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
A laboratory centrifuge tube containing an unknown specimen breaks during a run. After stopping the centrifuge, what is the next correct action before opening the lid?
Answer: Wait at least 30 minutes with the centrifuge closed to allow aerosol settling, then open in a biosafety cabinet
A 30-minute wait allows aerosols containing potentially infectious material to settle before the lid is opened, and BSC use prevents further exposure.
Which personal protective equipment is required at minimum when responding to a large blood spill (greater than 1 liter) on the laboratory floor?
Answer: Gloves, protective eyewear, gown, and shoe covers
Large blood spills risk splashing, requiring full barrier PPE including gloves, gown, eye protection, and shoe covers per bloodborne pathogen precautions.
A laboratory employee sustains a laceration from broken glass contaminated with MRSA-positive specimen. The wound should first be:
Answer: Gently squeezed to express blood, then washed thoroughly with soap and water
Gentle expression followed by thorough soap and water washing reduces microbial load at the wound site, which is the evidence-based initial treatment.
Under CLSI and CAP guidelines, how often must laboratory emergency evacuation drills be conducted at minimum?
Answer: Annually
Most accrediting bodies including CAP require at minimum annual fire/evacuation drills to ensure staff familiarity with emergency procedures.
An MLS must dispose of sharps contaminated with a chemotherapy drug (e.g., methotrexate-contaminated needles). Which disposal container is correct?
Answer: Yellow chemotherapy (chemo) waste sharps container
Chemotherapy-contaminated sharps require a yellow chemotherapy waste container to ensure proper tracking, segregation, and disposal under RCRA regulations.
During a laboratory lockdown (active threat scenario), which action is MOST appropriate for an MLS working in the core laboratory?
Answer: Lock or barricade the laboratory door, turn off lights, silence phones, and await all-clear
Lockdown protocol requires shelter-in-place: secure the room, reduce visibility, and maintain silence until law enforcement provides the all-clear.
A gas cylinder of compressed oxygen falls and the valve breaks off in the laboratory. What is the PRIMARY hazard and correct initial response?
Answer: Projectile and oxygen enrichment hazard; evacuate immediately and do not attempt to stop the cylinder
A broken valve creates a rocket-like projectile hazard from escaping gas and oxygen enrichment increases fire risk; immediate evacuation is the only safe response.