title: Assessment of biosafety precautions in Khartoum state diagnostic laboratories, Sudan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conducted to evaluate the biosafety precautions that applied by diagnostic laboratories in Khartoum state, 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total number of 190 laboratories were surveyed about their compliance with standard biosafety precautions. These laboratories included 51 (27%) laboratories from government, 75 (39%) from private sectors and 64 (34%) laboratories belong to organization providing health care services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study found that 32 (16.8%) of laboratories appointed biosafety officers. Only, ten (5.2%) participated in training about response to fire emergency, and 28 (14.7%) reported the laboratory accident occurred during work. 45 (23.7%) laboratories had a written standard operation procedures (SOPs), and 35 (18.4%) had written procedures for the lean-up of spills. Moreover, biosafety cabinet was found in 11 (5.8%) laboratories, autoclave in 28 (14.7%) and incinerator in only two (1.1%) laboratories. Sharp disposable containers were found in 84 (44.2%). Fire alarm system was found in 2 (1.1%) laboratories, fire extinguisher in 39 (20.5%) laboratories, and fire emergency exit found in 14 (7.4%) laboratories. Furthermore, 19 (10%) laboratories had a hepatitis B virus vaccination programme, 5 (6.2%) applied BCG vaccine, and 2 (1.1%0) vaccinated the staff against influenza.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study concluded that the standards biosafety precautions adopted by the diagnostic laboratories in Khartoum state was very low. Further, the laboratory personnel awareness towards biosafety principles implementation was very low too.
authors.affiliation: National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Adel Hussein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Elduma
mesh_terms: D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003264:Containment of Biohazards / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards; D059232:Laboratory Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D013397:Sudan