[Safety surveillance and management of specimen associated with SARS in clinical laboratory].
OBJECTIVE
To avoid the staff's infection and environmental contamination, we establish the rules suited for severe infectious disease in our laboratory.


METHODS
(1) Enhance the staff's notion of safety, institute a rule for biological safety and make sure the responsibility of safety for everybody. (2) Set up a special laboratory or area for detection of specimens associated with SARS, appoint the staff specially assigned for the task. The approach to environmental cleaning and disinfection in the laboratory is according to the guidance. (3) Laboratory staff should take precaution when entering and leaving laboratory according to the guidance. (4) Collection, transportation, pre-disposal and storage of specimen from patients with SARS for testing should be done in leak-resistant environment. These specimen should be performed in biological safety cabinet. All Clinical waste must be placed in an appropriate leak-resistant biohazard bag or container, labeled and disposed of safely.


RESULTS
Since the outbreak of SARS, no staff was infected with SARS in our clinical laboratory.


CONCLUSIONS
Our precaution is feasible and effective. A series of rules ensure the safety for the laboratory staffs and environment.
Li
Haixia
H
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Qu
Chenxue
C
Xu
Guobin
G
Yan
Cunling
C
Zhang
Guohua
G
Li
Chuanbao
C
Wang
Jianzhong
J
Xia
Tie'an
T
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012449:Safety; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*