Handling contaminated requisitions

Some infection control practitioners feel if the blood or body fluid is dried, then you can handle contaminated requisitions the same way as regular requisitions by wearing gloves and a lab coat. However, some feel that even dried blood can harbor an infection for a period of time. Whatever the decision (remember—it may be dictated by state law), put it in your policy and follow it.

 

You should blot wet requisitions with a paper towel to absorb the gross blood and then place them in some type of plastic covering or bag. Hopefully this doesn’t occur often. If it does, you need to look at the process to see what the real issue is and make the appropriate corrections.