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Safety Alert – patient samples pathogen risk
19 November 2024
This safety alert concerns the acquisition of clinical samples from hospital patients.
Credit: www.freepik.com
What is the issue?
Patient samples have been given to departments that are not permitted to possess the pathogens known to be within them, putting staff members at risk. The Health and Safety Executive recently shared information on the subject.
Action to be taken
Only receive samples for which the risk of pathogens is defined, whether screened, unscreened or with a known risk of disease pathogens, such as confirmed or potential presence of the pathogens in the study.
Duty holders should:
- Have arrangements in place to ensure that only the desired samples are provided by hospitals with correct documented information.
- Have procedures in place to prevent inappropriate samples being accepted, such as those that are known to contain Hazard Group 3 agents.
- Train staff to identify what samples to accept or refuse.