Safety

Hospitals told to monitor lab workers' health

Hospital Safety Connection, April 20, 2005

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants hospitals to keep tabs on the health of their laboratory employees after an accidental distribution of an Asian flu strain in proficiency testing kits.

Medical centers should watch for flu symptoms in lab workers who may have been exposed to influenza A/H2N2 within the last 10 days. Those workers should receive testing if they develop symptoms, though automatic testing of lab employees isn't necessary, the CDC says.


Labs with A/H2N2 proficiency tests manufactured by Meridian Bioscience, Inc., of Cincinnati should immediately destroy the samples by autoclave, incineration, or chemical disinfection, the CDC says.

About 6,500 labs in the United States received the testing panels. For the latest information, click here.



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