Practice Test Geeks(MLS) Medical Laboratory Scientist Practice Test
← All MLS Flashcard Decks

Emergency Procedures & Response Flashcards

7 cards from real MLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Emergency Procedures & Response flashcards as text

  1. A mercury thermometer breaks inside a refrigerator storing patient specimens. What is the correct first step in mercury spill response?

    Answer: Ventilate the area, don appropriate PPE, and use a mercury spill kit

    Mercury vapor is toxic; proper PPE and a mercury-specific spill kit prevent inhalation exposure and environmental contamination.

  2. An MLS working alone notices smoke coming from an electrical outlet near the analyzer. Using the RACE acronym, what is the correct order of actions?

    Answer: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish

    RACE stands for Rescue (people in immediate danger), Alarm (pull fire alarm), Contain (close doors), Extinguish (if safe to do so).

  3. During a chemical emergency, MSDS/SDS documentation is critical. Where must SDS sheets be immediately accessible to laboratory workers?

    Answer: In the work area where chemicals are used or stored

    OSHA requires SDS to be readily accessible to employees in their work area during each work shift.

  4. A laboratory technician develops respiratory distress after exposure to formaldehyde fumes. What is the most immediate intervention?

    Answer: Move the person to fresh air and assess airway, breathing, and circulation

    Removing the person from the exposure source and assessing ABCs is the immediate priority before any further treatment.

  5. In a mass casualty event affecting the hospital, the laboratory receives a surge of STAT orders. What process helps the lab prioritize testing during a disaster?

    Answer: Implementation of a crisis standards of care plan with tiered testing protocols

    Crisis standards of care plans establish tiered testing priorities (life-saving vs. non-urgent) to allocate limited laboratory resources effectively during mass casualty events.

  6. Which biological safety level (BSL) designation requires both a self-contained suit with a supplied air source and a dedicated decontamination shower?

    Answer: BSL-4

    BSL-4 laboratories handle the most dangerous pathogens and require full-body positive-pressure suits with supplied air for maximum worker protection.

  7. A patient with suspected Ebola virus disease requires laboratory testing. Which containment approach is mandated for specimen handling?

    Answer: Specimens must be handled using BSL-4 protocols in a designated facility

    Ebola specimens must be handled under BSL-4 conditions at designated facilities per CDC guidelines due to the extreme infectivity and lethality of the virus.