Vial Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Vial and links to relevant pages within the course.
Learn more about laboratory continuing education for medical technologists to earn CE credit for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and state license renewal and recertification. Or get information about laboratory safety and compliance courses that deliver cost-effective OSHA safety training and continuing education to your laboratory's employees.
| The collection kit Let the donor select a collection kit. There should be 10 or more kits available from which the donor may chose. The kit is comprised of a collection cup, leak resistant plastic bag, and two specimen vials. You or the donor may open the collection kit in the other's presence. The donor is given the collection cup. It is the only item that can be taken into the restroom. The specimen vials remain with the collector. Do not open these vials until you are ready to disperse the urine specimen. | View Page |
| Collector applies tamper-evidence seals After dispensing the urine specimen into the specimen vials, the collector, not the donor, removes the tamper-evidence seals from the control form and places them on the specimen vials. Seal "A" goes over the primary vial containing 30 mL; seal "B" goes over the secondary vial containing 15 mL. (When doing a Non-Regulated drug screen, since only one vial would be used, "A" would be the appropriate tamper-evidence seal to use.)The seal must be centered over the lid and down the sides of the vial to ensure that the lid cannot be removed without destroying the seal. | View Page |
| Collector dates seals, donor initials seals The collector, not the donor, writes the date on the seals. After the seals are affixed to the specimen vials, the donor is requested to initial the seals.Note: The collector must not ask the donor to initial the seals while they are attached to the control form. The seals must be initialed only after they are placed on the vials. Inform the donor to use care during the initialing process to avoid damaging the seals. | View Page |
| Collector packages specimen Make sure that all copies of the Custody and Control Form are legible and complete.Place the specimen vials and white copy of the CCF inside the appropriate pouches of the leak resistant plastic bag. Make sure to seal both pouches. The donor may now leave the collection site. | View Page |
| Donor refuses to complete paperwork Refusal to Complete Donor Certification on Pink Copy of CCF or Initial Security Strips.If the donor refuses to complete the donor certification on the pink copy of the CCF, or refuses to initial the security strips after they have been affixed to the specimen vials, this is not considered a refusal to test. Do not debate with the donor. It is the responsibility of the collector to note the fact in the "Remarks" section of the CCF. Failure to do so may result in a Fatal Flaw. The MRO may not release the results of the drug screen unless the collector has noted in the "Remarks" section why the donor certification was not completed.Refusal to Provide ID or Social Security NumberIf the donor refuses to provide the collector with an ID or Social Security Number, this is not considered a refusal to test. The collector must make a notation of the fact in the "Remarks" section of the CCF. Failure to do so may result in a Fatal Flaw. After making the notation, the collector continues with the collection. | View Page |
| Broken Security Seal If a security seal is broken while being removed from the CCF or during the application of the first seal on the primary specimen vial, the collector should transfer the information to a new CCF and use the seals from the second CCF.If one seal is already in place on a specimen vial and second seal is broken while being removed from the CCF or is broken during application on the second specimen vial or while the employee is initialing either seal, the collector should initiate a new CCF and note in the "Remarks" section how the seals were broken. The seals from the second CCF should be placed perpendicular to the original seals to avoid obscuring information on the original seals. The donor must initial the second set of seals also. The initials on all the seals must match. The collector should then draw a line through the specimen ID number (and bar code if present) on the original seals to ensure that the laboratory does not use that number for reporting the results. The collector must not pour the specimen into new vials. | View Page |
| Fatal Flaws and Correctable Flaws Fatal FlawsIt is important to remember that the following are fatal flaws and can cause the specimen not to be tested: Number on Custody and Control Form and security strips do not match. Security strip on the specimen vial is broken or shows evidence of tampering. Quantity of urine needed is not sufficient. There is no printed collector's name or signature.Correctable FlawsThe following are flaws that may be corrected by either sending a signed statement or a Memorandum for Record to the laboratory: The collector printed his or her name, but forgot to sign the CCF. The collector checked the temperature of the specimen, but forgot to note this fact on the CCF. | View Page |
| Causes of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders The primary goal of ergonomics is the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). There are many potential causes of MSDs. Injury can occur from a single event (strain, sprain, slip, or fall) or result from build-up of tissue damage from many small injuries. An MSD can develop over time if a motion is repeated consistently so that the constant trauma causes damage to a muscle, tendon, bone, or bursa of a joint. Force, vibration, or maintenance of an awkward position for a prolonged period of time can cause MSDs.Some specific causes of MSDs that are related to laboratory tasks are: Prolonged use of a keyboard or mouse Prolonged sitting at a microscope Pipetting Screwing and unscrewing vial caps Standing at a laboratory instrument for a prolonged period of time Lack of rest - intensive hours at the workstation with few breaks Sustained awkward position | View Page |
| PPE When using formaldehyde in any concentration, with the exception of putting specimens in single vials, you must wear: A cover gown or apron A face shield or safety goggles Gloves This personal protective equipment is provided at no cost to you. | View Page |
| Personal Protective Equipment When using formaldehyde in any concentration, with the exception of placing specimens in single vials, you must wear: A cover gown or apron A face shield or safety goggles Gloves | View Page |
| Safety and Handling of Controls To ensure the safety of those performing patient testing, controls do not contain HIV or the hepatitis B virus. Manufacturers place the same batch of control material into small vials. This allows only a small portion of the control to be handled while the remainder is stored until needed. Storage information for controls is printed on the label. These instructions should be followed carefully in order to prevent contamination or false results.
| View Page |