the chain of custody for a blood alcohol test. The chain of custody's purpose is to track the specimen, not the condition of the individual.
Choice D Reason:
The condition of the specimen every hour is not required in the chain of custody documentation. What is necessary is the documentation of any changes in the condition of the specimen that could affect the integrity of the results, such as temperature excursions or signs of tampering.
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