How to prepare medical lab space
In a hospital setup, the laboratory is one of the most important parts. It thus should be well taken care of by ensuring everything is in the right position all the time whether the lab is in use or not. Being the point where most tests will be carried out, it is expected to be a busy place. When there is a contamination of the lab equipment’s used for experiments and tests, there is likely to be incorrect results, and that can be dangerous. Besides, the maintenance of the laboratory equipment is vital even as it is one of the most expensive budgets in a hospital set up. In that respect, the information below seeks to explore the various tips on setting up and maintaining not only the lab space but also lab equipment.
The role of lab technicians
Before poring over the various ways to prepare the lab space, it is imperative to go over the roles of a lab technician. Laboratory technicians are found in a variety of settings including pharmaceutical industries, schools, and also medical industries. The tasks that a lab technician does and how they will prepare the lab space majorly depends on what is to be done in the laboratory. A medical laboratory technician mostly receives recording and also conducting tests on specimens and samples. Besides, they work with the lab chemicals and ensure that the chemicals are properly stored and handled. Furthermore, their duties revolve around cleaning and maintaining the laboratory equipment. The medical lab technicians play a critical role in the health sector as they assist the doctors and other medical personnel in the diagnosis and detection of an array of diseases including diabetes and the infectious diseases.
Preparing the medical space
You need to be keen with the following details when preparing your lab space:
Keeping the space sterile
Preparing the lab for various activities involve performing a variety of actions that is aimed at ensuring the lab becomes safe for use. A lab that is not organized can lead to cross-contamination and thereby produce inaccurate and wrong results. The lab must, therefore, be kept sterile at all times.
Cleaning the laboratory glassware
It is essential to have clean and sterile glassware in the lab since contaminations can lead to erroneous results. Before tests are taken and liquid measured, see to it that the glass is clear of any unwanted contamination. You may need to take the following into account to ensure everything is clean and sterile
- For equipment made of glass, use the detergents meant for glassware such as liquinox and alconox.
- For desks and worktops, ensure that they are clean all the time. Cleaning the equipment ensures the cluster is eliminated and therefore the work will be more efficient. By doing this, you will not have too much work to do at the end of the day when you finish using the lab. As well, doing this ensures that the specimen is clean and contamination is kept at bay.
- Remove dust and other remnants. Make sure all shelves are clean and as well as the fridges and cabinets. It is also imperative to clean air conditioning equipment since it is the primary cause of contamination of samples and equipment. If not properly cleaned, it is possible for them to contain germs and bacteria.
While it is not so painstaking to prepare and set up a lab space, it must be done with a lot of care and understanding of the space itself or otherwise you would not be doing the right thing.