Laboratory Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real Histology Certification practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Laboratory Safety flashcards as text
A biosafety cabinet (BSC) in a histology lab is primarily used to protect against which type of hazard?
Answer: Biological aerosol contamination
A biosafety cabinet uses HEPA filtration and controlled airflow to protect workers and samples from biological aerosols.
Which action should be taken first after a needlestick injury from a tissue-processing needle in a histology lab?
Answer: Immediately wash the wound with soap and water for several minutes
Immediate washing with soap and water is the first step to reduce the risk of infection before any reporting or medical evaluation.
Cryostat sections involve which additional safety hazard not present in routine paraffin processing?
Answer: Cryogenic cold contact burns from liquid nitrogen in the cryostat chamber
Cryostats operate at temperatures around −20°C, and direct contact with the chamber or blade can cause cold contact burns.
When handling DAB (3,3'-diaminobenzidine) in immunohistochemistry, which hazard classification is most important to communicate?
Answer: Suspected carcinogen
DAB is classified as a suspected human carcinogen and must be handled with appropriate PPE and disposed of as hazardous waste.
Which respiratory protection is required when air monitoring confirms formaldehyde levels exceed the OSHA action level of 0.5 ppm?
Answer: Half-face air-purifying respirator with organic vapor cartridges
Formaldehyde vapors require an air-purifying respirator fitted with organic vapor cartridges when levels exceed the OSHA action level.
In an emergency spill of 10% neutral buffered formalin, what is the correct order of actions?
Answer: Notify, evacuate area, don PPE, then clean up per spill kit instructions
Notification, area evacuation, and donning appropriate PPE must precede any cleanup attempt to protect responders.
Laboratory safety training under OSHA's HazCom standard must be provided to employees:
Answer: At time of initial assignment and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced
OSHA's HazCom standard requires initial training at hire and additional training whenever a new physical or health hazard is introduced.