Aids Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

Examination of CSF provides vital information which aids in the diagnosis of a wide variety of disorders: benign disordersmeningitisencephalitisbrain abscesssubarachnoid hemorrhagecerebral infract vs. intracerebral hemorrhagemultiple sclerosisGuillian-Barre's syndromespinal cord tumormalignant disordersleukemia CNS involvementmalignant tumors of the brain or spinal cordmetastasis of malignant tumors

Rocourt J. Jacquet C. Reilly A.: Epidemiology of human listeriosis and seafoods. International Journal of Food Microbiology. 62:197-209, 2000While rarely diagnosed prior to 1960, more than 10,000 cases of listeriosis were recorded in the medical literature between 1960 and 1982, and thousands more have been reported annually world-wide. This widespread increase in reporting is most likely due to demographic trends and changes in food production, processing and storage, especially the extended cold food chain and the ability of Listeria monocytogenes to grow at low temperaturesL. monocytogenes is a bacterium responsible for opportunistic infections, preferentially affecting individuals whose immune system is perturbed, including pregnant women, newborns, people over 65 years, immunocompromised patients, such as cancer victims, transplant recipients, people on hemodialysis and AIDS patients.Thus, the increasing lifespan and medical progress allowing immunodeficient individuals to survive, partially explains the increasing incidence of listeriosis. Moreover, L. monocytogenes is ubiquitous and can grow at temperatures as low as 0 degrees C. At this temperature growth is very slow.The expansion of the agro-food industry, the widespread use of systems of cold storage and changes in consumers demands have led to a large increase in the pool of Listeria that can cause food-borne infections.

Each laboratory that performs a test indicative of HIV or AIDS shall report to the county health department in less than 2 weeks.To assure the confidentiality of the patient, reporting of HIV infection and AIDS must be conducted using a system developed by CDC or equivalent system.Each person who violates reporting rules may be fined $500 per offense.

Education Learn proper techniques for lifting, stretching and limiting repetitive motion Learn how to use ergonomic aids properly and be compliant Exercise Participate in exercise programs Perform gentle stretching exercises prior to your shift Keep physically fitEngineering Redesign your work area by arranging items properly within the work zone. Examine and improve lighting and noise levels whenever possibleEquipment Watch for ergonomic alternatives and make management aware of available options. Wrist support, mouse, keyboards and keyboard drawers, cart, lamps (less expensive equipment) Furniture, chairs, workbenches, desks (more expensive equipment)

Licensed as a technologist or meets the requirements to be licensed Completes a Board-approved two-hour course related to the prevention of medical errors that includes root-cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety. Meets one of the following: Doctoral degree in chemical science, biological science, or clinical laboratory science + one year of laboratory experience in the category in which licensure is sought, and 25 hours of Board-approved continuing education in supervision and administration Doctoral degree in chemical science, biological science, or clinical laboratory science + one year of laboratory experience in the category in which licensure is sought, and DLM(ASCP) or CLSup(NCA) for all categories or ASCP specialty certification for the category in which licensure is sought Master's degree in chemical science, biological science, clinical laboratory science, or medical technology + three years of laboratory experience including one year experience in the category in which licensure is sought and either 25 hours of Board-approved continuing education in supervision and administration; or DLM(ASCP) or CLSup(NCA) for all categories or ASCP specialty certification for the category in which licensure is sought Bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of academic science including 8 semester hours of biological sciences and 8 semester hours of chemical sciences + five years of lab experience, of which two must have been as a technologist and at least 1 year experience in the category in which licensure is sought, and either 25 hours of Board-approved continuing education in supervision and administration or DLM(ASCP) or CLSup(NCA) for all categories or ASCP specialty certification for the category in which licensure is sought.

Meets one of the following:Completes a medical lab technology training program at the technician levelHigh school or equivalency diploma + five years lab experienceAssociate's degree + four years lab experienceBachelor's degree + three years lab experienceBachelor's degree in medical technologyPasses an appropriate examination (certain specialties only)Completes one hour of HIV / AIDS continuing educationCompletes two hours of medical errors continuing education

The table below summarizes the qualifications for the four types of clinical laboratory personnel licenses. DirectorPhysician certified in clinical pathology OR Non-physician with: Doctoral degreeCertification in a lab specialtyCompleted course on administrationContinuing education in HIV/AIDS and medical errorsSupervisorOne of the following:Doctoral degree + 1 year experienceMaster's degree + 3 years experienceBachelor's degree + 5 years experienceLicensed as a technologist or meets the requirementsOne of the following:Completed course on administration25 hours of CE in administrationCE in HIV / AIDS and medical errors.TechnologistOne of the following:Bachelor's degree + medical technologist training program OR 3 years experienceAssociate's degree + Florida technician's license and completion of a medical laboratory training program OR 5 years experienceCompleted exam in 1+ specialtiesCE in HIV / AIDS and medical errorsTechnicianMeets one of the following:Completed medical lab technology training programHigh school or equivalency diploma + 5 years experienceAssociate's degree + 4 years experienceBachelor's degree + 3 years experienceBachelor's degree in medical technologyCompleted exam (certain specialties only)CE in HIV / AIDS and medical errors

System designers sometimes fail to analyze the purposes of medical systems and how best to achieve them. Instead, they revert to traditional ways of doing things. These failures of analysis account for many medical errors. An example is the tendency to encourage reliance on rote memory for performing procedures instead of manuals, job aids, checklists, and computerized protocols.

There are approximately 1.1 million individuals in the United States who are estimated to have HIV/AIDS.Worldwide, it is estimated that there are over 33 million persons with HIV/AIDS, with most of these individuals living in sub-Saharan Africa.As of December 2001, there have been 57 documented cases of occupationally acquired HIV infection among healthcare personnel in the United States since reporting began in 1985 (CDC data).Considering the large numbers of HIV positive patients cared for, this is a very small number.

The syringe and needle combination should be the last equipment option that is considered; it is not as safe a choice as the self-contained blood collection systems because it involves more manipulation. However, the phlebotomist may choose to use a syringe to prevent vein collapse if the phlebotomist thinks that the vein is too fragile to withstand the pressure exerted by the vacuum as it pulls blood into the collection tube. A transfer device aids in the safe transfer of blood from the syringe into blood collection tubes. During blood transfer, do not manually push plunger as this may cause hemolysis of the specimen.

Some blood safety standards require that a list of common signs and symptoms of suspected adverse reactions be included in both nursing and transfusion service manuals. Several organizations have developed job aids to help clinical staff recognize the signs and symptoms of various suspected transfusion reactions and to suggest appropriate actions (e.g., see REACT in Online Resources).