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Biosafety measures for preventing infection from COVID-19 in clinical laboratories: IFCC Taskforce Recommendations
Giuseppe Lippi1,2, Khosrow Adeli1,3, Maurizio Ferrari1,4
1IFCC Taskforce on COVID-19, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Milan, Italy.
Insights
Clinical chemistry laboratories must implement biosafety measures to protect staff from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These guidelines minimize risks for laboratory professionals working with infectious agents.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Laboratory Medicine
- Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Background:
- The emergence of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents significant risks to healthcare personnel, particularly laboratory professionals.
- Previous coronavirus outbreaks, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), underscore the need for robust safety protocols.
Framework:
- Recommendations for biosafety measures in clinical chemistry laboratories are provided.
- Guidelines are adapted from international and national health agency documents.
- Focus on laboratories operating at Biosafety Levels 1 (BSL-1) and 2 (BSL-2).
Implementation:
- The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) COVID-19 taskforce developed these guidelines.
- Interim measures are proposed for routine clinical chemistry laboratory operations.
- Emphasis on minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in laboratory settings.
Implications:
- Adherence to proposed best practices can significantly reduce occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
- Protecting laboratory professionals is crucial for maintaining essential diagnostic services during a pandemic.
- Standardized biosafety protocols enhance laboratory safety and public health resilience.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the third coronavirus outbreak that has emerged in the past 20 years, after severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). One important aspect, highlighted by many global health organizations, is that this novel coronavirus outbreak may be especially hazardous to healthcare personnel, including laboratory professionals. Therefore, the aim of this document, prepared by the COVID-19 taskforce of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), is to provide a set of recommendations, adapted from official documents of international and national health agencies, on biosafety measures for routine clinical chemistry laboratories that operate at biosafety levels 1 (BSL-1; work with agents posing minimal threat to laboratory workers) and 2 (BSL-2; work with agents associated with human disease which pose moderate hazard). We believe that the interim measures proposed in this document for best practice will help minimazing the risk of developing COVID-19 while working in clinical laboratories.
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