Personal Protective Equipment (Online CE Course)

(based on 3,778 customer ratings)

Author: Rob Nickla, RBP(ABSA), M(ASCP)
Reviewer: Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM

This course details the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the clinical laboratory. Rob Nickla, a public health professional, discusses the various types of PPE that may be used in laboratories, including when and which PPE are appropriate for various situations and how to don and doff PPE.

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Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours (acceptable for AMT, ASCP, and state recertification): 2 hour(s)
Approved through 11/30/2026
Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel Credit Hours - Supervision/Administration, Quality Control/Quality Assurance, and Safety: 2 hour(s)
Approved through 11/30/2026

Objectives

  • Describe how different types of PPE can provide protection.
  • Determine how to select appropriate PPE for clinical laboratory work.
  • Identify when to use certain PPE based on hazards that may be present in a clinical laboratory.
  • Discuss how to don and doff various types of PPE.

Customer Ratings

(based on 3,778 customer ratings)

Course Outline

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Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, laboratory supervisors, and laboratory managers. This course is also appropriate for MLS and MLT students and pathology residents.
Course Description: This course details the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for using personal protective equipment (PPE) in the clinical laboratory.  Rob Nickla, a public health professional, discusses the various types of PPE that may be used in laboratories, including when and which PPE are appropriate for different situations and how to don and doff PPE.  
Author Information: Rob Nickla, RBP(ABSA), M(ASCP), began his public health career in 2004 at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory (ASPHL) working in Mycobacteriology, Bacteriology, and Virology. While there, he became the State Training Coordinator and Bioterrorism Training Coordinator in the Bioemergency Response Section. He actively participated in several APHL Special Interest Groups for Basic Microbiology, Biosafety & Biosecurity, and Select Agent Training. He served on the ASPHL Safety Committee for several years and helped develop and conduct many in-house safety-related trainings. In 2012, he accepted an Associate Biosafety Officer position in the Environmental Health and Safety Department at Arizona State University (ASU). Currently, Rob is the BT (biological threat) and CT (chemical threat) LRN (Laboratory Response Network) Coordinator and State Training Coordinator with the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL). 
Reviewer Information: Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds Medical Laboratory Scientist and Specialist in Hematology certifications through the ASCP Board of Certification. He was a professor at Thomas Jefferson University for seven years before transitioning into his current role as Education Developer at MediaLab. His areas of expertise and professional passions include clinical hematology and interprofessional education.   

Different forms of respiratory protection (21).


don PPE


Gloves,lab coat and face shield