A nurse is preparing to send a sputum specimen to the laboratory for a client with suspected active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Which action demonstrates the appropriate handling and transport of this highly infectious material?
- Placing the tightly closed specimen container into a sealable biohazard transport bag and hand-delivering it to the laboratory.Cevap
- BSending the specimen container through the pneumatic tube system to minimize staff contact and expedite testing.
- CWiping the outside of the unbagged specimen container with an alcohol swab and carrying it directly to the laboratory.
- DWearing a protective gown and clean gloves while carrying the bagged specimen through the public hospital hallways.
Cevap
The specimen must be secured inside a secondary biohazard transport bag and manually delivered to the laboratory.
The correct action involves placing the primary specimen container into a secondary leak-proof biohazard bag and hand-delivering it to the laboratory. Tuberculosis is a virulent airborne pathogen, and a secondary bag is legally and clinically required to prevent exposure in case the primary cup leaks or is dropped. Hand-delivery is mandatory because sending highly infectious respiratory specimens through a pneumatic tube system creates a severe risk of widespread aerosolization if the container were to break open inside the pressurized tubes.
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Anahtar Kavram
Handling and Transporting Highly Infectious Biological Specimens