An in-depth analysis of prevailing safety precautions against COVID-19 in bioanalytical laboratories during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – paving the way forward

Abstract

Background: With the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, laboratories all over the world had to follow new precautions. Adhering to strict control measures by laboratory technicians is influenced by their knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. Objectives: To assess the general awareness of lab personnel about COVID-19 related safety precautions by performing a survey. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in which all laboratory technicians working in specialized labs of a tertiary care center were given a structured KAP questionnaire. This questionnaire was prepared with questions covering different aspects including sample collection, packaging and transport, processing, reporting of samples and specimens as well as about disinfection and discarding biomedical waste. Result: A total of 45 technicians were included in the study. The answers to questions from KAP domains were varied indicating the need of specific and objective guidelines for different areas of laboratory functioning. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a dramatic change in the working of different laboratories all over the world. Conducting this survey to determine the KAP toward COVID-19 among the laboratory technicians helped in identifying hazards involved in different lab procedures, resources available and competency level of the personnel. Based on the results, standard operating procedures for COVID-19 related precautions in all aspects of lab work were formulated/ updated. Such policies were customized to the facility and to the local regulatory requirements and would be useful in the future to tackle other outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Keywords

• safety precautions
• covid-19
• pandemic
• laboratory
• technicians