Section 1- Intro to Hemostasis & Safety in the Lab

Hemostasis

The body’s rapid response to stop bleeding and restore blood flow after injury.
• Initiated by vessel damage
• Involves vasoconstriction, platelet plug, coagulation cascade
• Controlled by inhibitors and fibrinolysis
• Disruption leads to thrombosis or hemorrhage

Quality Assurance – Overview

Quality systems prevent lab error and ensure reliable hemostasis results.
• Verifies accuracy and consistency of testing
• Includes maintenance, validation, controls, and critical values
• Detects errors before they affect patient care
• Required for accreditation and safety

Preventive Maintenance

Routine upkeep keeps analyzers running accurately and prevents surprise failures.
• Scheduled servicing of instruments
• Minimizes downtime and test inaccuracy
• Prevents QC failures due to wear or buildup

Method Validation

Every test must prove its worth before going live.
• Confirms new assay accuracy and reproducibility
• Defines sensitivity, specificity, linear range
• Detects potential bias or interferences
• Mandatory before clinical use

Control Samples

Controls verify that the system is working before releasing patient results.
• Known-value samples tested with patient runs
• Detect random error and instrument drift
• Must meet expected ranges to release data
• Flags failed assays early

Critical Values

Some numbers can't wait — they demand immediate clinical action.
• Life-threatening results that trigger urgent notification
• Must be reported and documented per protocol
• Often tied to bleeding risk or coagulopathy

Standard Precautions

Definition

Assume all blood and fluids are infectious — every time.
• Treat all specimens as potentially hazardous
• Protects staff regardless of known patient status
• Forms foundation of lab and clinical safety

Standard Precautions

Housekeeping

A clean bench is a safe bench.
• Disinfect work surfaces regularly
• Use appropriate chemical disinfectants
• Keep areas organized and decontaminated

Standard Precautions

Electronics

Leave the phone outside — contamination has no shortcuts.
• Phones and laptops prohibited during wet labs
• Prevents disruption of clean workflow
• Reduces contamination risk

Standard Precautions

Laundry

What you wear protects what you touch.
• Use disposable or professionally laundered lab coats
• Change coats when visibly soiled or contaminated
• Prevents transfer of infectious material

Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

OSHA’s rulebook for staying safe around blood.
• Requires PPE, hand hygiene, sharps protocols
• Includes exposure control plans and documentation
• Designed to prevent HBV, HCV, and HIV transmission

Occupational Hazards

Hemostasis Lab

The lab is full of danger — fire, chemicals, electricity, sharps.
• Fire: store flammables, check extinguishers
• Chemical: label, store properly, use PPE
• Electrical: dry conditions, grounded plugs
• Sharps: avoid recapping, use containers

Hazardous Chemicals Standard

Every chemical must come with a map — the SDS.
• Requires SDS access without password/barrier
• Describes hazards, PPE, storage, spill cleanup
• Staff must be trained before use
• Applies to all lab chemicals

Infection Prevention

Most Important Practice

Hand hygiene is the simplest, most powerful defense.
• Prevents pathogen spread between people and surfaces
• Required before and after glove use
• Should be performed after any specimen handling

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

SDS tells you what a chemical is, what it can do, and how to stay safe.
• Lists identity, hazards, PPE, first aid, storage
• Must be accessible to all lab personnel
• Consulted before using or disposing of chemicals

Needlestick Injury

Most Common Cause

Most needle injuries happen when you try to recap — don’t.
• Occurs most during recapping or disposal
• Use one-handed scoop or safety devices
• Dispose immediately in sharps container
• Report and follow exposure protocol