What is the additive and intended purpose for the red vacutainer?
Additive: Clot activator
Intended Purpose: Serology/Immunology
What is the additive and intended purpose for the pink vacutainer?
Additive: Clot activator
Intended Purpose: Crossmatch Testing
What is the additive and intended purpose for the green vacutainer?
Additive : Lithium Heparin
Intended Purpose : Clinical Chemistry
What is the additive and intended purpose for the purple vacutainer?
Additive: Potassium EDTA
Intended purpose: Haematology
What is the additive and intended purpose for the light blue vacutainer?
Additive: Sodium Citrate
Intended Purpose: Coagulation
What is the additive and intended purpose for the grey vacutainer?
Additive: Sodium Fluoride
Intended Purpose: Glucose
What is the correct tube colour for clot actvator?
Dark Blue
What would you do if you sustained a needlestick injury?
- Encourage free bleeding, do not suck the wound
- Thoroughly wash the area with soap and running water
- Cover with a waterproof dressing
- Report injuries to the manager (and occupational health provider)
- Seek advide promptly from occupational health
How would you deal with a blood spillage?
- Warn others of hazard
- Wear appropriate PPE
- Apply lab bleach / germicide as directed
- Use paper towels
- Dispose of paper towels in clinical waste
More specific guidance:
- Prepare all items required to manage the spillage.
- Wear PPE (page 7)
- Apply chlorine releasing granules as per manufacturer’s instructions or place disposable paper towels (or other similar item) over spillage to absorb and contain it. Discard towels into waste. Cover area with paper towels and gently pour a freshly prepared 10,000ppm solution of hypochlorite e.g. diluted household bleach or Milton according to manufactures instructions
- Follow manufactures instructions or leave for 3 minutes.
- Use disposable towels to clear the area and discard into the waste.
- Dry or allow to air dry
THEN
- Wash area with general purpose detergent and warm water then dry
- Discard disposables into waste including PPE
- Wash hands
Why is informed consent important?
- Require peer reviewed, professional/ethical approach, ensuring experimental process is voluntary
- Volunteers must understand the risks and benefits of experimental procedures
- Volunteers should understand that there may be no benefit to themselves
- Volunteers must be free to withdraw at any time
- Volunteers must know how data about them will be used and stored
What are normal blood values?
pCO2 = 40 mmHg
HCO3 = 24mmol/l (> 6.0kPa = acidosis, < 4.7 kPa alkalosis)
pH = 7.4
What are normal urine values?
- Osmolality = ~1000 mOsm/l
- pH = ~6.0 (varies though!)
What are causes of metabolic acidosis?
Normal anion gap:
- GI bicarbonate loss (diarrhoea, fistula)
- Addisons
- Ammonium chloride injection
Raised anion gap:
- Lactate from shock or hypoxia
- Ketones: DKA, alcohol
- Urate - renal failure
What are causes of metabolic alkalosis?
Ususally due to renal or GI problems
Vomitting
Diuretics
Primary hyperaldosteronism
Liquorice
Hypokalaemia
Cushings
What are the causes of respiratory Acidosis?
COPD
ASthma
Pulmonary oedema
Sedative drugs
What are the casues of respiratory alkalosis?
Anxiety - hyperventilation
Hypoxia causing subsequent hyperventilation:
- PE
- High Altitude
- CNS stimulation: stroke, subarachnoid, haemorrhage, encephalitis
- Pregnancy
