Every clinical laboratory must have a safety plan to protect employees from laboratory acquired infections (LAIs). It must also have a plan to prevent the release of infectious or other hazardous materials into the environment.
Plans need to account for national, state, and local requirements as well as for any laboratory specific safety hazards, including updates for COVID-19 considerations. This includes social distancing, wearing masks, etc. The laboratory safety plan and other safety-related policies and procedures (e.g. those from medical surveillance or an occupational health program) should be shared with all staff.
Laboratories working with potentially infectious materials need to address and communicate their specific response instructions for exposure events. Response instructions should readily include recommendations for first aid and treatment.
12. Gathany, James. "This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public health scientist was preparing a laboratory robot to conduct SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing, using the CDC serologic test." CDC.gov, 2020, https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=23908
