MLS Emergency Procedures & Response 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A mercury thermometer breaks inside a refrigerator storing patient specimens. What is the correct first step in mercury spill response?
- Vacuum up the mercury droplets with a standard laboratory vacuum
- Ventilate the area, don appropriate PPE, and use a mercury spill kit (Correct answer)
- Wipe up the mercury with paper towels and discard in biohazard waste
- Seal the refrigerator and wait for housekeeping to respond
Correct 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.
Question 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?
- Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish (Correct answer)
- React, Assess, Call, Evacuate
- Rescue, Alarm, Close doors, Extinguish
- Run, Alert, Contain, Evacuate
Correct 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).
Question 3: During a chemical emergency, MSDS/SDS documentation is critical. Where must SDS sheets be immediately accessible to laboratory workers?
- In the department manager's office only
- On the facility intranet, accessible only from administrative computers
- In the work area where chemicals are used or stored (Correct answer)
- At the hospital security desk for emergency personnel
Correct 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.
Question 4: A laboratory technician develops respiratory distress after exposure to formaldehyde fumes. What is the most immediate intervention?
- Administer 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask
- Move the person to fresh air and assess airway, breathing, and circulation (Correct answer)
- Have the person rinse their mouth with water for 5 minutes
- Administer an inhaled bronchodilator from the first aid kit
Correct 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.
Question 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?
- First-in, first-out processing of all specimens equally
- Implementation of a crisis standards of care plan with tiered testing protocols (Correct answer)
- Contacting each ordering physician individually to negotiate turnaround times
- Shutting down non-critical analyzers to focus resources on hematology only
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which biological safety level (BSL) designation requires both a self-contained suit with a supplied air source and a dedicated decontamination shower?
- BSL-1
- BSL-2
- BSL-3
- BSL-4 (Correct answer)
Correct 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.
Question 7: A patient with suspected Ebola virus disease requires laboratory testing. Which containment approach is mandated for specimen handling?
- Standard precautions with a surgical mask are sufficient
- Specimens must be handled using BSL-4 protocols in a designated facility (Correct answer)
- Processing may occur in any BSL-2 lab with enhanced respiratory protection
- Only urine specimens may be processed; blood collection is prohibited
Correct 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.
MLS Emergency Procedures & Response 3
A mercury thermometer breaks inside a refrigerator storing patient specimens.
What is the correct first step in mercury spill response?